They Chose to Leave Me

The Halloween season was approaching, and my two childhood sweethearts, who had cherished me for twenty years, abandoned my grandmother, who suffered from Alzheimer's, at a busy intersection.

She never got to see me one last time, dying in a horrific car accident.

At the same time, the internet exploded with trending news: "The Two Lexington Brothers Race for Love: Who Will Win Her Heart?"

It turned out they had abandoned Grandma to compete for the right to spend Halloween with my stepsister.

Liam Lexington, who lost the competition, vented his frustration at me: "It's all your fault for constantly calling me, otherwise, I would be the one spending Halloween with Mandy!"

Jerry Lexington, who won, sternly warned me: "You're an adult; act your age. Don't dare call me on Halloween!"

After Grandma's funeral, I looked at an email in my inbox:

"Ms. Phoebe Smith, please reply to confirm your participation in the Lunar Exploration Project! If confirmed, your identity will be concealed, and you will not be permitted to contact the outside world for five years."

I calmly replied to the email: "Confirm!"

I was at the hospital, processing a refund for a deposit, when a familiar voice rang out.

"I just coughed, and you two overreacted, insisting on bringing me in for a check-up!"

The two Lexington brothers, one on each side, carefully helped my stepsister, Mandy Perry.

In the past, they were the two people who cared about me the most.

When I was young, my mother had just passed away and hadn't even been buried, yet my father eagerly brought Mandy and her mother into our home.

Through their deliberate machinations, my father grew increasingly disappointed in me, eventually just sending me back to my grandmother's house.

From then on, I met the two Lexington brothers next door to Grandma. They pitied me, a young girl who had lost her mother and was bullied, and they guarded me like knights, showering me with all their affection and care.

They promised to be good to me forever, but when Mandy returned, they broke all their promises.

They knew Grandma was my only family, they knew she suffered from Alzheimer's, yet they still carelessly abandoned her at a busy intersection.

Mandy saw me first, flashing me a triumphant smile.

"Phoebe, what are you doing at the hospital? Are you stalking us? Are you keeping too tight a leash on Liam and Jerry?"

I clutched the settlement statement tighter, glaring hatefully at the three people before me.

Jerry stepped forward, blocking Mandy.

"Phoebe Smith, what are you doing here at the hospital? You told us you were busy with work and needed us to take your grandmother for a check-up, but now you have time to stalk us."

Liam looked at me with disappointment, shaking his head: "I can't believe you've resorted to lying just to get attention! Phoebe Smith, how did you become so disgusting?"

Hearing them mention Grandma, my heart twisted in pain again, and I lunged forward, hitting Jerry like a madwoman.

"Shut up! How dare you mention my grandmother?"

"You knew she was sick, yet you abandoned her alone on the road!"

Jerry gripped my hands tightly, his face dark.

"Phoebe Smith, can you stop being so unreasonable?"

"We kindly took your grandmother for a check-up, we just left her at the intersection, it was only a short walk home. She's not legless, why are you being so dramatic?"

Even now, they were self-righteous.

Grandma treated them like her own children; for over a decade, their favorite thing was to linger at Grandma's house, eating her homemade meals. They had even promised to take good care of her.

But now, they had carelessly abandoned Grandma just to compete for Mandy's company.

I couldn't bear to imagine how helpless Grandma must have felt, facing so many people and so many cars, all while suffering from her illness.

"I truly wish I had never known you!"

Then there would be no hope, then I could still have Grandma!

A look of shock and a hint of panic flashed across Liam's face.

"It was thoughtless of us not to take Grandma all the way home, but do you have to overreact and erase our twenty years together so casually?"

Mandys eyes flickered, and she spoke in a saccharine voice.

"Phoebe, it's my fault for causing unpleasantness between you three! I'll just stop contacting the Lexington brothers, please don't be angry with them!"

With that, she covered her face and ran towards the door.

Liam and Jerry glared at me hatefully, "Are you satisfied now?"

Then they both chased after her.

Soon after, Mandy updated her social media.

"It's easy to cheer up an upset princess; all it takes is two knights and a Ferris wheel ride!"

As a child living with Grandma, my greatest desire was to ride a Ferris wheel.

Liam and Jerry promised they would fulfill my wish before I turned twenty-five.

But due to busy schedules, it never happened. Now, they took Mandy to the place I had longed for.

Watching them so intimately, with no room for a fourth person, I forced an ugly smile.

I calculated that there were six days left until my departure. The day before I left was also my mother's death anniversary. After seeing her, I could leave with a clear conscience.

From now on, I would no longer bother the three of them.

Countdown, day five.

When Grandma was occasionally lucid before she passed, she always talked about wanting to see her old house in the countryside.

Now Grandma could never return, and I was about to embark on a long journey. I thought I'd go back and see her house one last time before I left.

As soon as I reached the village entrance, I saw a large bulldozer mercilessly tearing down a corner of the old house.

I rushed forward, wanting to stop it, but tripped over some loose stones and fell.

My arm stung with a burning pain, a large patch of skin was scraped raw, and blood mixed with dirt made it particularly messy.

I struggled to my feet, limping to the bulldozer and blocking its path.

"This is my house! By what right are you demolishing it without my consent?"

Mandy walked out from behind a large tree near the house, pinching her nose and fanning her hand.

"This old, dilapidated house is an eyesore here; turning it into a rose garden would be much nicer for everyone to enjoy! Old things should just be destroyed!"

Her words carried a double meaning, and her cruel face increasingly resembled the one from over a decade ago. Back then, after my mother's death, I was helpless and could only fall asleep hugging her photograph every night.

But Mandy, when I wasn't looking, snatched my mother's photo, forced me to crawl on the ground like a dog, made me eat slop, and in the end, she still broke her promise and threw my mother's photo into a cesspit!

At that time, she stood before me like a demon, laughing wildly.

"If you want it, jump in and get it! Dead people's things are bad luck, and your unlucky mother belongs with the cesspit!"

I ran to my father for help, but was met with his merciless condemnation.

After that, Mandy and her mother became even more abusive. They would punch and kick me at the slightest displeasure. My arms and back were covered with scars from their curling irons, and going hungry was a regular occurrence.

Even now, seeing her still makes me instinctively afraid and wanting to hide.

The two Lexington brothers walked out from behind Mandy.

I remembered once, when I accidentally bumped into a lamppost, Liam and Jerry were so worried they took me to the hospital for a full check-up, terrified I might have even a minor injury.

But now, they just stood by the doorway with their hands in their pockets, watching coldly.

My thoughts returned, and the fresh pain mixed with old grievances made me tremble with anger. Just as I raised my hand to push Mandy away, she let out a delicate cry and collapsed to the ground.

Liam and Jerry rushed forward almost simultaneously, scooping Mandy into their arms, tenderly checking her arms and ankles.

When they saw the red marks from the pebbles on her hand, Jerry's eyes turned red.

Jerry, who was usually straightforward, kicked me to the ground, looking at me coldly.

"Mandy is your sister, how can you be so malicious?"

"Mandy, as a Perry family member, has a say in this old house. Do you intend to monopolize it?"

"Just a few dilapidated rooms, even you are not worth one of Mandy's fingers! Go apologize to Mandy, or don't blame me for being rough!"

The usually composed Liam, holding Mandy in his arms, did not stop Jerry's actions, and his gaze at me was filled with disappointment.

"Phoebe Smith, have we spoiled you too much, making you so audacious?"

An indescribable sadness filled my heart. Years ago, they too had lived in this old house for a long time. Fishing in the river, picking fruit from trees C those were the most beautiful memories of our childhood.

They once said they would preserve the old house forever, and one day bring their own children back to experience our childhood.

Their "forever" turned out to be so fleeting.

Inside the old house were still old photos of me and Grandma; I wanted to get them back.

But Jerry blocked my path.

You must apologize to Mandy first, otherwise I wont let you in!

Grandma was gone, the old house was being torn down. I just wanted to retrieve some photos of Grandma as mementos.

Jerry kicked me in the back of the knee, making me fall to my knees with a thud.

Mandy flashed me a triumphant look, then turned, putting on a delicate, pitiable expression.

"Liam, it's too noisy and dirty here, let's go back, okay?"

The indifference on Liam's face faded, replaced by a gentle expression.

"Okay, does your hand still hurt? Do you want to go to the hospital for a check-up?"

Jerry also rushed after her, "Mandy, once this area is cleared, I'll gather every variety of rose in the world for you, okay?"

Coddled like a precious gem by the two men, Mandy raised an eyebrow at me, silently saying:

"Sister, you've lost again!"

Against her, I seemed to have never won.

She always effortlessly stole my things; once it was my father's love, now it was the Lexington brothers' affection.

Countdown, day four.

Returning to the apartment I rented for Grandma, her border collie, Buddy, was nowhere to be seen.

The doors and windows were intact. Buddy was a very smart dog; he would never follow a stranger.

I quickly checked the surveillance footage and saw Liam and Jerry had visited before I came back.

They had always been good to Buddy, so I should have felt at ease, but for some reason, I felt a pang of panic.

I quickly got dressed and took a taxi to the Lexington brothers' villa.

Before Grandma fell ill, I sometimes stayed at the Lexington villa. The brothers had specifically designed a room and walk-in closet for me.

I pressed my fingerprint, only to realize that my print had been deleted from the villa door at some point, and even the password had been changed.

It had started raining, drenching me instantly, but the unease in my heart grew stronger.

Finally, just as I was about to call the police, the villa door opened, and Liam walked out, holding an umbrella.

"What are you doing here? You're drenched, are you trying to stage a drama?"

I ignored him and walked straight in.

But he grabbed my arm, "Mandy's having a party, don't go in and spoil the fun!"

Stepping into the villa, I found a crowd of men and women, snacks and empty shells strewn everywhere, and even my bedroom and walk-in closet were ransacked.

Seeing me enter, a guy with dyed yellow hair walked up and put his arm around my shoulder.

"Whoa, is this a wet T-shirt contest? Come here, let me feel you up!"

Jerry leaned casually on the sofa, carefully peeling an orange for Mandy, not even glancing at me.

I remembered once, when I was out, a man merely whistled at me, and the two Lexington brothers ruined that man's family.

Now, this yellow-haired guy openly provoked me in front of him, yet he remained indifferent. It was terrifying how heartless men could be.

I slapped away the yellow-haired guy's hand and walked up to Jerry.

"Where's Buddy? Where have you hidden Buddy?"

Jerry ignored me. Mandy walked over with a drink from the bar.

"Phoebe, if you drink this, I'll tell you, how about it?"

I've been allergic to alcohol since childhood. When I was little, I unknowingly ate some liquor-filled candies and broke out in a full-body rash, which terrified the two Lexington brothers.

Liam returned, carrying a box of liquor.

"Tell me, where is Buddy?"

Mandy poured a table full of drinks, then challenged me with her gaze.

"Phoebe, you might have thought one drink was too little. Now I've personally poured you a table full of drinks."

"As soon as you drink them all, I'll tell you Buddy's whereabouts."

Drinking this much would be fatal for me. I looked up at Liam and Jerry.

"Is this also what you want?"

Jerry, with a casual swagger, his legs crossed, replied, "Mandy's wish is what my brother and I wish!"

Fearing something terrible had happened to Buddy, I stepped forward and picked up a glass from the table. One after another, the pungent liquid flowed down my throat, making me cough violently.

My consciousness gradually blurred, but I still forced myself to finish the last glass.

"Can you tell me now?"

Liam and Jerry didn't look happy; their faces were frighteningly dark.

"Mandy is going to volunteer at an animal shelter, so she took Buddy home to practice."

"But that beast bit Mandy, so I beat him and sold him!"

My body swayed, filled with resentment, "Jerry, are you even human?"

"That was Buddy, Buddy who was with us for over ten years, how could you do that to him?"

Jerry, publicly accused by me, looked annoyed and frustrated.

"Just an old dog, how much is it worth? Here's ten thousand dollars, isn't that enough for you to buy another one?"

He pulled out a wad of cash and threw it in my face.

I couldn't stand it any longer. Swaying unsteadily, my head heavy, I stumbled out.

I had to find Buddy. He was my last bond in this world, the family member who would never betray me.

My head grew heavier and heavier, and finally, I collapsed.

In a daze, I saw Liam rush over quickly.

Countdown, day three. I woke up in the hospital, my whole body itching and aching from the rash.

"You know you're allergic, yet you drank so much alcohol. Do you have a death wish?"

Listening to the nurse's incessant chatter, I looked at Liam, who was guarding the bed.

"Where's Buddy?"

He looked at me as if I were an unreasonable child.

"It's just a dog, why are you so obsessed?"

My emotions suddenly crumbled, and I burst into tears: "No, Buddy isn't just a dog, he's my family. I've already lost Grandma, I can't lose him too."

Liam, who had never let me shed a single tear since childhood, stared blankly at my tear-streaked face.

"Phoebe Smith, can you stop always talking about Grandma? She's so old, why do you always curse her to die?"

My vision blurred with tears, "Didn't you two kill Grandma?"

Liam finally lost his patience, "Are you mentally ill? Do you have paranoid delusions?"

"You truly have a malicious heart, even bringing up your own grandmother, with whom you've depended on your whole life, to curse her to death and gain sympathy!"

I looked at Liam and gave a bitter smile.

"I wish I were lying; then Grandma would still be alive and well"

"Enough. I'm too idle to sit here listening to your nonsense! Buddy was sold to the North End Farmers Market. Go ahead and be as crazy as you want!"

I pulled out the IV needle from my hand, ignoring everything, and rushed out.

Liam, for whatever reason, followed me.

I searched stall after stall but couldn't find Buddy. In my disappointment, I saw Buddy's bell hanging on the door of a shop at the very end of an alley.

But I was afraid, my feet incredibly heavy. Pushing open the door, I saw several people gathered around a stove inside.

"Where did you get this old dog? The meat is too tough"

In the corner, a pile of fur was stacked, a color I knew all too well.

"Ah" I shrieked, violently vomiting blood, and fainted.

Countdown, day two.

I woke up in the hospital again, this time with a full house: the two Lexington brothers and Mandy were all there.

Seeing me awake, Jerry scratched his head, looking guilty.

"I just wanted to teach him a lesson; I didn't know the person who bought him would eat him."

Liam sighed, "This was indeed our mistake. When you're better, we'll go buy you another one."

How could they speak so lightly? That was the dog that had been with me for ten years, the dog Grandma and I considered family.

Even if they bought a million more, none would ever be Buddy.

I couldn't shed another tear, turning my face away from them.

"Alright, alright, you can't blame the Lexington brothers. Who told that old dog to bite people so randomly!"

I picked up the water glass from the table and threw it at Mandy.

"My dog was fine in his own home; you're the ones who came to steal him! Get out, all of you, get out!"

They left, sheepishly.

Countdown, final day. It was my mother's death anniversary.

I placed Buddy's fur into a box, preparing to see my mother before I left.

Early that morning, perhaps out of guilt, Liam, Jerry, and Mandy waited at the hospital entrance, surrounded by various offerings.

In previous years, on my mother's death anniversary, the two brothers would always accompany me, rain or shine.

"Phoebe, today's your mom's anniversary, let us take you!"

I ignored them, simply hailed a taxi, and headed to my mother's cemetery.

They followed closely, trailing behind me to my mother's tombstone.

Liam and Jerry, seeing the tombstone next to my mother's, immediately teared up.

Mandy's eyes darted away, and she scoffed coldly.

"Phoebe Smith, it's a pity you're not an actress. I can't believe you even erected a tombstone here just to make us believe your grandmother died!"

Liam frowned, "Today I'm going to tell Grandma that you, this unfilial granddaughter, curse her to die every day!"

He pulled out his phone and dialed Grandma's number, but it showed as off.

Then he impatiently called his assistant: "Go to Phoebe Smith's grandmother's house now and have her call me back!"

"Mr. Lexington, Mrs. Perry has passed away."

Liam and Jerry looked disbelievingly, huddling together to listen to the phone.

"What did you say? We just took her for a check-up a few days ago, how could she suddenly pass away?"

"Mr. Lexington, I heard she was hit by a car on the way home after her check-up. Her injuries were too severe, and she died the same day."