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"Since you all despise me so much, maybe I should move out."
Her voice was steady.
"Finals are in two days. I’ll stay at a hotel. I won’t be in your way or affect Lily’s exam performance."
Sophia truly wanted to leave the Thompson house immediately.
She couldn’t stay another minute.
She turned to pack her suitcase.
Lucian grabbed her wrist, spinning her around to face everyone.
"Are you moving to a hotel, or moving in with your boyfriend?"
Lucian accused, his voice sharp.
"Sophia, you’ve become like this because of him, haven’t you?"
He snatched her phone.
"Give me his number. Since you can’t break up, I’ll do it for you!"
Seeing Sophia’s family photo lockscreen gave him pause.
Quickly recovering, he demanded she unlock it.
Sophia unlocked her phone, letting Lucian search.
He found no trace of a boyfriend.
"Where’s your boyfriend? Find him!"
Lucian threw the phone back at her.
"I don’t have a boyfriend."
Sophia looked at Lucian incredulously.
Lily said something, they believed it.
Lily fabricated a boyfriend out of thin air, they believed it.
When had they ever believed a word she said?
"Enough! It’s late; go to bed. This house… when did it become such a battlefield?"
Mr Thompson sighed heavily.
"I can hardly stand being home anymore!"
He cast one last look at Sophia before slamming his bedroom door.
Sophia had never seen that look from him before.
Her heart bled internally.
She dug her nails into her palms to hold back the tears.
"Resigned! Cursed with this troublemaker! I’m resigned!"
Mrs Thompson knew Mr Thompson was furious.
She sighed deeply and followed him to their room, instructing Lucian and Ethan to carry Lily to hers.
Ethan lifted Lily immediately.
Lucian stared intensely at Sophia.
"Lucian, one last time: I never dated anyone. I never had a boyfriend."
Sophia’s voice was firm.
"Since you won’t let me leave, I’ll stay these last two days."
She met his gaze.
"But I’ll come and go early. I won’t disrupt your perfect family reunion."
Sophia told herself this was the last time she’d call Lucian ‘Big Brother’.
In two days, James would be her only brother.
Lucian watched Sophia close and lock her door.
Something felt profoundly wrong.
He sat alone in the living room until dawn, unable to pinpoint it, then went to catch some sleep.
Sophia also hadn’t slept.
Hearing the house quiet down, she left early for school.
Her university wasn’t far, and she usually commuted.
Before, she cherished coming home; now, she longed to live on campus.
The school day flew by.
That evening, no one called.
She grabbed dinner at a food stall near campus.
Mrs Thompson used to warn her against street food.
Lately, she hadn’t cared, leaving Sophia unmonitored.
Eating it felt less guilty.
Around 10 PM, assuming everyone was asleep, Sophia returned home quietly and fell asleep instantly, exhausted.
The next two days passed similarly.
On the morning of finals, Sophia woke up to find her door locked from the outside.
"Ethan, is this really okay? Today’s our major’s finals! If Sophia misses it, she’ll have to retake, and those are harder…"
Lily deliberately spoke loudly enough for Sophia to hear and know who locked her in.
"She hurt you; I’m just getting justice for you!"
Ethan’s voice was cold and determined.
"Mom and Dad and Lucian did nothing, letting her run wild. I won’t!"
Lily protested weakly.
"Lily, time’s running out. I’ll carry you to your exam."
His tone softened only for Lily.
He’d waited for this day to punish Sophia, and now he felt vindicated.
Sophia felt icy cold.
Thankfully, she kept her cool.
She called James the moment she was sure they’d left.
James was furious.
"Ethan’s a bastard! How could he treat you like that? Don’t panic! I’m coming!"
James was driving to work.
He immediately rerouted towards the Thompson house.
"Miss! I wondered why Mr Ethan changed the lock yesterday! He planned to lock you in today! Don’t worry! I called a locksmith; they’re coming soon!"
