Chapter 4You Can't Have It Both Ways

Laura posted another update to her account, this time a few photos of her face wrapped in gauze.

The caption read: [One face, sacrificed to the surgical miracle worker, Dr. Betty Milton.]

The ambiguity of it sent the comment section into a frenzy.

"Is that our queen getting botched by a doctor after a little touch-up?"

"Give Laura back her natural beauty! Oh my god!!"

"Which hospital did this to her? Some 'miracle worker,' more like a butcher!"

Fans traced the hospital from her location tag, and within minutes, they'd dug up every piece of my personal information. My private messages, calls, and texts on all social accounts exploded all at once.

I went cold all over, my hand shaking so hard I could barely hold the phone. I stumbled toward Laura's hospital room, only to have Julian block me at the door. He seemed to understand exactly how close I was to breaking, and sighed.

"Betty, calm down. Laura didn't mean for this to happen.

"None of us expected the fans to go this crazy. We're handling it already."

Something close to desperation clawed up from the ashes of my chest. I grabbed his arm.

"Make Laura take the video down right now, and apologize to me."

Before Julian could answer, Jennifer and Bobby stepped out and planted themselves in front of the door. Bobby tore my hand off him.

"Laura's an influencer. If she deletes it now, it's basically admitting she lied, and her whole career is over. Sis, you can't be this selfish, only thinking about yourself."

Jennifer pulled me even further back. "What is there for you to make a scene about? Laura's face scar was your fault to begin with. She's being generous just by not filing a complaint against you."

On the other side of the door, Charles had planted himself in front of Laura too. "Get out! You're a horrible woman! I won't let you hurt Laura!"

I stood frozen, staring at the faces in front of me, all of them suddenly unrecognizable. How could words this cruel come out of their mouths? They'd told me, once, that we were the best kind of family there was.

I stared at them, and I didn't even have the strength left to cry.

"She can't be ruined. What about me?"

Dead silence fell around us.

No one answered. Before anyone could, a commotion broke out at the door.

After a burst of crashing and shouting, a man in black came charging straight at me. "You dared to scar Laura's face, you hack! I'll kill you!"

His eyes were bloodshot. Julian's hand shot out on instinct to stop him.

Laura, seeing the chaos unfold, tried to drag herself out of bed, then let out a scream and went limp, collapsing. Julian, who'd been standing between me and the man, pulled away instantly, and everyone rushed into the room at once, shoving past each other to get to her.

The knife plunged straight through my palm. Blood poured out, and I dropped to my knees, the pain searing.

Julian scooped Laura up and ran, shouting for a doctor in a panic. Jennifer, Bobby, and Charles all stayed at her side, stepping around me without so much as a glance.

Seven years of my life, and it had all become a joke.

But it was fine. There wouldn't be a next time.

After my hand was stitched up, I went home and packed everything as fast as I could, then took a car straight to the airport.

'Julian, count me out of every single one of your games and challenges from now on.'