Chapter 4 Four

EVE'S POV

After everything that happened, there were days I wanted nothing more than to just... disappear. To stop breathing. To not feel anything anymore.

Twice, I tried to take my own life. And twice, someone found me in time. But still, I felt like a ghost walking through life - broken, ashamed, and unwanted.

Since that day, my life and my family's name were dragged through the mud. Kelvin - the boy I thought I loved - vanished like smoke. No apology. No explanation. Nothing. And me? I became the girl everyone whispered about, pointed at. The girl to avoid.

I was never again regarded as the once sweet, loving, and good mannered girl. People drifted away from me like a plague.

My father stopped seeing me as his daughter. In his eyes, I became a stain on the family's legacy.

So why couldn't I just die and find peace?

Maybe... maybe because I still had a reason to live.

Daniel–my younger brother.

A sudden crash from the kitchen jolted me out of my thoughts. My heart jumped.

"In your life, have you ever done anything right?" Dad roared mashing down from the living room. "You've already broken our name, shattered our family, and now a plate? What next? What else are you going to destroy, you cursed child?!" he fired.

"Daddy, I'm sorry, it was an accident-"

"Accident?" His voice cracked with rage. "Just like that bastard in your womb was an accident?!" He spat heartlessly.

My lips trembled, and I couldn't stop the tears that streamed down my face.

He always called my baby a mistake. A curse. But he wasn't. He had a heartbeat. He had a soul. He had a father. Not that it mattered anymore - not after Dad forced me to abort him.

I had begged, pleaded. I swore I'd raise the baby on my own. But that night, he drugged me. I woke up in a hospital bed with pain between my legs and emptiness in my heart. I've hated myself every day since.

"Idiot. Clean it up," Dad spat and stormed off, leaving me shaking beside the shards of porcelain.

I dropped to my knees and began picking up the broken pieces, letting the tears fall freely.

This was my life now - shame, silence, punishment.

And somehow, I was still supposed to keep breathing.

Who is to blame, for all this? Of course, I was the one.

Maybe I deserved it. I had fallen for Kelvin. I had trusted him. I was the one who let him get too close. I was the one who believed love would save me.

My father's name - the name he spent decades protecting - now dragged through the dirt because of me. His business nearly collapsed from the scandal. We were lucky it didn't otherwise, I would have never been able to forgive myself.

But still, I lost everything else. Including his love. I was more like a complete stranger to him.

I messed up. I really did.

"Are you crying again, sis?"

Daniel's voice cut through the silence. I quickly wiped my tears and put on my best fake smile, keeping my back to him.

"No, love. Just got something in my eye," I said, turning to face the sink.

He didn't believe me. He never did.

Daniel stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me.

"Don't cry, sis. You'll get through this. I'm here for you."

A small, real smile slipped out. He pecked my shoulder, and I turned to look at him fully.

"I know it's hard," he said, his voice softer now. "Dad's different. Mum barely talks to you. But me? I'm not sure how you are feeling inside. But just know that I'm not going anywhere. I don't like seeing you hurt like this."

I pulled him into a hug. "Thank you. I'm sorry."

"Just be happy for me. That's all I want," he whispered.

I sighed deeply as I nodded.

Daniel was only sixteen - two years younger than me - but sometimes he felt wiser than everyone else in this house.

Our family was well-off. Not extravagantly rich, but comfortable. We had cars, a nice home, and almost everything we wanted. But after the scandal, my privileges were cut off. They still fed me. But financially? I was on my own' reaping a smaller portion of their benefits.

Thankfully, I had savings. And Daniel occasionally slipped me money from his allowance. My little angel.

"Today, I'm going to see Mary," I said.

Daniel frowned.

"That bitch who hasn't called you in months? She ghosted you the moment everything happened. She avoided you like a plague. And now you want to visit her?"

"Come on. She's not a bitch. She's still my best friend," I muttered as I elbowed him playfully.

"Best friend?" he scoffed.

I lightly tapped his forehead. "Be nice."

We both laughed, and I excused myself to freshen up.