Chapter 23 One Thing That Can Really Destroy Us
+8 Pearls
After Sydney was checked at the hospital, the results were reassuring–there were no internal injuries, and everything seemed normal. Lilith handed her a bag containing various medications, gauze, antiseptic, and some nutritional supplements.
As she looked at Sydney, the “Villainous Female Supporting Character” label that seemed to hover above her head, Lilith’s thoughts began to drift. If Sydney had her own story, would it start by immediately labeling her as cruel, malicious, and willing to do anything to get what she wanted?
Would the story ignore her past–the bullying, the pain, the wounds she’d suffered? Would it skip over her growth, her inner struggles, and focus only on the negative, amplifying her future wrongdoings while shining a spotlight on the protagonist’s purity and goodness?
What about her own story, though?
Lilith imagined it for a moment: just a few rushed words about her, briefly tied to the power of the Joneses, a dull, foolish, bitter
person with no redeeming qualities–just a disposable pawn.
you think I’m pathetic?”
Sydney’s sudden question jolted Lilith back t
“No. Why would you say that?”
reality. She shook her head, sitting down next to her.
“Just curious,” Sydney muttered, her gaze fixed on the bandaged knee that the doctor had taken care of. “Do you know why people pick on me?”
Before Lilith could speak, Sydney continued, her words rushing out as though she had been holding them in for a long time.
“People like me are easy targets. I have a decent look, good grades, but my family’s a disaster. Just surviving in this world takes everything I have. I don’t have the energy to fight back. That’s how they see it. The ones who taunt me do it to impress the rich. To them, I’m just someone they can take out their frustrations on. They enjoy seeing me get trampled on, like I’m nothing more than a bug.
“People are like that. They go after the weak and fear the strong. Sometimes, I wonder if being alive is just an excuse for more suffering.”
“I get it,” Lilith said softly. “Life is fragile. So many things can break a person–sickness, pride, love. It makes you feel small, like you can’t take it anymore.”
“You’re wrong,” Sydney interrupted, her eyes locking onto Lilith’s with a sharp intensity. “What really breaks poor people–it’s never sickness, or pride, or any of that nonsense. You can deal with that. It passes.
There’s one thing that can really destroy us…”
Sydney gave a small, bitter smile, one that mixed irony and frustration.
“It’s being poor.
“But…” She paused, as if collecting her thoughts. “They’re just so stupid. They think they can mess with me. There was this girl, acting all sweet to my face, just like you. In the end, she hurt me the most. She yanked my hair and slammed my head against the wall. Blood poured out, and she gathered a crowd, taking pictures and laughing like it was all some kind of game. I still have the scar on my forehead.
“Then, she wanted to apologize. She lured me to an old, abandoned building. I knew it had no cameras, no one around–just the perfect place for her to keep bullying me. Do you want to know what happened?”
Lilith didn’t say anything but watched Sydney, sensing that the story was far from over.
Sure enough, Sydney suddenly laughed, a short, mocking sound.
“I pushed her down the stairs. She bled everywhere. The ground was soaked in it, the blood staining the stone steps, mixing with the dirt. It’ll never come out. She was in the hospital for weeks, still dealing with the effects. Since there were no witnesses, no cameras to back her up, she had no choice but to keep quiet and take it.
Chapter 23 One Thing That Can Really Destroy Us
+8 Pearls
“You have no idea. When she was lying on the ground, the look she gave me was full of disbelief. It was like she wanted to tear me apart. But because she was in so much pain, she had to beg me like a helpless animal to take her to the hospital. The thing is, I gave her a chance. I told her not to go to that place, but she didn’t listen.
“I heard she’s on the fifth floor of this hospital. You should go up and see. She might still be there, looking like a ghost.
“Do you think I’m a villain? Do you think I’m shameless?” Sydney’s eyes fixed on Lilith’s, searching for the answer she wanted. “Do you regret bringing me here? Do you think everything that happened to me is deserved?”
Lilith didn’t respond. Truthfully, she didn’t know what to say. People were unpredictable, and the lines between right and wrong, good and bad, were often blurred.
She simply said, “Get some rest when you get home. Change out of those wet clothes. There’s cold medicine in the bag. Take some to be safe.”
Without a word, Sydney ripped the shirt from Lilith’s shoulders and stormed off, her steps heavy and angry. Within moments, she was out of sight.
Lilith sat alone on the bench in the hallway, her thoughts quiet but uneasy.
Not long after, her phone rang. It was Winifred, her voice filled with concern. “Miss Jones, it’s so late. Why aren’t you home yet?”
“I’m at the hospital,” Lilith answered. “I’ll be home in a littl
while.”
Winifred’s voice grew frantic on the other end. “Ms. Jones, what happened? Are you hurt? Is it serious?”
“I’m fine,” Lilith reassured her. “I just brought a classmate for a check–up. I’ll be home soon. Don’t worry.”
After hanging up, Lilith stood and walked down the hallway, heading for the stairs.
At the far end of the hall, one of the hospital room doors was slightly open. The wind from the corridor pushed it wider, and for some reason, Lilith glanced inside.
In that moment, her eyes met the person lying in the bed–Nigel.
Her breath caught in her chest, but fortunately, the dim light in the hallway helped hide her reaction.
It doesn’t feel right to just leave without doing anything. After all, despite everything, we are still classmates. A simple hello or a word of concern can’t hurt, can it?
Lilith hesitated, unsure if she should go in. It didn’t feel right to visit empty–handed. Should I go downstairs to grab fruit or flowers first? But by the time she made up her mind, Nigel had turned away, his back to her.
The wind blew harder, and with a loud slam, the door shut with finality, echoing down the hall like a warning–whether deliberate or not, it felt like it was saying, “Don’t come any closer.”
Lilith sighed softly. Well, that made my decision easy. No more second–guessing.
About half an hour later, Halford Harrison entered the room, carrying a basket of fruit, and set it down on the table.
After playing a game on his phone for a few minutes, he glanced at Nigel’s pale face. “D’mn, I leave for a few minutes and you look like that? I know I’m charming, but you really don’t need to miss me this much.”
He reached out to pat Nigel on the head, but quickly pulled his hand back when he met the cold, hard stare from Nigel’s eyes.
“Seriously, what’s wrong with you? You’ve barely been back in the country and you’re already sick? Your health is a joke. Next time, I’ll have the old man send you some supplements. Maybe that’ll help.”
Nigel didn’t respond. Instead, he casually asked, “Did you finish the transfer paperwork?”
Halford had spent much of his life abroad, and through some strange twist of fate, he and Nigel had crossed paths. They’d grown up together, and Nigel had become his closest friend.
Since Nigel’s return to the country, Halford had found it unbearably boring. There was no one to talk to, and he was tired of
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Chapter 23 One Thing That Can Really Destroy Us
the constant distractions. Since Nigel was prone to illnesses, Halford had decided to return as well.
