My Silver Lining in the Dark Clouds

"You're such a saint," I said with a sarcastic smile before pulling Xavier away.

Before we could go far, Rosie caught my wrist. Disgusted, I yanked my hand away, which caused her to stumble and hit her head against the wall.

The impact made a loud thud, and blood started trickling down. Rosie clutched her head, looking at me with tear-filled eyes.

"Stella..." she whimpered, playing the victim perfectly.

As expected, the Cantrell brothers rushed to her side immediately, and even my injured father scrambled to get up. Shawn helped her to her feet while cursing at me.

"Don't blame Stella, Shawn. It's my fault, I lost my balance..." Rosie choked out between sobs. "She's the real Cantrell daughter, and I'm just taking her place. She has every right to hate me."

Shawn's glare was burning with hatred as he shouted, "I don't care about blood relations! Rosie, you're my real sister!

"Some people think blood ties give them the right to do anything. She's stupid and evil—it's disgusting! I'll never accept her as my family!"

A chill ran through my body. Before I could respond, Xavier lost his patience and landed a solid punch on Shawn's face. The blow sent Shawn staggering back several steps, dragging Rosie with him.

"What's your problem, Xavier!" Shawn roared.

Xavier responded by taking my hand, his warm touch melting some of the cold in my heart.

I smiled coldly at Shawn. "I'll never forgive you either—any of you."

How desperate must I have been to end my life in the novel? Ignoring the shocked looks from Seth and my father, I left with Xavier.

I did not go back to the Cantrell residence as it was suffocating, and I did not follow Xavier back to face the Kingston family either. Instead, I got a hotel room for the night.

As night fell, I stood by the window as night fell, watching the city lights twinkle below, and suddenly laughed.

I still had a bright future ahead of me, and I would not waste it on them. Since fate had given me a warning, Xavier and I would focus on our studies and reclaim the college dreams we were meant to have.

The next day, I went to school for registration. The homeroom teacher seemed pleased with my records and cheerfully led me to the classroom.

"Everyone, please welcome our new student, Stella Cantrell," the teacher announced, followed by scattered applause.

When asked to choose a seat, Rosie immediately stood up. She cheerfully called out, "Stella, come sit with me!"

I ignored her and walked straight to Xavier's desk. Rosie's face fell, and her eyes welled up with tears. The bandage on her head only made her look more pitiful.

Shawn scoffed and pulled her back down. "She's not worth your kindness! Have you forgotten how she hurt you? You're too nice, Rosie."

He shot me a warning glare, which I returned with an eye roll. "Psycho," I muttered under my breath.

Shawn, sitting close enough to hear, turned red with anger. He shouted, "Stella!"

"Shawn, Stella didn't mean it," Rosie pleaded, holding him back.

I ignored them both and worked on my assignments with Xavier.

However, the peace did not last long. After school, I found myself cornered in an alley by a group of thugs.

Their leader, a guy with bleached hair, had a cigarette dangling from his lips while his mates snickered behind him.

I took a deep breath, recognizing him as Rosie's brother from her birth family. He had always been overprotective of her. In my dream, he had also attacked me, but not this early.

The plot was clearly accelerating.

He narrowed his eyes menacingly. "I never hit girls, but anyone who messes with Rosie crosses a line they shouldn't."

He turned to his gang and barked, "Get her!"