57
can prove it was me. Please, stop telling
these lies.”
She kept glancing at Sterling Sr., watching his
reaction.
Sterling Sr. slapped Ashley. “Shut up! You are
the one telling lies, and stop pretending.”
Ashley stumbled back.
“Mr. Sterling… I…it was me, I swear! Ask
Jason!”
Ashley put her hands on her face.
My dad stepped forward. “Mr. Sterling, Ashley
saved Jason. There’s been a mistake!”
Chad grabbed Ashley. “Mr. Sterling, Ashley
saved his life! Why are you hitting the person
who saved your family?”
Mom touched Ashley’s face. “Honey, are you
okay?”
Ashley nodded, crying.
<
Mom glared at me. “Lia, this is all your fault!
We shouldn’t have let you in here.”
“Did I steal something, or did she steal from
me? Am I not your daughter?”
Mom stared at me. “Ashley has been with us
for twenty–five years. She’s been with us
through hospital visits, and through midterms,
and highschool tests.”
“How can you ever compare with her?”
Hearing her say it stung.
“You lost me, and now you are telling me this is my fault?”
Chad glared at me. “Mom’s right. Ashley is
our real daughter. You are nothing but a
outsider!”
Dad nodded. “Lia, you can’t pretend to have
saved Jason. If you admit you lied and
apologize to Ashley, we’ll let you stay. If not,
we’re kicking you out!”
I shook my head. “Staying? No thanks.”
“You’re impossible!”
Dad said, sounding angry. He turned to
Sterling Sr. “We’re sorry. Ashley is the one
who saved Jason. We swear.”
My mom and brother nodded. Sterling Sr.
slapped my parents.
“Why did you hit us?”
They looked shocked.
“Because you deserve it!”
Sterling Sr. said, pointing at my dad. “You are
blind! How can you talk about honor?”
