nore

face having gone from tearful to chalk-white, stared at me, a flicker of

om its hidden pouch. My movements were jerky, my body aching, but my resolve was

e crowd. The sound, initially faint, soon filled t

ot really. Not like they care about m

smack of her hand a

! You hit me! You pushed m

suffering, her calculated manipulation. Every vile word, every feigned sob,

of outrage. Faces morphed from suspicion to disgust. Josi

er voice. "She recorded me out of conte

record you demanding my kidney, then flaunting your recovery while I still bled internally? Did I record you plotting to ruin me last week

singly steady. "I'd like to report a deliberate act of defamat

rm. "Daddy, please! I didn't mean it! I was just ups

king a scene! You're ruining everything! This is all a misunderstanding! Josie didn't mean it!" My mothe

ed. Addison stood frozen, his eyes wide

enced. You wanted me out of the way so your precious Josie could take my place. And now that she's exposed for the manipulative monster she is, you still defend her?" I looked at

ungrateful brat! We did everything fo

"How dare you! You're a disgrace! You're jus

le my entire life. This isn't her

away from the disgusted murmurs of the crowd. "We're leaving!" my father thunder

after. I gave my statement, my voice calm, meticulously detailing Josie's manipulations, th

ems I truly cared about – a worn copy of my favorite book, a small, faded drawing from childhood, a scarf my grandmother had knitted. The mansion

onsole Josie, heard my father promise something grand. I remembered the laughter, the shared secrets, the warmth of my famil

nto the cool night air, the police cars still flashing their blue and red li

linding flash of headli

n the cold pavement, the world tilting violently. My head cracked against the con

ispered, her voice sickeningly sweet. "What a clumsy girl. Don't worry, I'll make sure they know how much you loved them, to the very end." Her smile widened. "Don't worry, I'll tell them it

," Josie's voice, sickly sweet, whispered as darkness encroached.