Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David) novel Chapter 239

Danielle sat on the couch, quietly watching Audrey's tear-streaked face. She hadn't seen Audrey in so long that she almost forgot what she looked like.

Audrey was fumbling with Xavier's body, her actions not so much a medical check-up, but more like she was about to tear him apart. His wound was pulled, and he grimaced in pain, gritting his teeth, unable to even speak, beads of sweat dotting his forehead.

Danielle's brothers were about to step in, but someone moved faster.

"If you don't want your hands anymore, I'll gladly cut them off," Jaden growled, yanking Xavier away from Audrey's grasp.

Audrey froze, completely caught off guard. 'I was just trying to check on Xavier. Why was he yelling at me like that? And why were the brothers standing there, letting him snap at me? Are they treating me differently just because I wasn't their biological sister?'

"Did the wound open up?" Jaden asked softly, turning to Xavier.

"I'll take a look," Danielle said, quickly standing up from the couch, worry evident in her eyes.

"I'm fine, just a little pain earlier," Xavier replied, not wanting his family to fret over him.

"Xavier, let Danielle check," Joseph said calmly, his lips barely parting.

"Audrey, what do you think you're doing? Can't you see Xavier's hurt? You need to be more careful!" Matthew's voice was stern, his face darkening with disapproval.

"I was just worried about Xavier! I wasn't trying to hurt him!" Audrey protested, her voice trembling. "Why is everyone yelling at me? I didn't mean it like that! Jaden screamed at me, and none of you said anything. Why's it always like this? Just because I'm not your biological sister, you can all ignore me?"

She felt like she was being pushed aside, no matter how hard she tried to show she cared. Was this how they all truly saw her—an outsider who no longer mattered now that the real daughter had returned?

"Audrey, Matthew and Mr. Johnson are just concerned about Xavier. His wound is fresh, and you were too rough. You didn't see him sweating from the pain?" Elliot tried to reason with her.

"I'm sorry, Xavier," Audrey said, her voice softening. "I was just so worried, I didn't control myself. Can you forgive me?" Her apology was drenched in self-pity, and her eyes welled up with tears, making it seem like she was the victim.

Danielle's brothers exchanged looks, clearly believing Audrey was in the wrong. Still, Audrey only stood there, feeling even more wronged, fighting back her tears. She tried to get them to speak up for her, but none of them seemed to care. They just watched her suffer in silence.

Ever since Audrey arrived at the Darling family, Xavier's opinion of her had been nothing short of disdain—and now, it was even worse.

"Stop flitting around in front of me. If you do it one more time, I’ll forgive you. Keep it up, and I’ll send you straight to the afterlife," Xavier snapped.