Chapter 028

Chapter 28
Isabella gripped the steering wheel tightly as she drove home, so hard that her knuckles were turning white. Her chest felt heavy, and her mind was clouded with frustration, anger, and worst of all, guilt.

She should have seen this coming. She should have known better. The moment she saw Sophia lying unconscious on the floor when she got to the beach… how she looked in that hospital bed, hooked up to all those beeping machines, everything in her had shattered into pieces.

She had failed her daughter.

Now, as she drove through the streets illuminated by the giant solar powered lights, Allison’s name was the only thing ringing in her head.
Allison.

Her daughter. Her own flesh and blood.

Had she really done this? Perhaps it had all been a misunderstanding.

Isabella’s phone vibrated on the dashboard. She glanced at it briefly and frowned at the name flashing on the screen.

Allison.

Speak of the devil.

Her heart dropped as she thought that. No. But she still felt quite uncomfortable. She tapped the screen, putting it on speaker just as she pulled into the driveway.

“Allison?” She answered, sounding tense. She was about to ask a question when Allison finally spoke.

“Are you staying there with that girl?”

Isabella blinked, holding the phone so tight that she thought it would break apart in her hold.

That girl.

She felt something inside her snap and she cut the call immediately.

Sophia wasn’t just some random person. She was their family. How could Allison sound so spiteful?

Isabella let out a bitter laugh. She had spent so long making excuses, ignoring all the warning signs that had been shown, convincing herself that Allison just needed time to accept Sophia and treat her normally. She wanted her girls to have a happy sisterhood. But now, there was no more pretending.

The truth had never been clearer.

She drove into their property and got out of the car, slamming the door behind her before marching towards the house. As she unlocked the door and entered inside, she found Allison lounging on the couch, lazily flipping through TV channels, looking so carefree like nothing had happened.

Like Sophia hadn’t almost died in a party that she was at.

Like she hadn’t possibly been the reason why.
“Allison!” Isabella called out, her voice raised.

Allison turned her head slightly, but barely acknowledged her.

“What is it?” She mumbled, her eyes still on the screen.

Isabella’s had never felt more irritated.

“What?” She repeated in disbelief. “Is that all you have to say?”

Allison sighed dramatically and finally turned to face her mother.

“Look, I don’t know why you’re so mad. Sophia’s fine, right? She’ll survive.”

Isabella’s heart dropped.

“How can you even sound like that? She was fighting for her life in the hospital, Allison! She could have died! And you?” She gestured at the TV. All you’re doing here is acting like it’s nothing! Like none of this concerns you!”

Allison shrugged.

“It really doesn’t. Me not watching TV isn’t going to save her, Mum. You know that, I know that, so we don’t have to pretend.” She said flatly.

Isabella took a step back, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

She had spent all this whole ignoring this side of Allison, dismissing her cruelty as childish jealousy. So mean, so spiteful.

But now, she couldn’t. She wouldn’t do that anymore.

“I see the truth now.” Isabella moved closer to her daughter, her voice trembling. “It was you, wasn’t it? You did this to her.”

At that statement, Allison’s whole body stiffened. Her fingers tightened around the remote, and for a brief second, just one, her eyes widened in shock, like a deer caught in headlights.

But then, just as quickly as it came, her expression shifted. Her lips curled into an irritated frown, and she scoffed.

“You’re seriously accusing me of drugging her?” She said, rolling her eyes. “That’s ridiculous.”

Isabella shook her head.

“Don’t lie to me, Allison. I am your mother, and we both know that that is the truth. You are a horrible, spiteful girl!”

Tears burned in Isabella’s eyes.

Was it her fault? Had she done a terrible job raising Allison? Did she have a share of blame in what Allison had become?

She had always known her daughter was a little mean since she returned from her travels, but she had never imagined it would go this far. She hoped that one day, she would see Sophia as her sister instead of her enemy.

Hoped that deep down, Allison had a heart for her sister.

“I’m not lying!” Allison snapped, standing up now. Isabella was forced out of her mind. “Why do you always take her side? Had she bewitched your?”

Isabella’s breath caught.

“There are no sides, Allison! She’s your sister!”

“No, she’s not. My sister died before I could know her. Sophia is some sort of cheapskate replacement who’d never be my sister!” Allison said coldly. “And I hope to the goddess that she never comes back from that hospital.”

The words were like a slap to the face.

A thick silence filled the room, and Isabella felt like she was suffocating.

Her vision blurred with rage. Without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped Allison hard across the face.

The sound echoed through the living room.

Allison stumbled back slightly, her eyes wide in shock, her hand flying to her cheek where Isabella’s palm had struck her. For a moment, she looked completely stunned.

Then, her eyes welled up with furious tears, and she looked at her mother with irritation and anger.

“I hate you!” She screamed at the top of her lungs. “I hate you.” She said in a calmer tone, taking a shaky deep breath.
Then, before Isabella could even process what had happened, Allison spun on her heel and stormed up the stairs, slamming the door to her room so hard that the walls shook.

Isabella stood frozen in the living room, her whole body trembling.

Her hands were still shaking from the slap. Her chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, and she could still feel the sting of her palm against Allison’s skin.

How did she have such a monster as a child.