The Mark He Bit Into Me novel Chapter 86

Chapter 2

My brother James, Lucas Reed, and I grew up together in the Fort McNair military quarters,

inseparable.

Until five years ago, when I went to the border to visit Lucas during his mission and went missing,

completely losing contact with them.

My parents were devastated. The laughter that once filled our home vanished.

That’s when Isabella appeared.

She was the daughter of my father’s comrade-in-arms. Her parents had died in a mission, and

there was something faintly similar about her features and mine.

My parents, pitying her, took her in immediately, telling others she was the daughter of a distant

relative.

Isabella was outgoing and sweet-tongued. Within days, she had charmed everyone in the

household.

From then on, the quiet house gradually regained some life because of her presence.

As time passed, it seemed everyone slowly forgot I had ever existed.

Until six months ago, when the border conflicts subsided, and I escaped the enemy camp against all odds, traversing a thousand miles to return home.

I thought I would be met with the warmth of a long-awaited reunion. Instead, they were afraid of upsetting Isabella and deliberately kept their distance from me.

The night I returned, I overheard my mother comforting Isabella,

“Bella, you will always be Mommy and Daddy’s most beloved daughter. That will never change because of anyone else.”

“Besides, your sister came back from that place… hardened. She’s rough around the edges now,

nothing like you, sweetheart. You’re so thoughtful.”

My mothe’s words, spoken so tenderly to another, hit me with the force of a physical blow. The air left my lungs. I stood frozen outside the door, my body going numb, detached from the world that had just shattered around me.In my hand, I still clutched the St. Christopher medal my mother had given me before I disappeared, the leather cord now crumpled from my grip.

News that the General’s daughter was marrying an old cripple spread quickly through the Capitol

Chapter 2

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Hill circles.

When I returned home, my parents and brother were chatting on the living room sofa. Isabella was nestled next to my mother, fiddling with a new diamond necklace.

Just as James finished speaking, my father slammed his hand on the coffee table.

“Ridiculous! She’s going to disgrace the Caldwell name!”

My mother, organizing a jewelry box on the table, didn’t even look up.

“When Eleanor gets back, don’t shout at her. You know how she gets when she’s upset; she’ll make

sure the whole house is in an uproar.”

“She’s just angry at James for embarrassing her in public, that’s why she said she’d marry a cripple. She doesn’t even know the man’s name or where he lives. Does she really dare

with it? Cut ties with us forever?”

Isabella, seizing the moment, squeezed out a few tears, her voice choked with sobs.

go through

“Mom, it’s all my fault… If I hadn’t told James about the Jeep, he wouldn’t have made things hard for Sister to defend me… and Sister wouldn’t be acting out like this…”

My mother pulled out a tissue and gently wiped Isabella’s face, her voice tender.

“Silly girl, what does this have to do with you? Ever since your sister came back, this family has had to accommodate her, and you’ve suffered plenty of wrongs because of it.”

“She just hit a little snag today. It’s not a big deal.”

My father also said gravely, “Don’t blame yourself, Bella! Don’t worry, your sister is just being

stubborn. She won’t actually throw her life away marrying someone like that.”

As she spoke, my mother picked up an emerald bracelet and slipped it onto Isabella’s wrist,

smiling.

“Here, sweetie, pick out the ones you like. Your father bought these especially for you. Don’t let

your sister fight you over them when she gets back…”

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