Chapter 5

After hanging up the phone, Isabella heard crying from the living room. Nora's soft voice was calming their parents. Stroking the golden retriever wagging its tail at her, Isabella felt like only the dog truly cared about her in this house. Desmond showed up not long after. He spotted Isabella first, and she smiled lightly. "She's inside." Desmond gave her a complicated look before heading in. Isabella followed behind him, her eyes landing on the three people sitting on the couch, who had already managed to pull themselves together. The moment Nora saw Desmond, she rushed over and hugged him with a tremble in her voice. "Desmond, I'm back. What happened last year—when Isabella pushed me into the water—she didn't mean it. I'm safe now, so please don't be mad at her anymore, okay?" Boom. Isabella felt like her heart just took a punch. She stumbled back a couple of steps. What... what was her sister saying? That's not how it happened! She'd waited so long for the truth to come out, she'd thought she'd finally get justice. But now? This? Her fingernails dug hard into her palms. Voice shaking, she asked, "Nora... are you sure you remember it right?" Eyes wide, she held her breath. Maybe Nora would laugh and say it was a joke? But instead, Nora curled closer to Desmond like she was scared. Her body shook as she said, "Isabella, if it happened, it happened. Why would I lie?" Yeah. Why would she lie? Growing up, if Isabella had something, Nora had it too. If Isabella had nothing, Nora still had more. And Nora also had a boyfriend who adored her—a perfect one at that. Why would she need to frame Isabella? Biting her lip, Isabella stared at all those angry, accusing eyes, at Desmond's cold, sharp glare. She tried to explain, "You clearly asked me to grab some fruit. I turned around, and you were gone. How did that become me pushing you?" When Nora disappeared, all she saw was her clothes floating in the water and assumed she had fallen in—and just like that, everyone believed it. But... did Nora really fall in? "That's enough," Desmond cut her off, voice low and icy. "Isabella, I know you've always had feelings for me." So what he meant was—because she liked him, she pushed her sister into the water out of jealousy. His words snapped her out of her confusion and panic. She locked eyes with him, then let out a laugh, tears spilling uncontrollably. "So just because I liked you, I'd try to hurt my sister? Desmond, does liking you make me guilty?" Ha. No one would believe her. Her family hated her. Even the guy she liked thought she was disgusting. What a joke—Isabella, what a mess you've made of your life. Smack. A loud ring in her ear followed. She'd been slapped. Her father, furious, raised his hand again, but Nora stepped in before it landed. He shouted, "You ungrateful girl! Just because you liked your sister's boyfriend, you tried to kill her? Now that we have proof, I'm taking you straight to the cops!" "Dad, please don't!" Nora cried. "Sweetheart, if she could do it once, she'll do it again, and again!" Isabella just stood there, quiet, lips curling into a hollow smile. She almost laughed—except her heart ached too much. Why did everyone hate her so much? Nora said softly, "Don't get upset, Isabella. I'm fine now. Maybe I just remembered it wrong." Her voice was gentle, like coaxing a child, but the meaning underneath couldn't be more clear. Seeing their dad about to explode again, Nora stepped in front of him and turned to Desmond. "Desmond, please take Isabella out of here first."