Chapter 3 Four Years Of Hardship

Raylee felt a pang of sadness in her heart, her emotions a complex mix of feelings. Whether it was resentment or anticipation didn't matter anymore. Upon reaching the room's entrance, Casimir pulled out a box of pastries. “I've ordered some food for you. If you're hungry, go ahead and eat these first.” Raylee's gaze fell upon the pastries. They were identical to the ones Waverly had given at the hospital earlier. “I don't really like pastries. Save them for Waverly,” she replied softly, her gaze dimmed. She didn't need these insincere gestures. She could never forget the day at the Lorimer family's birthday banquet when she was falsely accused of stealing a necklace. Casimir had stood protectively in front of Waverly, his eyes filled with resentment as he accused her. Her father, mother, brother, and the fiancé she loved the most—all of them backed Waverly, pushing her to take the fall. Perhaps Samuel was right. She had lived as the wealthy heiress in Waverly's place for eighteen years. What else could she possibly complain about? Maybe those four years of imprisonment were a form of compensation. Still, she couldn't shake the overwhelming feeling of injustice. If one wishes to condemn another, one can always find a reason. The people who once played significant roles in Raylee's life had each personally pushed her into the abyss. Just as Casimir was about to speak, still holding the pastries, he suddenly received a phone call and hurriedly left. In her hotel room, Raylee took a bath. As she looked at the haphazard scars on her body, her eyes stung intensely. These scars were the humiliations she had endured during her four-year imprisonment. Even though she had regained her freedom, it felt as if a brand had been etched onto her, haunting her like a shadow for the rest of her life. After blow-drying her hair, she seemed a bit more spirited. Since she didn't have any new clothes, she had no choice but to continue wearing her old, worn-out sweater. She then put on gloves to hide her chilblains and blisters. In the inpatient building, Raylee asked the nurse for directions and eventually found her way to the operating room. At that moment, the members of the Goodridge family were anxiously waiting outside. Vera, who had been lying in the hospital room, had suddenly fallen ill and was rushed off for emergency surgery. Raylee watched as the red light above the operating room flickered on. Her long eyelashes trembled, and her heart was overwhelmed by a profound sense of suffocation. Vera was the person who loved her most in this world. She wouldn't know what to do if something happened to her. As Raylee approached, Waverly casually flicked her wrist, drawing attention to the bracelet she wore. “Raylee, Grandma gave this to you before she went into surgery, but I really like it. Could you...” Raylee glanced at the emerald bracelet and remained silent. Her thoughts drifted back to four years ago when Waverly had a habit of taking things away from her. She had seized her room, clothes, bags, shoes, and even her beloved pet cat, which tragically didn't survive her cruel games. Back then, she had been consumed with anger. But now, she didn't care anymore. Everything in the Goodridge residence—every blade of grass, tree, brick, and tile—belonged to Waverly, the legitimate daughter. And she was merely a pretend daughter, an outsider who had enjoyed the privileges of a true daughter for eighteen years. Waverly displayed a disheartened expression. “If you're not willing to give it to me, then I'll just give it back to you.” Upon witnessing this scene, Samuel stepped in, reprimanding, “Enough, Raylee. It's just a bracelet. Can't you give it to Waverly? If you want one, I can go back and buy you another eight or ten!” Raylee quietly took a seat on the chair. She hadn't said a word or done anything wrong, yet simply standing there seemed to be a mistake. Perhaps she was the original sin herself. “Samuel, I really love this bracelet. Why didn't Grandma give it to me? Is it because she doesn't like me?” Tears clung to Waverly's curled lashes as she looked pitifully at Samuel. Samuel, as if he'd lost his mind, abruptly pulled Raylee up and scolded her angrily, “How could you be so petty to fight with Waverly over a bracelet? And you're pulling a long face? Raylee, do you think that just because you have Grandma's protection, I can't do anything to you?” “I—” Before Raylee could utter a word, Samuel had already pulled her along into the operating room. “Grandma is in there, undergoing surgery, and her fate is hanging in the balance. And yet here you are, upset with Waverly over a mere bracelet! Can't you be a little less worrisome? Do you want to get her killed?” Raylee's leg, already in a delicate condition, throbbed with intense pain as Samuel roughly dragged her, causing her to gasp for air. In a moment of instability, she fell flat on the ground. Returning from the restroom, Harriet witnessed the scene. She hurried over to help Raylee up while berating Samuel, “Why are you picking on your sister again?” Samuel gritted his teeth in frustration. “Mom, she bullied Waverly! She knows Grandma is having surgery, yet she didn't stop and even made Waverly cry!” Samuel protested. “Grandma can't handle the shock. If she were to come out and see this, she'd probably get so upset she'd need another surgery!” Harriet looked at the teary-eyed Waverly. Upon learning the details of the situation, she couldn't help but criticize Raylee, “Ray-Ray, don't blame me for saying this, but you really shouldn't have argued with your sister. Your grandma's health has been quite poor these past couple of years; she can't handle even the slightest bit of stress. Why don't you let Wavy have the bracelet?” Raylee, her face devoid of any emotion, responded, “I never said I was unwilling to give it to her.” Harriet frowned. “Then why did your brother lose his temper? And why is Wavy crying? All right, it doesn't matter who's right or wrong. It's just a bracelet. I will get you another one later.” Raylee gave a nod. She fell silent, knowing that anything she said would be wrong. Moments ago, Samuel had yanked her harshly, causing her to take a nasty fall. The pain in her leg was so intense that she could barely stand. With her sudden release from jail and not having eaten a thing, she was worn and frail, her body pushed to its absolute limits. Her thin frame and sickly yellow complexion made her look as though she were suffering from a terminal illness. Everything went dark before her eyes, and a wave of intense dizziness washed over her, causing her to collapse onto the ground. Samuel sneered. “So you've stopped snatching the bracelet now and started playing the victim? Hurry up and get moving! Stop acting like you're dead. If Grandma sees you like this and gets upset, you're going to be in trouble!” Raylee cocked her head and completely passed out. An indeterminate amount of time had passed before she woke up in a hospital bed. Harriet's sobs were notably distinct in the air. Glancing down, Raylee noticed she was wearing a hospital gown. They had seen the scars on her body. Harriet came over and gently took her hand, crying out, “Ray-Ray, why do your hands have so many chilblains and blisters? And why are there countless scars all over your body? The doctor mentioned there were signs of being hit with a rod, whipped, and even burns from cigarette butts...” Samuel came over and patted Harriet's shoulder, consoling her with a heavy tone, “Mom, don't be too upset.” He couldn't fathom what exactly Raylee had gone through. A powerful wave of guilt washed over him, making him unable to even glance at her. He couldn't even say an apology out loud. Harriet wiped her tears and said, “I thought you were just in prison for four years, simply undergoing a prison labor program. I never imagined you'd endure so much hardship. Who could be so cruel as to hurt you like this?” Waverly's eyes were notably red as she stood by the hospital bed. “Raylee, I'm so upset. Your pain is my pain. What on earth have you been through?” Raylee looked up at Waverly, who was speaking sarcastically. Your pain is my pain? What a good actress she is. A surge of anger welled up within her. Calmly, she began, “What have I been through? Let me tell you. Not a single day in prison went by without me being bullied. Of course, why did I have to steal the necklace of the eldest daughter of the Lorimer family, thus offending the big shots? Chilblains, blisters, getting my hair yanked, punched, kicked, burned with cigarette butts, doused with boiling water, slapped—those were child's play. A toothpick pierced my left ear, rupturing my eardrum and leaving me nearly deaf. They used iron rods with nails, puncturing holes all over my legs, each one oozing blood. I've been through it all—the water dungeon, solitary confinement, even electric torture.” Waverly's eyes widened in shock as she looked at Raylee aggrievedly. Tears began to fall like pearls off a broken string, and she cried so hard that she could barely catch her breath. So unstable that she couldn't even stand properly, Waverly collapsed into Samuel's arms. “Why are you crying? You're not the one who spent four years in prison,” Raylee remarked, observing the individuals in the room, each immersed in their own sorrow, some even reduced to tears. She could only sense the irony.