You Are Mine Little Sister (by Syra Tucker) novel Chapter 203

The words reached me, but comprehension stayed miles away.

"Shes... someone you actually know. And she was the one who hired young Void to kill your father and his wife, who was her sister."

Everything else blurred into background noise as her voice kept pouring out. It became sound without shape, words without ground. She spewed things about how my father raped my mother before she had me while married to Gretchen. Then he and Gretchen took me from my supposed mother and made the world believe Gretchen was my mother. And out of spite, Gretchen, who I'd believed this whole time was my mother, was actually the one who had pushed me off the cliff to get rid of me. In return, my real mother ordered the murder of Gretchen and her husband as revenge.

"She said she had to kill your father too because he didn't help look for you when you went missing. Instead, he moved on with Gretchen, acting like the perfect lovey-dovey couple in public. She felt used, betrayed, and dumped. She wanted them to pay for everything they did to her and you."

Her words looped in my head like a broken recording. Over and over.

I didn't even realize when she stopped talking, not until Ruby touched me.

"Rali. Are you okay?"

My brows drew together as I stared blankly at the ground.

"I don't... I don't understand." I shook my head. "I mean, it doesn't make any sense!"

"I know it's hard to believe. For a long time, you thought Gretchen Stone was your mother. It must be hard accepting that she was actually the one who tried to kill you"

All of a sudden I felt empty. My lungs weakened. My fingers went numb. My body felt like it was turning to air.

My lips parted as tears started sliding free. "Oh, my God." I repeated the words again and again, like the words might reverse reality if said enough times.

What kind of a messed up life did I have? My mother got pregnant with me from rape? And she killed my father to get revenge?

"Jesus..." I staggered back, my head rocking in disbelief. "This... This is sick. This is completely messed up!"

God, it'd have been better if I had never been told. How do I go on with the knowledge that I was born from rape, and my own mother murdered my father? Holy Christ.

I stepped back again, then again, as if Veronica and Ruby themselves were the truth chasing me. Strong hands caught me from behind before I could fall.

I turned quickly and came face to face with Void. My breath wavered, mirrored by the unsteady tremor in my hands.

I stepped away from him too, the space between us suddenly unbearable. My hands flew to my face and I broke apart in my palms, sobs tearing from me without restraint.

"I'm so sorry, Rali. You'll be fine, I promise," Veronica said softly. I figured she was the one rubbing my shoulders.

I sobbed for a long time, not minding the people around me.

Then, between gasps, I lowered my hands.

"Who's she?" I asked. "My mother. You said I know her."

Veronica withdrew her hand from my shoulder. Her face fell. She exchanged a look with Void—one heavy with hesitation.

"Veronica!" I called sharply.

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