My Birthday, My Downfall novel Chapter 31

The dog bolted in fear, while Helen screamed sharply as shards from the vase grazed her arm.

"Grace! What are you doing? How could you raise your hand against your sister?"

My father's voice boomed just as Helen threw herself into his arms, crying hysterically.

"Dad, help me! Grace tried to kill me…"

"Grace, this is too much!"

"Can't you see? She tossed over Mom's offerings and ruined her memorial photo—"

My entire body trembled as tears streamed down my face. I was heartbroken, devastated for my mother.

But my father merely glanced at the mess on the ground, frowning slightly. "That doesn't justify you hurting someone!"

"Dad—"

"Grace, your mother's been gone for so long. How can the dead be more important than the living?"

Helen, her face pale and trembling, chimed in softly. "Dad, it was my dog that accidentally knocked over the offerings. I was about to apologize to Grace, but she charged at me as soon as she came downstairs. I didn't even have time to explain before she threw the vase at me…"

She raised her bleeding arm, looking pitifully at my father.

"Dad, maybe it's better if Mom and I move out…"

"The dog doesn't understand, but do you?"

My father glared at me before suddenly raising his hand.

The slap was heavy, landing hard on my face.

I forgot to dodge.

He seemed startled for a moment, too, but in the end, he said nothing.

He simply turned and led Helen away to treat her wound.

I stood there watching their retreating figures for a long time before the burning pain on my cheek registered.

As I raised a hand to cover my swollen face, tears streamed down, but I let out a bitter laugh.

I knew then that this house was no longer a place I could call home.

In the middle of the night, I was suddenly awakened by cries and screams.

Just as I sat up, my door was kicked open from the outside.

My stepmother burst in, crying hysterically. Before I could react, a series of harsh slaps landed on my face.

"How could you be so cruel?"

"Isn't it enough that you hurt her during the day? Now you're trying to kill her?"

She threw herself into my father's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

"She knows Helen is allergic to peaches, but she deliberately spilled peach juice all over the bed and pillows."

"She's trying to kill our daughter!"

Finally, I took out the wedding dress I had bought three years ago.

I had secretly purchased it after Paul confessed his love to me.

It was the dress I had envisioned countless times as a young girl—a gown that would make me look like a princess.

But now, I cut it to shreds with my own hands.

The remaining items were all the gifts Paul had given me over the past three years.

There were playful little trinkets and expensive jewelry.

I picked out the pricier ones and planned to ask my best friend to keep them for me.

Once I left Capital City, she could return them to Paul on my behalf.

That way, we would truly owe each other nothing.

As for the cheap, frivolous things meant to amuse me, I didn't hesitate—I packed them all up to throw away.

Once, even a tiny keychain from him was something I treasured deeply.

But now, as I prepared to discard it all, I didn't feel even the slightest ripple in my heart.

After finishing everything, I carefully wrapped my mother's memorial photo, placing it gently in the padded compartment of a box.

Without looking back, I left the home where I had lived for the past ten years.

As I stepped through the gate, Paul's car happened to pull up.