Chapter 6 I was sure of it now-I really hated Violet. Especially when she tried to force me to eat something I didn't like. The hall was empty except for the two of us. She kept pushing her gift on me, urging me to try it. "Eleanor, just one bite. Don't you love sweets the most?" I didn't want to respond. I shifted further away from her. But she followed after me. "Eleanor, I went through so much trouble to get these. How can you be so dismissive?" Violet tried to push the candy to my lips. I swatted her hand away. In the scuffle, the glass beside me was knocked to the floor-shattering into a million pieces. It was the matching cup I had made by hand-for Julian and me. Now it was broken. Like in my dream, where our ending was never a happy one. Violet bent down to pick up the shards, only to slice open her finger. A long cut. Blood welled instantly. Her eyes watered in pain just as Julian walked into the room. Violet stood there, pitiful, beside the broken cup, her voice trembling as she pointed at me. "Julian, I just wanted Eleanor to try the candies I bought her. She outright refused. Is this how unwelcome I am in your family?" Before Julian could speak, Leo rushed forward. "Aunt Violet, it's not your fault. Eleanor's just weird. None of us like her." "She's dumb. Don't bother with her." "Are you okay? Does it hurt?" Julian's face darkened when he saw Violet's injury. His voice was unusually sharp. "Eleanor, apologize." I didn't understand. I only refused to eat candy that would make me sick-why should I apologize? I didn't apologize. But the price for my silence was worse-I had to eat those osmanthus milk toffees. Julian said only then would it count as honoring Violet's good intentions. I stood there frozen, my throat working. I wanted to ask-why? Why are you treating me this way? Didn't you say you'd be good to me for life? Didn't you say Eleanor was the most important? Chapter 6 42.86% Julian's expression was resolute: either apologize, or eat the candy. Leo stood by Violet's side, too. Father and son, both protecting someone they had only known for a few months. I lowered my head. I was tired. So terribly weary of it all. The Hawthorne household-I couldn't stay here any longer. It didn't feel like the place I had lived for more than ten years. There was Margaret, Leo, Julian...but no one spoke to me. The only reason I ever called this place home was because Julian was here, always shielding me. If even he stopped protecting me, then this wasn't my home anymore. And I would never-absolutely never-apologize to Violet. So I quietly picked up a piece of candy. Under Julian's furious gaze, I placed it on my tongue. The sugar was sweet, but all I felt was the unbearable bitterness swelling in my chest. I swallowed. Then spoke, my voice barely above a whisper. "Julian... we're even now." Breathing became difficult. A rash spread like fire behind my ears. The moment before darkness took me, I saw the color finally drain from Julian's face. He sprinted toward me. Chapter 6 42.86%