When They Beg, I Rise!

Lemira lowered her head, covering her mouth as she coughed violently, her slender back hunched over.

Caspian spoke harshly, "Don't think for a second that playing sick will spare you from a lesson. I asked you to look after Eve at school, to fetch her water, and get her lunch. But what did you do? You had her, sick as she was, fetch your lunch! And to add insult to injury, you tripped her. Have you no conscience?"

Lemira, struggling to hold back her cough, replied, "I didn't push her."© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

"Oh, so you're saying Eve just fell on her own? You expect me to believe such a lame excuse? Are you admitting you did it on purpose?"

Tears welled up in Lemira's eyes as she straightened her back, "I don't admit to that."

With a sharp slap, a hand struck her face, and she was instantly stinging with pain. But the physical pain paled in comparison to the hurt she felt inside; she almost got numb of it. Lucian strode in, grabbing the furious Caspian, "Caspian, what are you doing?"

"Lucian, she's committed such a vile act and won't even admit to it. I don't have such a malicious, impenitent sister!"

Evelina stood at the doorway, her hands wrapped in bandages, looking pitiful. With teary eyes, she said, "Caspian, I already said it was my fault. It has nothing to do with Lemmy." "Eve, you're just too kind. I have to discipline Lemira today, or she'll never learn!"

As Caspian moved to strike again, Orion suddenly pushed back his chair, its screeching sound filling the room.

Lemira looked over. Orion, expressionless, leaning against the table, his gaze icy, "You're her family?" Lucian nodded, "Yes, we're her brothers."

"She has a high fever, possibly an infection, and needs further examination. And she's showing signs of malnutrition!"

Caspian was taken aback, "She's actually sick?" He had thought Lemira was faking illness to escape blame.

Orion's voice was calm, "Maybe you should get your eyes checked if you couldn't see that obvious thing."

The girl was pale, clearly ill. It was evident.

Caspian was momentarily speechless, "What do you mean?"

Orion, frowning, said coldly, "Exactly what I said. She might be your adopted stepsister, but if you've taken her in, you should take responsibility."

Lemira's eyes flashed with scorn as she heard the term "stepsister".

Lucian quickly clarified, "She's our biological sister, not adopted."

Orion raised an eyebrow, "Hard to tell. If you hadn't said you were her family, I'd be calling the police for child abuse!"

At the sight of Lemira's swollen face, Caspian's tone was still stiff, "None of your business. I'm disciplining her!"

Lucian was at a loss for words. He had assumed Lemira was healthy, not as fragile as Evelina, who fell ill from a simple cold.

Caspian, with disdain, looked at Orion, "You have no idea. Lemira always plays sick to avoid responsibility. This time, she even caused Eve to get hurt. Eve's father died trying to save her. Sometimes, I really want to see if her heart is black!" Lemira felt a burning pain in her throat. She wanted to defend herself, but ultimately remained silent. It's pointless. They wouldn't believe her anyway.

Evelina bit her lip, "It's all my fault. I'm clumsy and shouldn't have tried to act tough by getting Lemmy's lunch."

"It's indeed your fault," Orion said coldly. "If you were sick, you shouldn't have gone to class. Knowing you were ill and still causing trouble for others isn't right. Stop playing the victim just because you're unwell."