Chapter 4 Author: Jasmine Flower It was still dark out when the door suddenly burst open. Smack! Denton and my father stormed in, and without warning, I got slapped across the face. "Stephanie! Kelsey was trying to help by giving you a massage, and you kicked her? Don't you know she's still recovering from being sick?" Tears streamed down my face. Watching my own family rush in and scold me without bothering about the truth hurt worse than the slap itself. One day, if they found out that it was Kelsey who caused my mother's death, would they regret what they did to me today? "You killed your mother the day you were born, and now you want to kill Kelsey too? How can you be so cruel?" My father's words hit me like a storm. He raised his hand to slap me again, but maybe it was the way I looked, crying in silence, that made Denton hesitate. Denton caught his arm and said softly, "Dad, she's still pregnant. Let it go." My father frowned but didn't stop. He kept going. "Even if Kelsey accidentally hurt you during the massage, you shouldn't have kicked her! She's not well! You're coming to the hospital with me to apologize to Kelsey!" I gave them a bitter smile. "Kelsey caused these burns on me. I didn't kick her-she fell on purpose." Denton and my father exchanged a glance. Surprise flickered across their faces, but then they both went silent for a long while. Just when I thought, maybe, just maybe, they believed me, my father exploded. "You've always been selfish and hard to deal with, but at least you used to be honest. Now you're just lying to escape responsibility! "Kelsey is kind. Why would she ever hurt you? Anyone can see you burned yourself just to gain sympathy!" Hearing my father blindly take Kelsey's side broke something inside me. I cried harder, then suddenly found myself laughing. I already knew. I'd always known they favored Kelsey over me. So why did I keep trying to explain myself? Why was I still hoping they'd stand by me? "Get up. You're coming with us to the hospital to apologize."