Chapter 9

Chapter 9

[A year after Charlie and Chad's marriage]

I had gone to the local market in the province to buy glossaries.

It's been a whole year since my sister's marriage and my betrayal of her. And within this year, I tried to live in a village where no one I knew would find me.

I plan to live my life in this way to atone for my sins anyway. Mind you, it doesn't mean I have forgotten about my guilt. I still live with it to date.

Today, I wanted to prepare a cake for Katya, who has been the friend I made since I moved to this province.

I had been staying with her and her grandmother Sidney since day one. Those two had made me feel the love and warmth my parents never gave me. And I'm so grateful to them. Trust me, without them, life would have been hectic for me.

Grandma Sid was understanding and caring to the extent that I couldn't even think of my family most of the time.

I had cut off contact with them so that I could have a fresh start and live a simple and peaceful life for the rest of my life. I'm not asking for much, right?

Yet, what I did on that unfaithful day had and will always be the scar I will bear.

It's Katya's birthday and I want to celebrate it with her. However, on my return from the grocery store, I was told I had a visitor who insisted on waiting for me.

I went to the kitchen and placed what I bought on the island before washing my hands and pouring myself a glass of cold water to cool down the hot sunburn.

Damn that weather. It was so hot.

By the way… Huh? A visitor? I smiled and ran to the garden of the house to see who it could be. I guess, though. I was so sure it was Katya. After all, we are going to celebrate her big day.

With that in mind, I started chanting her name from the sitting room to the garden with a happy face.

But when I reached the entrance to the garden, I froze and the glass in my hand slipped and shattered on the floor. I felt my body shivering in what… fear? Panic? Or shocked? I didn't even know.

I didn't want to… No! I couldn't take a step toward the tall, slim blonde woman whose back was facing me.

I recognized that woman at a quick glance. How can I forget my sister's figure? How can I forget that long and beautiful blonde hair of hers?

It was her… It was my sister… It was Charlie.

What was she doing there? I asked myself the question, though I knew I had no answer to that.

Happiness instantly filled my heart. I have to admit, I missed her. But suddenly, my mood changed. The past came rushing through my mind like a tsunami. The intense guilt started to swallow me whole at that moment.

Charlie had heard the excited voice when I yelled, thinking it was Katya, and also when the glass slipped from my hands and shattered.

She turned to me with a face full of smiles. Her face slightly changed when she saw the shattered glass but was soon replaced with her pleasant and sweet smile.

"Are you not happy to see me, little sister?" Charlie said with open arms, signaling for me to run to her for a hug.

No! I couldn't. How could I? I can't. Looking her in the face was even harder for me, not to mention a hug.

I took a step back. I couldn't think of hugging her without feeling ashamed in the embrace of my sister. I have still not forgiven myself for what I did to her, though she doesn't know yet.

"Marlie! I miss you! Come and hug me!" Charlie insisted.

No! Marlie, think faster. Yes! I had to find an excuse, "Uhm…sorry, I smell bad. I just came back from the grocery and sweating. I don't want to ruin your dress." I said, and I thanked the goddess of luck for making me bring up such an excuse.

"Marlie, do you hate me for not looking for you for the last year? Is that the reason why you don't even want to hug me after finally meeting you?" Charlie asked with sadness laced in her voice.

What? No! Why would she think that way? "How can I hate you? You did nothing wrong. I know you are busy with your new family. And besides, your husband must be needing you more by his side." I tried to be truer than my words.

With that statement, I said, I noticed my sister was upset. She had a frown on her face. Why is that? I didn't know the answer, of course.

"Charlie…!" I called her and she looked straight at me. "Uhm-- are you all right? Is everything okay?" I asked her.

However, instead of answering me, she came to me with a smile which I knew instantly that she was faking.

I had then forgotten, distancing myself from my sister, and moved towards her to find out what the problem was. You can call it siblings' instincts.

Charlie kept insisting it was nothing, but as you know me, I don't leave things unfinished or unresolved. Well, aside from… You know what, forget it.

I felt a tinge of anger when the thought of Chad and his family not treating my sister well flashed in my mind.

Yet, I didn't want to discuss anything pertaining to that man.

I held Charlie's hand to console her, whatever the reason she was sad.

But then I felt my sister shrink when I held her. That was odd.

"Charlie, what's wrong with your hands?" I asked before I could even register the question I was imposing.

She tried to move away from me, not wanting me to find the bruises on her hands. But it was too late before I grabbed her hands forcefully and pulled her dress over to check her body.

I realized it wasn't just the hands be, but almost her whole body. Because wherever I lifted her clothes, I could see purple and black bruises.

My heart twitched at the sight I was seeing. I wanted to cry, but I instantly turned my tears into rage.

"Charlie- Tell- Me- What - Is- This? Who - Did- This- To- You?" I asked every word through gritted teeth as my anger was soaring high.

Charlie was still quiet, so I asked her again. Most importantly, the only question I wanted to very… "Did Chad do this to you---"

But before she could answer, I had already started cursing at him… Damn that son of the Devil!" I cursed loudly as I fisted my fist into a tight ball out of sheer anger.

"No! No!! No!!! You are wrong Marlie." My sister tried to explain…" Chad didn't do this, I swear. He would never do this or even lay his hand on a strand of my hair." Charlie said, and I swear I could see the truthfulness in her eyes. She was indeed not lying.

Well, I'm glad that the devil wasn't responsible for her bruises. But wait… A thought came into my mind.

"If it's not Chad, then it was his family!" I said in a statement rather than a question. I was so sure they were responsible for her bruises.

The mother was the devil who held no remorse after killing her husband, and the sister was a serpent with a sharp tongue. Those two bitches… I was so furious to the extent that my sister had to calm me down.

That bitch had told me she didn't like my sister. But I never thought she would go to this extent.

I was fuming with anger. The hairs on my skin had all erected at that moment, and the urge to break something or someone was so intense. How dare they mistreat my sister like that? Who the heck do they think they were?

"Isn't Chad aware of what they are doing to you?" I asked my sister Charlie, but she seemed to be in deep thought. She had zoomed out on me.

I called her several times before she came back to her senses.

"Charlie don't lie to me. Tell me what exactly is happening in that house?" I asked after I calmed myself down. I was hoping she could confide in me.

"Marlie, would you want to go back with me?" But instead of answering, she threw a question I wasn't expecting back at me.

Going back to that city? I didn't want to go back to that place again. I wanted to be far away from that city and the people in there.

But then again, I remembered what my sister was facing in that house. Maybe she needs my help and support to deal with those evils.

I wasn't going to let those demons mistreat my sister. Never! It doesn't matter if I almost ruined her marriage or betrayed her. All I knew and wanted at that moment was to help my sister deal with those evil women. Maybe I could atone for my sins by helping her.

Those evils… Oh hell yeah! I was going to give them double the piece of shit they were giving my sister. Not just them, that man too. I was ready for Chad, his mother, and his sister.

I didn't care whether Chad was part of those maltreating my sister or not, all I knew was that he was part of my enemy list. The fact that he couldn't even see his wife's bruises speaks louder than words.

"Right now! Let's leave for the city, Charlie. My answer is yes, I will come with you." I said with absolute resolute. I was ready to go to the city.

My sister nodded in approval and gave me a faint smile.

" I will teach those people what it means to mess with Marlie Anderson's sister!" I said inwardly. I knew my sister was too innocent to understand me.

With that being said, I hurried inside to pack my things. I couldn't wait for any seconds whilst those witches and bitches enjoyed themselves in the city. They need to pay tenfold for their misdeeds!

"Wait for me to bring you hell, Barastanas!!"