Her Revenge Was His Regret (Shirley and Gilbert) novel Chapter 5

The sight of Sherry's nosebleed threw the room into chaos.

Claire glanced at her own hand, a brief shadow of guilt crossing her face.

But Teresa spoke first. "Sherry, you've always been weak. Nosebleeds happen to you all the time. Did you do all this just to make Mom feel guilty?"

Just like that, the atmosphere in the room changed completely.

"Still hopeless," her father, Joseph Campbell, said, sitting up. He looked perfectly healthy. His illness had been nothing but an act. They had lied to get her back here, just to put her in her place.

Teresa moved closer, still talking. "Sherry, you know I always say what I think. Don't be mad, okay? I'm only doing this for you—so you'll stop using these cheap tricks."

Then she reached out and tried to push Sherry.

This was Teresa's usual game—sweet on the outside, but always starting trouble. Even when she was the one pushing, Sherry would end up getting blamed.

Over time, Teresa had gone from acting shy to completely owning this house.

Even when she hurt someone, she always played the victim.

If Sherry got injured and ended up in the hospital, she'd still be the one who got yelled at.

Sure enough, the moment Teresa pushed her, she cried out, "Sherry, you're faking a fall. Ah!"

But this time, Sherry grabbed her arm and yanked her down hard. Teresa landed underneath her with a sharp cry.

Everyone who had been watching rushed over at once.

They shoved Sherry aside and crowded around Teresa, their faces full of worry.

Teresa's face was pale, tears streaming down. "Sherry, does pushing me down make you happy? If it does, I'd die for you."

Joseph snapped, "Sherry, are you really that cruel? Do you want your sister dead?"

Edward held Teresa, staring at Sherry with pure hatred. "Apologize now!"

Sherry's already broken heart felt twisted tight. Her fingers curled slowly.

She had endured so much pain that she had actually started to get used to it. After all, no one had ever truly loved her.

She had learned to hide every crack, every weak spot.

There was no one in this world she could really depend on.

Her face went cold. "Are you all having fun?

"Or are you deaf? When I fell, she clearly yelled I was going to fake a fall. If I really wanted to push her, would the 'clever' Teresa mess up her yell?

"I just made the fake fall real."

It made sense. The others glanced at Teresa, puzzled.

Teresa was so angry her face twisted. How dare this b*tch talk back?

Seems like she hasn't suffered enough. She still dares to come home. In this house, there's only room for one daughter—and that's me.

"Mom, Dad, thank you for taking care of me all this time. Since Sherry doesn't want me here, I'll go. I don't want to cause trouble between you over someone like me."

"Sherry! If you make Teresa leave, will you finally be hap—" Edward didn't get to finish.

Sherry cut him off. "Then let's call the police. We can check the security cameras and see what really happened."

Yes, she had pulled Teresa down—but the cameras would clearly show Teresa pushing her first.

Edward shook with anger. She still refused to apologize, even threatening to call the police? He was deeply disappointed. "With a character like yours, you should've been locked up long ago. You're worse than a criminal."

Teresa panicked. "I'm not going to the police station. Sherry, do you know how many times I went there when I got beaten up in that mountain village? That's where my nightmares started. You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? You don't want me to be okay."

Everyone's hearts softened with pity. Suddenly, calling the police seemed like a cruel idea.

"Why isn't Teresa my real daughter? I'd rather have a stranger's child than a heartless one like you! I'm the real sinner here!"

Claire started her usual drama, raising a hand like she was going to hit herself.

She always did this—just when Sherry was about to expose Teresa, Claire would turn it into a life-or-death performance.

Sherry used to feel sorry for her, scared she'd really hurt herself. She'd beg her to stop, and everything would get swept under the rug.

But was Claire really going to hurt herself?

This time, Sherry didn't cry or beg. She just watched, cold and silent.

Years of rage surged up. He had done far worse to her.

She grabbed anything she could and threw it at him. Blood splattered. Everyone else was terrified.

Usually, they were the ones hurting Sherry.

Usually, Sherry took it quietly.

How dare she fight back? And so viciously?

Then Gilbert showed up.

Tall and strong, with broad shoulders and a confident posture. His eyes were deep and arrogant. When his lips curved slightly, people fell for him easily.

Teresa was one of them.

It was too bad—she had once stripped and lay on Gilbert's bed, and he threw her out without a second thought.

She should have hated him, but he was more handsome than a movie star, and his status was undeniable.

Upon seeing him now, her eyes lit up. She pushed Edward aside and stumbled toward him. "Gilbert, Sherry went crazy. She started hitting me and our family for no reason. Maybe... maybe she just doesn't like me."

Gilbert frowned and grabbed Sherry's arm.

Sherry, still seeing red, shook him off. "Let go of me."

Gilbert pulled her away anyway. "Sherry, have you lost your mind? No matter what, he's your brother—your family. How could you hit him like that?"

Sherry almost exploded. "Where were you when he was hurting me?"

Gilbert hesitated. He didn't want things to go too far. "He's still your older brother. You're family."

Someone who did nothing but torture her counted as family?

How could Gilbert say that?

Sherry slapped him hard across the face. "Stop pretending to be the good guy.

"Weren't you the one who told them I wanted a divorce? You knew exactly how they would treat me, and you still told them. Now you want to play the good guy?"