My Quadruplet Babies want their Daddy

"I'm so disappointed in you, Sadie. Apologize."

Kieran's voice was cold and firm, each word carrying an unmistakable weight of disappointment. His icy eyes remained fixed on me, making it painfully clear that he had already made up his mind about what had happened. There was no warmth in his expression, not even the slightest hint of doubt. He looked at me as though I had committed some unforgivable offense.

"I didn't do-"

I couldn't even finish my sentence when he suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me forward. His grip was firm enough to make me wince, but before I could protest, he was already leading me toward Penelope, who was currently lying comfortably on the hospital bed.

My gaze shifted to my older sister. She looked pale, with a blanket covering her lower body and an IV line attached to her hand. Her slightly disheveled hair and the faint redness around her eyes made her look like someone who had just gone through a terrible ordeal.

But I knew better.

I knew exactly what had happened at the pool, and I also knew that the woman lying in front of me was deliberately twisting the truth to make me look like the villain.

"It's okay, Kieran. You don't have to do this," Penelope said softly, her voice trembling just enough to sound convincing. She even lifted a hand as though she wanted to stop him from being too harsh with me. "I'm sure Sadie didn't mean to do it. I'm just a little weak, and I couldn't balance myself properly. That's why I ended up falling into the pool."

She let out a small cough before sniffing, her eyes glistening as though she were trying to hold back her tears.

Anyone listening to her would probably think she was defending me. They would believe she was a kind, understanding older sister willing to forgive me despite what I had supposedly done to her.

But nothing could be further from the truth.

Penelope wasn't defending me. She was simply making herself look even more innocent in front of everyone while ensuring that I would be the one blamed for everything.

I didn't push her into the pool.

She jumped into it on her own.

She deliberately threw herself into the water just to prove that everyone would take her side, no matter what she did. And judging by the way my family and my fiancé were looking at me, she had succeeded once again.

"Stop defending her, Penelope. It's exactly the reason why she behaves like that," my mother immediately snapped, her voice sharp with irritation.

My mother's words tightened my chest.

Yes, Penelope and I were sisters. We shared the same parents, the same blood, and the same family name.

But in the eyes of the Garcia family, she was the only daughter who truly mattered.

I was merely the unwanted addition, the girl who had suddenly appeared in their lives after being missing for fifteen years.

I was the youngest of five siblings. I had three older brothers, followed by Penelope, who was the fourth child. She was the only daughter they had raised and loved for most of their lives, while I was the little girl who had disappeared when I was only three years old.

I still remembered the story they had told me about how I went missing.

We had apparently been out for a family stroll when my nanny briefly looked away. It had only taken a moment of distraction, but when she turned around again, I was no longer standing beside her.

Just like that, I disappeared.

For fifteen years, my family searched for me, but I remained lost to them. They finally found me when I was eighteen, and that was only two years ago.

But they searched so desperately for me for more than one reason.

A promise my grandfather and Kieran's grandfather made.

An agreement that I would eventually marry Kieran.

That was why, after all those years of being separated from my family, I suddenly found myself brought into the luxurious world of the Garcia family, where everything felt unfamiliar.

Now, at twenty years old, I had finally completed my internship. I was preparing to take the examination that would allow me to become a fully licensed doctor.

It was supposed to be an exciting time in my life, a moment when I could finally look forward to the future I had worked so hard for.

But instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, I often found myself questioning whether I truly belonged anywhere.

From the moment I arrived at the Garcia household, I could feel the difference in the way they treated me. They looked at me as though I were some unrefined girl who had been dragged out of a remote province and placed in a world far beyond my understanding.

Perhaps they thought I was too provincial, too simple, or too different from the kind of daughter they had expected.

I could see it in their expressions whenever I spoke, whenever I made a mistake, and even whenever I tried to join their conversations.

Still, I did everything I could to earn their acceptance.

I wanted to know what it felt like to be loved by a real family. I wanted to experience the warmth of having parents who cared about me, siblings who would stand up for me, and a home where I wouldn't have to constantly prove that I deserved to be there.

I had spent fifteen years without them.

When I finally found them, I thought I could make up for all those lost years by being a good daughter and sister.

So I endured their hurtful remarks. I swallowed my pride whenever Penelope framed me for something I hadn't done. I forced myself to smile even when their words left invisible wounds that took days to heal.

I kept telling myself that things would eventually get better.

Maybe they just needed more time to get to know me.

Maybe, if I continued trying, they would finally see me as one of their own.

But no matter how hard I tried, nothing ever changed.

And I couldn't understand why Penelope hated me so much when I had never done anything to deserve it.

My thoughts were interrupted when Kieran suddenly spoke again.

"Sadie, Penelope has been treating you kindly. Why did you have to do that?"

His question felt like a slap across my face.

I slowly lifted my eyes toward him, hoping that perhaps he would finally give me a chance to explain. Maybe he would notice how hurt I was, or at least recognize that something about the situation didn't make sense.

But his expression remained stern.

"I didn't push her, Kieran. Please believe me..."

My voice cracked slightly as I spoke, and I immediately pressed my lips together, trying to keep myself from crying.

I hated how weak I sounded.

I hated that I had to beg the man who was supposed to be my partner to believe me.

And most of all, I hated the fact that a part of me was still desperately hoping he would choose to trust me.

Kieran was my fiancé.

For two years, I had been engaged to him, and despite his cold treatment, I had gradually fallen in love with him.

He was handsome, intelligent, and incredibly wealthy. His physique was just as impressive as his sharp features, and he carried himself with the kind of confidence that naturally commanded attention.

He was the sort of man many women would dream of having as a partner.

And when his grandfather announced that I would become his fiancée, Kieran never objected.

He didn't protest or react violently to the arrangement. He simply accepted it, as though marrying me wasn't something he particularly cared about.

Back then, I had taken his silence as a sign that he might have some feelings for me, even if he wasn't ready to express them.

I thought he might just be the kind of man who didn't know how to show affection.

I believed that, given enough time, he would eventually open his heart to me.

But whenever something happened involving Penelope, Kieran always took her side.

He would believe her without hesitation, while I was left struggling to defend myself against accusations that I had never deserved.

"Why do you keep on lying!" my mother suddenly shouted.

I flinched at the sound of her voice, my shoulders instinctively tensing as I turned toward her.

Before I could even respond, Penelope reached for her hand.

"Mom, please stop it. Getting angry is not good for your health," she said gently, giving our mother a concerned look. "You know you shouldn't get too upset."

Then she turned her attention toward me, her expression softening into something that looked almost sympathetic.

"It's okay, Sadie. There's no need to apologize. I know you didn't mean it."

I clenched my hands tightly at my sides.

My nails dug into my palms as I stared at her.

She even managed to make me look unreasonable simply by pretending to be understanding.

I wanted to scream at her.

I wanted to tell everyone that she was lying and that I hadn't touched her.

But I knew that no matter how loudly I defended myself, it wouldn't make a difference.

They had already decided who the guilty person was.

And that person was me.

"Sadie, is that what the people who raised you taught you?"

My father's voice made me turn toward him.

He was standing near the foot of Penelope's bed, his brows furrowed as he looked at me with evident disappointment. He even rubbed his temple, as though the entire situation had given him a terrible headache.

His gesture made me feel like nothing but a burden.

"But, Dad, I really didn't-"

"Enough!"

I jumped at the sudden force of his voice. My father's expression darkened, and his eyes narrowed as he looked directly at me.

"It's not your fault that you grew up among those kinds of people," he continued, his tone dripping with disapproval. "But you've been living with us for two years now. Why are you still behaving like this?"

His words struck deeper than I wanted to admit.

Those kinds of people.

He was referring to the people who had raised me after I went missing. The people who had taken care of me when my own family couldn't.

I knew my father had never been particularly pleased with the fact that I had grown up in a remote province, but hearing him speak about the people who had raised me that way still hurt.

I wanted to defend them.

I wanted to remind him that they had given me a home when I had no one else.

But before I could say anything, Kieran interrupted.

"Mr. Garcia," he said, stepping forward slightly. "I'll apologize on Sadie's behalf for what she did."

My heart sank.

"Kieran..." I whispered.

I wanted him to stop.

I wanted him to look at me and realize that I wasn't asking him to apologize for me. I was asking him to believe that I hadn't done anything wrong in the first place.

But he didn't even glance in my direction.

Instead, he turned toward Penelope.

"Penelope, please forgive Sadie. She's still young, and just like you said, she didn't mean for what happened to happen."

Penelope smiled faintly, lowering her gaze as though she were embarrassed by the attention.

"Don't worry, Kieran. I understand," she replied in a gentle voice. "I know my little sister, even though she just returned two years ago. She didn't grow up with us, so maybe she still feels distant from the family. That's probably why she sometimes acts this way."

She paused briefly before adding, "I am also at fault. I have my own shortcomings as her older sister."

My nails dug even deeper into my palms. I could feel the sting of the pressure, but I barely noticed it.

All I could think about was how easily Penelope managed to turn every situation in her favor.

She had pushed herself into the pool, yet she was the one receiving sympathy.

She had accused me of something I hadn't done, yet she was the one apologizing for being an inadequate sister.

And I was standing there, silently accepting the blame because no one would even listen to me.

I wanted to speak.

I wanted to defend myself and finally tell them everything I had been holding back for the past two years.

But what would be the point?

They would never believe me.

Not my parents.

Not my siblings.

And certainly not Kieran.

"Thank you," Kieran said to Penelope, seemingly satisfied with her response.

Then he finally turned toward me.

"Let's go."

He grabbed my arm again and pulled me toward the door.

I didn't resist.

My feet moved almost automatically as I followed him out of the hospital room, my head bowed and my gaze fixed on the floor.

I didn't want to look at anyone.

I didn't want to see the disappointment in my parents' eyes or the satisfaction hidden behind Penelope's innocent expression.

I didn't even want to look at Kieran.

Because if I did, I was afraid I might finally break down in front of him.

My chest felt painfully tight, as though something inside me were about to burst.

There was so much anger, disappointment, and hurt swirling inside me that I didn't know what to do with any of it.

I wanted to let it all out.

I wanted to scream until my throat hurt, cry until there were no tears left, and finally ask why I was always the one who had to suffer.

But I couldn't.

I had spent so many years trying to be accepted that I had forgotten how to stand up for myself without feeling guilty.

And somehow, even after everything they had done to me, I still wanted them to love me.

Inside the car, the silence between Kieran and me was suffocating.

He sat behind the steering wheel, his eyes focused on the road as he drove us home. His expression was unreadable, and his hands remained firmly on the wheel.

Meanwhile, I sat in the passenger seat, staring down at my lap.

I could still feel the ache in my arm where he had grabbed me earlier, but the emotional pain was far worse.

For several minutes, neither of us spoke.

I kept glancing at him from the corner of my eye, waiting for him to say something. Anything that would reassure me that he hadn't completely turned against me.

But he remained silent.

Eventually, I could no longer bear it.

"I didn't push her," I said quietly.

My voice was so soft that I wasn't even sure he had heard me.

I swallowed hard and tried again, forcing myself to speak a little louder.

"I really didn't, Kieran."

He didn't look at me.

Instead, he let out a small breath before responding in a firm, almost irritated tone.

"Stay away from Penelope if you can't stop yourself from getting into conflicts with her."

His words made me lift my head immediately.

I turned toward him, my eyes widening in disbelief.

For a moment, our gazes met, and I knew he saw the anger that had begun to rise in my eyes.

"Are you even listening to me?" I asked, my voice trembling with frustration. "I said I didn't push her. Why don't you believe me? I'm your fiancée, Kieran. I thought you would at least listen to my side before judging me."

His jaw tightened.

"Being my fiancée doesn't make you right, Sadie. Wrong is wrong."

I stared at him, momentarily speechless.

The words hurt more than I expected, especially coming from the man I had spent two years loving.

I slowly turned my body toward him, refusing to let the conversation end without making him understand how much he had hurt me.

"I see," I murmured bitterly. "Then when are you going to believe me?"

He remained silent for a brief moment.

I let out a humorless laugh, shaking my head as the frustration inside me continued to build.

"Everything that happens always gets blamed on me. You don't even bother asking what really happened before deciding that I'm guilty. You believe everyone else before you even consider listening to your own fiancée."

My voice grew stronger with every word, but underneath my anger was a deep, painful desperation.

I wanted him to understand.

I wanted him to realize that I wasn't asking for special treatment. I simply wanted the same consideration he so readily gave Penelope.

"I know Penelope," Kieran replied, his voice remaining steady. "I grew up with her. I've seen how understanding and reasonable she is."

I felt something inside me crack.

"I'm the unreasonable one now?" I asked, staring at him in disbelief. "We've been engaged for two years, Kieran. Two whole years. Don't you know me by now?"

I waited for him to answer.

I wanted him to say that he knew I wasn't the kind of person who would deliberately hurt someone.

I wanted him to tell me that he trusted me, even if he didn't fully understand what had happened.

But instead, he let out a frustrated sigh.

"Let's stop talking about this. The issue is over since Penelope understands you."

I looked away for a moment, blinking rapidly as I tried to keep the tears from falling.

Over?

How could he say that the issue was over when I was the one being blamed for something I hadn't done?

How could he expect me to simply accept everything and move on as if nothing had happened?

"There's really nothing I can say that would change the way you see me, is there?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Kieran's grip tightened on the steering wheel.

"I said, enough, Sadie."

His tone was sharper this time, and I could tell he was struggling to contain his anger.

I stared at him for another second before finally lowering my gaze.

My eyes were already burning, and I could feel the tears gathering along my lower lashes. I pressed my lips together, refusing to let even one of them fall.

I wasn't going to cry in front of him.

Not anymore.

I had already embarrassed myself enough by begging him to believe me.

So I fell silent.

For the rest of the drive, I simply looked out the passenger-side window, watching the buildings and passing vehicles blur together as the car moved through the streets.

I didn't know how long we had been driving when we finally arrived at Kieran's house.

Kieran and I had been living together for a year.

It had been his grandfather's idea. He wanted us to spend more time together so we could get to know each other better before our marriage.

At first, I was nervous about the arrangement.

Living under the same roof as the man I was engaged to was something I had only imagined in my dreams. I thought it might give us the chance to grow closer, to develop a relationship beyond the engagement our grandfathers had arranged.

But even though we shared the same house, we slept in separate bedrooms.

There was no intimacy between us.

At least, not until less than a month ago.

That night, Kieran came home drunk.

The household staff was nowhere to be found, so I had to take care of him by myself. He could barely walk properly, so I had to support his weight as I helped him toward his bedroom.

I remember how heavy his body felt against mine, how his breath smelled of alcohol, and how difficult it was to keep him steady as we made our way down the hallway.

I had only intended to help him get into bed.

But things didn't end there.

I couldn't bring myself to stop him.

He didn't force me. At first, I tried to hold back, reminding myself we weren't married yet and that I should be more careful.

But eventually, I gave in.

I had feelings for him, after all.

He was my fiancé, the man I had loved for two years, and I couldn't deny that a part of me had longed to be close to him.

I didn't regret what happened between us.

Not even now.

Even though I knew our relationship wasn't what I had hoped it would be, I still held on to the belief that things might eventually change.

Perhaps, someday, he would finally look at me with the same affection I had always given him.

Perhaps, someday, he would love me, too.

But as I stepped out of the car and followed him into the house, I couldn't help wondering if I had simply been fooling myself all along.

The moment we entered the house, I headed straight for the stairs.

I wanted to get to my room as quickly as possible. I wanted to be alone, away from everyone, where I could finally let myself cry without worrying about being judged.

But before I could take the first step, Kieran called my name.

"Sadie."

I stopped and slowly turned around.

Our eyes met, and for a brief moment, neither of us said anything.

He stood a few steps away from me, his expression still serious. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't quite understand, something that made me feel as though he still had something else to say.

Then he finally spoke.

"Just avoid Penelope from now on so there won't be any more trouble."

I stared at him.

That was it?

After everything that had happened, after all the accusations and the hurtful words, that was all he had to say to me?

He didn't ask if I was okay.

He didn't apologize for grabbing my arm or for refusing to listen to my explanation.

He didn't even bother asking whether I was still upset.

He simply wanted me to avoid Penelope so that he wouldn't have to deal with another problem.

A few moments of silence passed between us.

I lowered my eyes before slowly nodding.

"Okay."

My voice was quiet, almost emotionless.

I didn't have the energy to argue anymore.

Kieran seemed to hesitate for a moment, his gaze lingering on my face as though he had noticed something different in my expression.

"Do you have anything else to say?"

I looked at him, forcing myself to meet his eyes.

For a brief second, I thought I saw an unfamiliar emotion flicker across his face.

It was subtle, almost impossible to identify, but it made me feel as though he wanted to say something more.

Perhaps he was waiting for me to ask him another question.

Perhaps he wanted me to explain myself again.

Or perhaps I was simply imagining things because I still wanted to believe that he cared.

Whatever it was, he eventually seemed to change his mind.

"Nothing."

I held his gaze for another moment before slowly turning away.

I climbed the stairs without looking back, even though I could still feel his eyes following me.

Each step felt heavier than the last, but I kept moving until I finally reached my bedroom.

I closed the door behind me and stood there for a moment, my hand still resting on the doorknob.

I didn't turn around.

I didn't look back.

Even though a part of me desperately wanted to know whether Kieran was still standing downstairs, watching me leave, I refused to give in to that urge.

Because for the first time in a long while, I was beginning to realize just how exhausting it was to keep hoping that someone would choose to believe me.

And I was tired.

So damn tired of always being the one who had to understand, the one who had to forgive, and the one who had to accept being hurt.

I had spent two years loving Kieran, convincing myself that his coldness was something I could endure.

But as I stood alone in my room, with the silence pressing in around me, one painful question continued to echo inside my head.

How much longer could I keep loving a man who never seemed willing to believe me?

Three days had passed since the incident at the hospital, and I had barely left the house. I spent most of my time inside my room, keeping to myself and avoiding any unnecessary interaction with the people around me. I didn't even bother stepping outside for some fresh air, as though staying within the four walls of my bedroom could somehow protect me from the pain I had been carrying.

Kieran and I still saw each other, of course. We shared the same house, after all, and there were times when we would cross paths in the hallway or sit across from each other during meals. But I no longer tried to start a conversation.

Whenever he spoke to me during breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I would simply nod in response. Sometimes, I would give him a brief glance before returning my attention to my food. I didn't ask where he was going, what he was doing, or when he would be coming home.

I had stopped trying.

The incident at the hotel and what happened afterward at the hospital had opened my eyes to something I had desperately tried to ignore for the past two years.

Penelope had made it painfully clear how much influence she had over the people around us, and more importantly, how much power she held over the people whose love and affection I had been longing for.

She knew exactly how to make them believe her.

And the worst part was that even Kieran, the man who was supposed to prioritize me and who should have considered me his own, had shown me where I stood in his life.

The realization had completely shattered my heart.

Over the past few days, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what I should do next. I replayed everything that had happened during the last two years, especially the moments since I had returned to my biological family.

Sometimes, I couldn't help laughing at my own foolishness.

I had been so eager to meet them, to take care of them, and to love them. I had imagined countless scenarios in my head about what it would be like to finally have a real family again. I thought I would be welcomed with open arms, showered with affection, and given the chance to make up for all the years we had lost.

I had looked forward to calling them Mom and Dad, and then my brothers and sister.

I had wanted to belong.

But what had happened instead?

They had never truly seen me.

My parents seemed almost ashamed of where I came from. They found me in the countryside, and when they learned more about my background as Saudiana Garcia, they became even more reluctant to let others know I'd returned.

They never introduced me proudly as their long-lost daughter. They never made any effort to let the people around them know that I had finally come home.

It was as though they wanted to keep me hidden, as if my existence were something they would rather not have to explain.

And my three older brothers?

They were supposed to protect me. I was their youngest sister, the little girl missing for fifteen years. I thought they would naturally want to make up for the years we had spent apart.

But all the love and attention they could have given me had already been reserved for Penelope.

They had nothing left for me.

Not even a little.

They spoiled Penelope so much that she never had to work hard for anything she wanted. Whatever she asked for, they would readily give her, as though denying her even the smallest request was simply out of the question.

Despite being twenty-five years old and having already graduated from college, Penelope still didn't have a clear direction in life. She had no definite plans for her future, yet no one seemed to care.

Everything was handed to her on a silver platter.

She never had to fight for anything, never had to prove herself, and never had to worry about whether someone would be there to support her.

Meanwhile, I couldn't even tell whether my own family knew that I was a doctor.

Perhaps they didn't.

They had never shown enough interest in my life to ask.

They didn't know that throughout my years as a student, I had used the name Diana Cortez.

The married couple who raised me, Charlie and Jocelyn Cortez, gave me that name. Both were doctors, and together with Grandma Emy, Jocelyn's mother, they had cared for me and given me the kind of love I had always dreamed of from a family.

They were the ones who had watched me grow up.

They supported my dreams and encouraged me to pursue medicine.

They were the ones who had made me feel that I was loved, even when I had no idea who my biological parents were.

And yet, I had left them behind because I wanted to be with the Garcias.

I had convinced myself that returning to my biological family was the right thing to do.

Now, I wasn't so sure anymore.

On the fourth day, Kieran and I were having breakfast when he suddenly spoke.

"I'll be out of the country for a week. Don't bother visiting Penelope at the hospital anymore, and if you need anything, just call me."

My hand stopped midway as I was about to lift my spoon.

For a moment, I simply stared at my breakfast, trying to process what I had just heard.

Since when had Kieran started informing me about his plans?

In the past, whenever he was about to leave, I would always ask where he was going. I wanted to know when he would return, even if it was just a simple business trip.

But he would usually give me nothing more than a brief glance before walking out of the house.

Sometimes, he wouldn't even bother answering.

So why was he suddenly telling me about his trip now?

Was it because he wanted to make sure I wouldn't visit Penelope while he was away?

Or was he simply being considerate for once?

I didn't know, and honestly, I no longer had the energy to figure it out.

"Did you hear me?" he asked when I remained silent.

I didn't look at him. I simply nodded once before returning my attention to my food.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed that he had stopped moving. His hand was still holding his cutlery, but he wasn't using it anymore.

For a brief moment, I thought he might ask me something.

Perhaps he would ask why I had become so quiet over the past few days. Maybe he would finally notice that I had stopped talking to him, or that I no longer made any effort to seek his attention.

But he didn't.

He didn't pursue the conversation.

And I had expected as much.

I knew I wasn't important enough for him to care about my opinion, much less my silence.

After breakfast, Kieran left the house.

I had no intention of doing what he told me. I wasn't going to call him, but I certainly wasn't going to visit Penelope at the hospital.

I knew I wasn't needed there.

Besides, I had already made up my mind to stay away from her.

I didn't want to deal with another accusation, another fake apology, or another situation where I would end up being the villain.

For once, I wanted peace.

But on the fifth day of Kieran's absence, my phone suddenly rang.

It was a message from my mother.

She was telling me to go to the hospital and help with Penelope's discharge.

I stared at the message for a few seconds, my thumb hovering over the screen.

I could have ignored it.

I could have told her that I wasn't available or that she should ask one of my brothers to do it instead.

But I knew how things would turn out if I refused. They would accuse me of being ungrateful again, and I didn't have the patience to deal with another round of their hurtful remarks.

So I simply typed a short reply.

"Okay."

After sending the message, I picked up my bag and left the house.

When I arrived at the hospital, Penelope was the only one in the room.

She was sitting comfortably on her hospital bed, looking much better than she had a few days ago. Her hair was neatly arranged, and the faint smile on her face made it seem as though she had never been seriously injured in the first place.

The moment she saw me, the corners of her lips curled into a smirk.

"Do you see it now?" she asked, tilting her head slightly as she looked at me. "No matter what happens, they'll always believe me."

I stared at her without saying anything.

There was something about the way she smiled that made my stomach twist. She wasn't even trying to hide her satisfaction anymore.

She wanted me to know that she had won.

And she wanted me to feel every bit of it.

I studied her face, wondering for the hundredth time why she hated me so much.

We were sisters.

Biological sisters.

We had the same father and mother, the same family name, and the same blood running through our veins.

So why?

Why was she so determined to make my life miserable?

The only difference between us was that I had been separated from our family for a long time after being kidnapped when I was just a little girl.

I hadn't chosen to disappear.

I hadn't chosen to grow up away from them.

I hadn't chosen to miss fifteen years of my life with the people who were supposed to be my family.

Yet Penelope acted as though my return had been some kind of unforgivable crime.

"Why do you hate me so much?" I finally asked, unable to keep the question to myself any longer.

My voice was quiet, but I made sure to look directly into her eyes.

"We're sisters, Penelope. I've never done anything to hurt you. So why are you treating me like this?"

Her smile slowly disappeared.

Her eyes narrowed, and the expression on her face changed so suddenly that I almost took a step back.

The hatred in her gaze was unmistakable.

It was raw and intense, as though there was nothing in the world that could ever make her feel differently about me.

"You should have been dead."

I froze.

For a moment, I thought I had misheard her.

My lips parted, but no words came out.

The room suddenly felt colder, and I found myself staring at the woman in front of me as though I were seeing her for the first time.

If I hadn't known that Penelope was still a child when I was kidnapped, I might have thought she had something to do with my disappearance.

"If you hadn't come back, I would still be the only daughter of this family!" she suddenly snapped, her voice rising with every word. "I would still be the youngest! I would be the only one receiving all the love and attention of the Garcias!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Was she seriously saying all of that?

Was she actually competing with me for the love and attention of our own family?

The same love and attention that should have been freely given to both of us?

I stared at her, unable to hide my disbelief.

"If you had not returned, I should have ended up being Kieran's fiancée!" she continued, her eyes burning with resentment.

That was when everything finally became clear.

Penelope didn't just want my place in the Garcia family.

She wanted my place in Kieran's life, too.

I remained silent, staring at her as the weight of her words slowly settled over me.

Now I finally understood just how selfish she really was.