The Villain's Last Wish

"Get out!" I exclaimed.

Lucas suddenly stormed in and rushed over to slap me across the face. "What are you doing?! Why the heck did you shove Charlie?"

Lucas was the original Maddison's eldest brother. He had always been the quiet type who barely acknowledged her existence since childhood.

It was not until they grew up that he started treating me slightly better. However, that kindness did not last long before it disappeared with Cynthia's arrival.

Cynthia was the daughter our parents had adopted. Ever since she came, the entire family adored her. It was probably because she had that female lead aura.

Lucas glared at me furiously. "Maddison, you just caused Cynthia to lose her SAT opportunity, and now, you're abusing Charlie. You're completely hopeless!"

When I looked at him, I felt angry on behalf of the original Maddison. She had worked so hard for his approval, making him breakfast every day, washing his clothes, and polishing his shoes.

However, he would make her kneel and accept beatings at the drop of a hat.

With a loud bang, I shoved him hard against the door. I yelled, "Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?!"

"Maddie, how can you treat Lucas that way? He's your older brother!" Cynthia suddenly appeared at the doorway.

The sight of her fake, pitiful face annoyed me. I could not understand how someone like her became the female lead.

I got out of bed and slapped Cynthia hard across the face. "You're just an outsider. What gives you the right to speak here?"

Terry, the pesticide seller, stood frozen in shock before breaking into applause.

"That was amazing."

I let out a laugh and left directly, too tired to be bothered with them anymore. All I wanted was to end my life.

I had to hurry up and die, so I went to the rooftop. It was 20 stories high, and jumping would guarantee death.

I closed my eyes and was about to jump when a force pulled me back. I fell to the ground, and when I opened my eyes, I saw a guy standing in front of me.

He was handsome, and his eyes were bright and clear. With a voice full of concern, he said, "Maddison, don't do this."

I racked my brain trying to remember who he was, and then, it hit me. He was just a classmate, Ashton Harper.

Ashton was even less than a side character, a complete background extra. He had only ever shown up once in the plot, asking the original Maddison to bring him breakfast.

Ashton gripped my hand tightly, afraid I might try to jump again. "The world is still beautiful. We just finished our SATs, and we're about to start college. Life will definitely be better then, so you have to stay alive."

Although I wanted to say that my life had nothing to do with him, some force in my body seemed to stop me. Eventually, I replied, "Okay."

His face lit up with a relieved smile. "Good, then remember what I said. I heard you weren't feeling well today, and I'm glad I came. Otherwise, you might've really jumped."

He added, "Don't let your brothers get to you. They're not the only ones in this world who care about you."

I nodded faintly, not sure what to make of it.

Then, Ashton took my hand and led me downstairs step by step. We went to eat spaghetti and meatballs, and he even got me a double serving of meatballs.

He said, "Life is about eating good food and having fun. That's what makes it truly wonderful."

I held the steaming bowl of pasta, ready to answer him. Suddenly, a figure rushed over and knocked the plate out of my hands.

The piping hot pasta sauce immediately soaked my pants.

I looked up and saw Lucas' furious expression.

"I knew it! You only pretended to drink that pesticide. It's way too convenient that it just happened to be watered down.

"Maddison, did you really think a cheap trick like that would make Charlie and I feel sorry for you? It'll only make me hate you more!"