With that, she strutted out of the ward, chin raised. A coy voice drifted from the hallway:
“Ouch, my stomach!”
Ethan immediately stiffened and rushed after her.
As she left, she shot me a nervous glance.
“Hannah, rest well. I’ve taken Sabrina to the doctor. I’ll be back soon.”
Watching her disappear, I covered my burning cheek and laughed coldly.
Back then, she was the campus beauty, with suitors lining the road to the south of the city, including Ethan.
At that time, I was disliked at home and constantly mocked and bullied by wealthy classmates at school.
It was Ethan, the class monitor, who angrily scolded the boy who humiliated me, publicly declaring to the class that I was his sister and that he would protect me from then on.
From then on, he was like a beam of light entering my heart.
Even my father, after hearing about our relationship, softened toward me, telling me to get along well with Ethan.
But Ethan’s heart belonged only to Sabrina, showing me nothing but pity. Even Sabrina looked at me with contempt, as if I were a thief coveting their happiness.
Now, with a simple gesture, the happiness I stole was gone.
The family members in the room exchanged uneasy glances. After a long silence, my father spoke harshly:
“Young man, a brief mistake can be forgiven. But Hannah, if you dare divorce him, I’ll break your legs.”
My mother-in-law pretended to struggle, saying:
“My dear in-law, you understand. We’re a wealthy family; everything is for the children…”
“I understand, I understand. Hannah was just immature. We’ll discipline her later. Jealousy and fighting over a man—how shameful if people hear of it.”
“Hannah, Ethan has treated you well. It was just one drunken mistake. Don’t be so unreasonable. What man stays with one woman all his life? Don’t be petty like your mother and ruin yourself.”
“Even if you don’t care about yourself, Alex Sterling is your brother. If you divorce, will he still study peacefully abroad?”
My tears suddenly burst out, uncontrollable like a broken dam.
I knew that from the moment my mother was driven to death by a mistress, I had lost my home, and I worked hard to raise my brother. But I never thought it would feel so cold, so crushing. Even my late mother was shamed, and my younger brother used it again and again to threaten me.
Feeling the stabbing pain in my abdomen, I finally sobbed aloud.
“Get out, all of you! Get out!”