The line fell silent. After a minute, he chuckled dryly.
“That’s not funny, Vanessa.”
“I’m not joking.” The determination in my voice made Jared anxious.
“Vanessa!”
Despite his fury, he kept his tone low.
“What can a blind woman like you do without me?
“Who would take pity on you and take care of you, huh?! Not even your family would do the things I’ve done for you!
“Apologize to me and say you’re sorry now! Or I’ll never forgive you, and you’ll just be an orphan that nobody wants!”
He had said the same things before, and back then, I believed them. I felt like the biggest burden.
That was why I agreed and chose not to follow my brother to Murica.
This method worked every single time in the past–Ialways ended up bending to his will.
But this time, I hummed noncommittally. “Sure, whatever.”
Jared was stunned. “You’re… crazy…”
“Jared, I was blind, not stupid. And I’ve already recovered anyway.”
He laughed dryly. “R–really? That’s great! Once you come back, we can-”
I scoffed. “Come back so you can blind me again?”
Exposing the last of his facade, I could hear him pacing rapidly around the room.
He tried to keep his voice calm. “After everything I’ve done for you, Vanessa. How could you frame me for this?
“That hurts.”
