Chapter 4 Rebirth

Lila's POV

I opened my eyes and felt a banging headache. I stood up from my bed and took a deep breath. I was back in my bedroom, but everything felt different. I had prayed for another chance and, somehow, here I was. My heart raced as I remembered what happened.

Tears fell from my eyes as I recalled everything that had happened. Jessica had hit me in the head and I passed out.

I was still putting everything together when a voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Are you ready?" I heard Joshua's voice outside. But just as I prepared myself, I walked into the living room and froze.

There on the couch were Joshua and Jessica, tangled in each other's arms. "I felt like I had been slapped in the face. "What?! "What are you doing?" I shouted, my pulse racing and tears filling my eyes. It was like punishment all over again.

They jumped apart, their faces filled with shock. Joshua's face went pale. "Lila! "What are you doing here?" he stammered.

"What does it look like?" I yelled, my voice shaking with anger. "You're supposed to be married to me, and you're busy sucking off my sister's face?" How could you do this to me?"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please, Lila. You really thought you had him all to yourself? "Delusional much?" She laughed, but I could see her true colors behind that smirk.

"Stop it!" I shouted, feeling the tears spill over. "How could you betray me like this?"

"Lila, calm down. "It's not what you think!" Joshua said, trying to grab my arm, but I pulled back.

"Not what I think?" I echoed, my heart pounding. "You're in bed with my sister!" What is there to misunderstand?"

"We were just talking!" she said, which made me want to scream. "You're making a big deal out of nothing."

"A big deal? "You think this is nothing?" I felt my voice crack. "You are both horrible!"

"Listen, Lila," Joshua said, stepping towards me. We care about each other. This... it just happened."

"Care about each other?" I repeated, disbelief washing over me. "You care enough to cheat on me and then lie about it?"

"Don't get dramatic!" Joshua snapped. "You've been so distant." I just needed someone who understood me."

"Someone who understood you?" I shouted, frustration bubbling over. "So you chose my sister? Are you kidding me?"

She smirked again. "You've always been in the way, Lila. It's always been about you! But now, maybe it's time you fade into the background."

"Fade into the background?" I felt a surge of anger. "You think I'm just going to let you walk all over me? You're my sister!"

Joshua stepped forward, his eyes serious. "This is not about you anymore, Lila. Jessica is the one I want. You have to accept that."

I shook my head, struggling to find the right words. "You're both wrong! You're hurting me! I love you, Joshua! You were supposed to be mine!"

"Love? "You don't even know what love is," Jasmine spoke again, her voice sharp. You thought being with him would keep him? That never works!"

"Stop it!" I yelled. "You both think this is funny? You think this is a game?"

"Lila, we're just being real," Joshua said, trying to calm the situation. "You need to understand that this is how it is."

I stepped back, feeling the tears fall. "I can't believe I ever trusted you," I whispered. "You're nothing but a liar!"

"Maybe you should have been better at keeping him," Jessica shot back, her eyes cold. "You can't compete with me, Lila!"

I turned away, unable to bear their smug faces any longer. "You are both cruel," I murmured, pain flooding my heart.

As I walked away, I could hear them laugh behind me. It felt like a dagger in my heart. "What have I done to deserve this?" I thought, struggling to keep calm as I left the house.

I didn't want to go back inside. I needed to breathe, to think. As I stepped outside, the sun was shining, but it felt like a storm inside me.

Then my phone buzzed. It was a text from Joshua: **"Lila, we need to talk!"**

"Talk?" I whispered, feeling angry again. He thought he could just fix everything? I typed back quickly. **"There's nothing to talk about."**

Just as I sent the message, I looked up and saw Joshua coming outside. "Wait, Lila!" he called.

"What do you want?" I replied, keeping my voice steady.

"I just want to explain," he said, rushing toward me. "You don't understand what really happened."

"What's there to understand? "I saw you!" I shouted. "You were in bed with my sister!"

Joshua ran his hands through his hair, looking frustrated. "Lila, please! We've been distant for so long. I was lonely!"

"Lonely? So you decide to cheat on me?" I felt my heart race with anger. "You can't just treat me like this!"

"I'm sorry!" he yelled, desperation filling his voice. It just happened. I didn't want to hurt you!"

But the words felt hollow. "You've already hurt me," I said, my voice quieter now. "You don't care about me at all."

"I do care," he insisted. "I want to make it work."

"How can I believe anything you say?" I felt the tears come back. "You've broken my trust."

As I turned away, I could hear him call my name. "Lila, wait! Let's talk this out!"

But I didn't want to talk anymore. I walked away from him, feeling like I was breaking free. But inside, I was still hurt.

I had hoped for so much, and now it felt like everything was gone.

"Enough is enough!" I quietly vowed to myself. "I won't let them hurt me any longer." I will stand up for myself."

****

*THE NEXT DAY*

The next day, after everything had happened, I woke up feeling a banging headache. I was still angry and sad. I thought about Joshua and Jessica, but I also thought about getting some things straight. I needed to make decisions that were good for me and not give a fuck to anyone else.

As I sat at the kitchen table, my phone rang. I looked at the screen and saw my parents' names on the screen. I took a deep breath. "What do they want?" I wondered. I hesitated but answered the call.

"Lila! "You need to listen to us!" my father's voice came through the phone, firm and urgent.

"What is it?" I asked, trying to keep my cool. I wasn't in the mood for a lecture, especially not now.

"Your mother and I have seen some things you need to explain!" he said, sounding angry. You know how we feel about you. You've always talked about marrying that boy!"

"And what is your business with this?" I replied, feeling defensive.

"How could you? "You mean the man who cheated on him?" my mother cut in sharply. "We have a picture that proves you cheated on him!"

"What are you talking about?" I felt confused all of a sudden. "What made you think you could say that?"

"Look at this!" my father shouted, and I could hear paper rustling. This photo is all over town! You're with some unknown man!"

"Show me!" I demanded, my fingers shaking. They had to be lying. "You think I would cheat on Joshua?"

They sent the picture to my phone, and I stared at it in shock. It showed me with a man I didn't recognize, but I knew it was fake. It had to be photoshopped.

"This is not real!" I exclaimed, fighting against the anger rising in me. "How can you believe this?"

"We believe what we see!" my mother snapped. "This is why Joshua left you." He called off the marriage for a good reason!"

"He called off the marriage because he couldn't handle the truth!" I shouted back, feeling the heat in my chest. "You don't understand what really happened!"

"I understand that you're making a fool of yourself, Lila," my dad said sharply. You were never good enough for him. You messed up!"

"I didn't mess up! "This is all a lie!" I felt my hands clenching into fists. I shouldn't have to defend myself to my own parents!

"Joshua is a good man," my father replied. And look how he left you for Jasmine. You don't deserve him!"

"Deserve him?" I said, shocked. "You don't know anything! You've always sided against me! You don't see what he did!"

"He's trying to protect his reputation!" my mother said, her voice cold. "You will ruin our family's name with your disgrace!"

I shook my head, feeling tears stinging my eyes. "You're both wrong! I'm not the one who cheats!"

"If you think that boy wants you back after this, you are mistaken!" my dad yelled.

"Don't you get it?" I cried, my heart pounding. Joshua never loved me! He only pretended to!"

My parents exchanged glances, and I could see their judgment still lingering. "We're just looking out for you, Lila," my mother said, but it felt empty.

"No, you're not! "You just want to control my life!" I yelled back. "You think this picture means anything? It's a lie!"

"He cares about you."

"Stop! You think he cares about me? "He just wants what I have!" I said, feeling furious. "I won't let him win!"

I stood up from the table, feeling the fight in me rising. "I don't need to listen to you! I'm not going to be treated like this anymore."

"Lila, sit down!" my mother commanded, but I didn't want to hear it.

"I won't! "If you can't support me, I'm walking out!" I shouted. "I'm done with you both!"

"Lila, please don't do this!" Joshua called from the phone, but I ignored him.

I turned and walked toward the door. "I'm leaving! "I'll figure out my life without you!" I called out, my heart pounding.

"Lila, wait!" my parents shouted at the same time, but I didn't stop. I cut the call and sat back in the chair.