Skylar stood there, her back straight, her gaze unwavering as she faced Kenny and Samuel. The tension in the air was thick, each word feeling like a slap to her face. Her brothers had always expected her to be the perfect daughter, the ideal sister, but their recent actions made her feel like she was nothing more than a burden in their eyes.
Samuel’s grip on her wrist tightened, but Skylar didn’t flinch. Instead, she used the force he applied to twist his hand, her fingers locking into place until he cried out in pain. The irony of it all struck her. She had done so much for them over the years—sacrificed her own comfort, her own happiness—and this was how they treated her?
“You really have no idea what it feels like, do you?” Skylar’s voice was cold, cutting through the air like a blade. “You’ve taken everything from me—my time, my kindness, my loyalty—and now you think you can control my life? You, who can’t even appreciate the things I’ve done for you?”
Samuel winced in pain, his anger flaring, but he didn’t dare try to fight back. Kenny, on the other hand, was still scowling, his eyes filled with frustration and judgment. “You’ve changed, Skylar. You used to be a good girl. What happened to you? You’re embarrassing the family. You should be grateful for everything we’ve done for you!”
Skylar shook her head, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “Grateful? For what? You’ve done nothing but make me feel small, Samuel. You’ve never once appreciated anything I’ve done, and neither has Kenny. I’ve been a doormat for you both, and now you have the nerve to lecture me?”
As she spoke, she noticed a car passing by. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Paul in the passenger seat, his eyes catching hers. The moment felt surreal—like everything was coming together in a way she hadn’t expected.
Joe, who was seated next to Paul, had clearly been drinking, his face flushed and his movements slow. Despite his slightly intoxicated state, he immediately took notice of the situation and his gaze darkened as he saw the confrontation.
“Hey!” Joe called out from the car, his voice slurred but filled with authority. “What’s going on here?”
Skylar didn’t answer. Instead, she looked away from her brothers, meeting Paul’s gaze. The silence stretched between them, filled with a thousand unspoken words. There was a moment of recognition, but also a sharp edge of frustration.
Paul raised an eyebrow but didn’t move. He didn’t seem to know how to approach this, unsure of whether to intervene or let Skylar handle things on her own. The situation felt delicate, a powder keg waiting to explode, and he knew stepping in might make things worse.
Skylar, however, wasn’t waiting for anyone’s permission. “I’m not your pawn anymore,” she said to her brothers, her voice steady, filled with the resolve she’d lacked before. “You can go back to your perfect little world, but don’t expect me to follow. I’m done.”
Kenny’s eyes narrowed. “You’ll regret this, Skylar. Don’t think you can just walk away from everything we’ve given you.”
With that, Skylar turned, not waiting for another word from her brothers. She marched to the car, feeling the weight of their stares on her back. As she approached the vehicle, she saw Paul looking at her with an unreadable expression.
“You’re not going to let them talk to you like that, are you?” Joe’s voice cut through the tension, a mix of concern and irritation.
Skylar glanced at him, a sharp edge to her smile. “I don’t need their approval anymore. And I certainly don’t need your pity.”
Joe’s eyes softened for a moment, but then he chuckled. “You always were the tough one. But maybe, just maybe, you’ve earned a little break from all the drama.”
Skylar nodded, her gaze flickering back to Paul, who was still watching her. The weight of her brothers’ accusations, their lack of understanding, it all seemed so distant now. She had never expected to be here, but for the first time in a long while, she felt like she was starting to take control of her own life.
She opened the door to the car and slid into the passenger seat without a word. The rain had started again, softly tapping on the windows. As Paul began to drive, Skylar let herself relax just a little, feeling the tension leave her shoulders.
She wasn’t sure where this path would take her, but for the first time in years, she wasn’t afraid of what lay ahead.
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