Chapter 120
“If I’m Selina, the daughter that the Harvey family lost for twenty–one years, don’t you think you should make it up to me? Shower me with love, give me all the affection I missed out on? Selina’s voice wavered with a mix of rage and despair. “How can you all be so high and mighty, yet remain indifferent to my suffering? Manuel, think about how you treated me when I first returned to the Harveys. You said I could never replace Ashley in your heart!”
Faced with Selina’s interrogation, Manuel lost the confidence he initially had. The thought of Selina being his idol, Angel, along with the huge rift that had developed in their relationship, was like a knife crazily slashing at his heart. “Selina, you’ve got it all wrong. Ashley is, after all, the youngest child of the family. We grew up together…” Manuel tried to explain, but his
voice trailed off.
“I know.” Selina cut in, “Ashley is my biological sister too. You have shared every day together, your bond built over a lifetime. I get it: you’re much closer. I’ve accepted that. I don’t want to compete with Ashley. All I ever wanted was to reclaim my fair share of family love, a humble yet rightful ask. But not only did you fail to provide that–you mercilessly trampled over my longing and hopes! To you, a woman without a high school diploma, from the countryside, isn’t fit to carry the Harvey family’s blood or to be considered a daughter of the Harveys. So why did you bother with me in the first place? I was doing just fine without you–better than being at the Harveys by a long shot!”
Selina’s
‘s rage, accumulated over two lifetimes, pierced Manuel like relentless gunfire. She thought she could speak her mind calmly, but her emotions got the better of her. After all, she was as human as anyone else, full of emotions and desires–how could she become emotionless? The life that so many take for granted was never in Selina’s grasp. When she finally seemed to have it within reach, it pulled her into the abyss instead, shattering her completely.
No one knew of the envy that gnawed at Selina when she saw other children pampered by their parents, living harmoniously. She kept her yearning buried deep inside, not wanting to concern others. Even the companionship of her mentor couldn’t fill the void left by the absence of her kin.
Manuel couldn’t respond. Whether it was the timid, submissive Selina who had first arrived at the Harvey family or the bold and brazen one who left, she had never shown this side of herself to Manuel. This was the first time Manuel heard Selina’s heart laid bare, with no filter, causing waves of remorse to ripple through him. As her words pounded in his heart, he felt like he was suffocating.
After speaking her truth, Selina felt a weight lift off her chest. She tossed her hair and said, “Manuel, if it weren’t for me being Angel, your idol, you wouldn’t bother listening to what you consider my nonsense. Isn’t it interesting? You came looking for me because of who I am as an idol, never because I’m your biological sister!”
What’s the use of such a family? If someone is of no use, are they to be ignored, cast aside? Only those who are useful deserve to be the Harvey family’s daughters. Such a family made Selina sick to her stomach!
She would rather have returned to a normal, unremarkable family instead of a duplicitous, top–tier household like the Harvey family. Perhaps then, Selina could have been the happiest person in the world. What’s the value of wealth and power when corruption, darkness, and filth lurk beneath the surface?
Manuel was at a loss for words. He combed through his thoughts, recalling how Selina had cut ties with the Harvey family, bringing them shame. Selina had opposed Ashley relentlessly, and all of it had built up a deep loathing inside Manuel, wishing Selina would just vanish from their lives.
However, things took a turn when Selina won first place in a jewelry design contest with her stunning piece Shackled Hearts. It was then Manuel began to see her differently.
And now, here was Manuel, humbling himself before Selina because she was Angel. It seemed every time Manuel sought Selina out, it was out of anger, questioning, or some other motive, but never once had he approached her just because she was his long–lost sister whom he wanted to truly understand and bond with.
Why had it come to this? Manuel suddenly felt himself ugly and selfish.
Selina had no desire to entertain Manuel and turned to leave. All she heard was him mutter in a low voice, “Sorry, Selina.”
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Chapter 120
Those words stopped Selina for a moment. The next second, Manuel’s face was struck by a loud, stinging slap. He didn’t even see it coming and his pupils quivered in shock. Only when the burning sensation spread across his face did Manuel stare at Selina in disbelief.
“You saying that really makes me sick, you so–called piece of trash. Go and cherish your beloved Ashley, Selina spat out with disgust.
Gasping from the emotional pain, Manuel clenched his fists tightly, “Selina… I know I was wrong..
“You realize that now? It’s too late–or not, but I don’t care anymore. Like I said before, I’ve broken ties with the Harvey family. From now on, you live your life. I’ll live mine. We’re like wo separate streams that never cross; we owe each other nothing.”
Selina couldn’t stand even the slightest entanglement with the Harvey family; it just made her physically sick!
Selina tried to leave, but Manuel grabbed her arm. She showed no mercy, spinning around to land a kick in Manuel’s stomach. Bearing the sharp pain. Manuel held on for dear life, knowing that if he let go now, he’d lose his sister forever!
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