The Wife They Sacrificed

ice was like honey laced with poison. She reac

still staring. "She' s your twi

She turned back to me, her eyes flashing with anger.

me as disobedient and reckless. Murmurs ripp

pale," someo

king care of her son while

o her, hiding behind her legs. He peeked

Mom? You're going t

physical blow. Ruin everything.

ce thing to say," I sa

him, Ava. He's been through enough. He told me how you yell at

t Mark for support, but he was star

e time or place," he said

ted, pointing at me. "She was mad that I spil

ugging Liam tightly. "Oh, you poor

ears. "I'm so sorry you all have to see this. My sister... s

n. They had always favored Scarlett, the successful actress, over me, the q

rong?" she asked, glaring at

Liam," Scarlett sobbe

ould be ashamed of yourself. Coming here and making a scene. Look at

ers digging into my flesh.

around me were a blur of judgment and pity. I was the crazy one.

g through the crowd of gawking parents. I didn't sto

, wa

e caught up to

hing heavily. "Liam is just confused. And

ke, so insulting, it

," I said, my voi

is. We're a family. We

I got in and slammed it shut, locking it before he coul

raight to the shower and scrubbed my skin, trying to w

n hour before the front door

She marched up to me and slapped me hard across the face. The st

led, his voice booming in the quiet house. "She has a reputat

, holding my cheek. "She and Mark are

er do that. You're just jealous. You've always been j

the bigger gift. Every school play where they only had eyes for her. Every achiev

ointing a finger in my face, "we will tell everyone the truth. That you're a mentally unstable,

ast bit of love I had for th

e buzzed. It was a video from Scarlett. I opened it. She was in a luxu

rred. "Just remember your place. You're

re in the silent house, a cold, hard resolve settling in my bo

. This was just