Never Coming Back

The year I turned ten, my mother remarried, and we moved into the Hayes estate. My stepbrother, Asher Hayes, called me a parasite. Once, he pushed me down the stairs. He just stood there, his eyes glacial, watching me bleed on the floor. “Don’t get it twisted. Your home-wrecker mother marrying my father doesn’t make you family. I’ll make sure you’re gone. One way or another.” He shredded my homework. He ruined my school skirts with permanent ink. The humiliation never stopped. No matter how hard I tried to please him, his cruelty was a constant. Then, in college, his best friend Finn Miller told me he had feelings for me. Miraculously, from that day on, Asher left me alone. I let Finn into my bed. I saw him as my salvation. The very next day, I overheard them talking. Asher’s voice was pure venom. “Did you get it on tape? Her first time?” Finn laughed, the sound cruel and satisfied. “Of Course！She was like a dead fish in bed.” I sobbed silently. My salvation was just another layer of Asher’s revenge. He had no idea I’d just submitted my application to study abroad. I was never coming back.

Asher took a slow drag from his cigarette. “We ruin her reputation. Then we’ll see how long she dares to keep freeloading.” “What if she can’t take it and…does something drastic?” Asher shot him a look, a cold scoff escaping his lips. “You sound worried. Don’t tell me you actually fell for her.” Finn’s denial was instant. “Never! She was just a game.” “Chloe’s coming back. You think I have time to waste on Blair?” I stood frozen outside the door, my heart turning to ice. Chloe Davis was their childhood friend, practically family, and Finn’s first love. I knew Asher hated me. In his mind, my mother’s affair drove his mother to jump. So his grief hardened into rage, and I was its new target. Even after I started dating Finn, Asher’s disdain never faded. But the outright torment stopped. I thought he was finally starting to accept me. I thought I was finally getting a brother, that I could pour all my hope into something normal with Asher. I never imagined it was a setup, worse than anything he’d done before. He and Finn were best friends. How could I have been so naive to think Finn actually liked me? I had overestimated myself. A hard lump rose in my throat, bitterness flooding my mouth. I turned and fled the house like a woman possessed. It was pouring outside. I was soaked. The moment I got home, I fumbled for my phone and texted Professor Sterling. “Professor, I’m in. I’ll join the project abroad.” He’d been my mentor through the international circuit, a heavyweight in smart technology. used to kill myself trying to be the best-all for a shred of recognition from my family. But no one ever noticed. Not my mother. And certainly not Asher. The project was highly classified, meaning I’d be locked in a lab for three years. I’d turned it down without a second thought. None of that mattered now. Still shivering from the rain, I curled into a tight ball and fell into a feverish sleep. I woke from a nightmare, my skin burning. As I tried to push myself up for medicine, my bedroom door slammed open. Before I could speak, my mother stood there, her face twisted with rage. She hurled a stack of photos directly at me. “Blair! How could you? Are you so desperate you’d sleep with anyone?” Finn had taken those photos after I blacked out. My vision went white. A cold, hollow despair bloomed in my chest. They hadn’t wasted a single night. By morning, copies of those photos were everywhere. Just two days before, Finn had been swearing on his life. “I’ll take care of you. We’ll get married right after graduation.” He’d plied me with so much alcohol, and eventually, I caved under his constant pressure. He’d pulled me back to bed repeatedly, and I’d let myself get lost in the moment, caught up in what I thought was love. Seeing my silence, my mother kept pressing. “Say something! Who did this? If these get out, Mr. Hayes and I will be a laughingstock!” She never cared about me, only about herself. But when I choked out Finn’s name, my mother fell silent. Then the accusations began. “Finn Miller? His family is untouchable. Do you have any idea what you’ve dragged us into?” “And you were together, weren’t you? Even with proof, what can we possibly do? You should have known better than to let it get this far.” I stared at her, my eyes widening in pure disbelief. She avoided my gaze. “The photos have been taken down. People will forget soon enough.” Finn’s family had power and wealth the Hayes couldn’t challenge. The door clicked shut. I looked up and saw Asher standing at the top of the stairs, a cold smirk on his lips, his gaze gleaming with undisguised triumph. He’d expected this all along. The truth was irrelevant. A wave of helplessness crashed over me, pulling me under. I slumped against the wall, sobbing uncontrollably.

My phone lit up and wouldn’t stop. One notification after another, each a new harassing message. Their words were vile, turning my stomach. My hands trembled as I blocked every single number. My mother said she’d arranged a long leave of absence from school for me. I wouldn’t have to go back. I didn’t want her to know about my plans to go abroad, so I’d have to go back to school myself to handle the paperwork. She was always too busy to care about me; she probably wouldn’t even notice I was gone. Even though the photos had been deleted, almost everyone around me knew what had happened. Their gazes were filled with scrutiny and mockery, accompanied by whispers. “She always seemed so innocent, but underneath it all, she’s apparently a total slut. Who knows how many guys she’s been with?” “Who knows, maybe she’s got some kind of STD. Stay away from her.” A tidal wave of shame and terror crashed over me. My heart tightened painfully, and I somehow managed to leave the university. Walking in a daze, I was suddenly blocked by a group of men. The leader pulled out his phone, showing my intimate photos, his eyes raking over me in a sickening way. “That’s you in these photos, right? Nice body.” “So you like to get wild, huh? What’s your rate per night?” “Come hang out with us, dollface. I want a taste of Finn Miller’s girl.” My body stiffened, and I instinctively took a half-step back. “What do you want?” They exchanged disgusting grins, and without a word, overpowered my struggles, dragging me into the dark alley. They snarled, pressing down on me. “Get off me! Don’t touch me!” But my hands and feet were pinned, leaving me powerless to fight. All I could do was watch as their filthy hands reached for my body. The sound of tearing fabric filled my ears. “Don’t struggle. No one’s coming to save you. If you make it enjoyable for us, maybe we’ll go easy on you.” I bit down hard on my lip, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. Taking advantage of the moment they started to undress, I quickly pulled out the small pocket knife hidden in my bag. My hand trembled as I held the blade. “Don’t you dare come any closer!” The first time I was harassed, my mother told me it was my fault for “dressing provocatively,” and that I shouldn’t wear skirts anymore. But I was wearing my school uniform. If Asher hadn’t shown up then, I would have been completely lost. Ever since then, I’d always carried a small pocket knife. The fear in my heart reached its peak. But they just smirked, unfazed, even trying to snatch the knife from my hand. In the struggle, the blade sank into my chest. The leader’s eyes widened in panic, as if afraid of a murder charge. He let go of me. I collapsed to the ground, blood soaking my clothes. My vision blurred, darkness closing in. But I could still hear them whispering as someone made a call. “Asher, we’ve got a problem. She just stabbed herself.” Asher’s voice came through the phone. “Is she dead?” Then Finn’s voice. “Asher, you’re a real psycho. You actually hired goons to jump her.” Asher scoffed. “I just wanted to scare the shit out of her. If she’s suicidal, that’s on her, not me.” “If she’s not dead, just dump her at the hospital. Make sure she never finds out who sent those guys.” My heart felt like it was being brutally squeezed, the pain almost suffocating. So… he really wanted to destroy me. Then, the words I’d accidentally overheard him say resurfaced in my mind, chilling me to the bone. “I know my mom’s death wasn’t her fault, not really. But I still refuse to let her have any peace.” “My dad might feel guilty towards them, but I sure as hell don’t.” Tears streamed down my face, unstoppable. I finally lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed. Finn was sitting beside me. When he saw me open my eyes, he immediately leaned closer, concern etched on his face. “Blair, baby, you’re finally awake! I’ve been worried sick.” When I didn’t respond, his gaze flickered nervously. “I saw those photos, Blair. I’m so sorry. I was out drinking, got totally wasted, and someone must have grabbed my phone by mistake and posted them.” “Don’t worry, I made sure they were all taken down. And don’t give it another thought. I don’t care about any of that.” I watched him, my heart a dead, empty space. He was the real culprit, yet he was playing the savior. If he hadn’t relentlessly pursued me when I was at my most vulnerable, Finn and I would never have been together. But before I could speak, his phone rang. He murmured softly into the phone, then turned and walked out, not even sparing me a glance. Finn had barely left when Asher walked in. He looked at my miserable state, a sneer twisting his lips as he spoke. “Guess where he’s running off to? Chloe’s back in town, and she’s apparently having trouble sleeping. He’s gone to comfort her, probably put her to bed. He’s not going to protect you anymore, so don’t get any ideas.” At his words, my body trembled uncontrollably. Chloe Davis was their childhood friend, practically family, and Finn’s first love. Asher’s mom used to say Chloe looked just like her, so Asher had always spoiled Chloe rotten, giving her whatever she wanted. I cherished Asher, truly wanted him as my brother, and always tried to do right by him. But it never mattered. One word from Chloe and I was forgotten. I closed my eyes, a self-mocking smile twisting my lips. Only now did I truly see it: neither Finn nor Asher ever truly cared about me. Normally, I’d be scrambling to apologize, trying to win him over. But I just turned my head away, my voice flat. “Got it. It won’t happen again.” Asher paused, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “Finn’s not here, Blair. Who are you trying to play pitiful for?” He stormed out. My injuries were severe, so I stayed in the hospital for a full week. My mother heard about it, sent me some money for the hospital bill, then left on a business trip with Mr. Hayes. She never even came to see me. I was alone even on the day I was discharged. I took advantage of their absence to start packing. There wasn’t much to take, really. Most of the things I once held dear were just Asher’s handouts, things he’d given me out of pity. Now, they meant nothing. The only thing that mattered was the bracelet my grandmother had left for me. My grandmother raised me until she passed away; that’s when I moved in with my mother. My grandmother had personally placed the bracelet on my wrist before she died, wishing me a safe and smooth life. But when I opened the box, the bracelet was gone. Vanished. I searched the entire room but couldn’t find it. It wasn’t until I checked the security footage that I saw Asher had taken it. But he wouldn’t answer my calls. When I finally found him, he and Finn were in a private room, throwing a birthday party for Chloe. Someone from the group chuckled, “Finn, you broke up with your smarty-pants girlfriend. Why don’t you send her my way?” Finn just glanced at him, saying nothing. Asher, though, flicked his cigarette butt into an ashtray, his voice cuttingly cold. “Why ruin Chloe’s birthday by talking about her? Don’t even mention her name, it’s a buzzkill.” My fists clenched. The moment I pushed open the door, everyone inside fell silent. I met Asher’s chillingly indifferent gaze, and cut straight to the chase. “Give me my bracelet back.” Before he could open his mouth, Chloe lifted her wrist, a delicate bracelet glinting. “You’re not talking about this, are you? Asher gave it to me…” One glance, and my heart clenched. It was Grandma’s bracelet. “That bracelet is mine. It’s incredibly important to me. Please give it back.” Asher scoffed, his voice like poison. “So what if it is? You live under my roof. Everything here belongs to me. I can take whatever I damn well please.” My nails dug into my palms, crescent moons blooming in my flesh, but I felt nothing, just a cold numbness. “You can take anything else, but not this. That was my grandmother’s…” Just then, Finn cut me off. “It’s just a damn bracelet, Blair. I’ll get you a new one, okay? Chloe loves this one, so let’s just call it your birthday gift to her.”

With a few dismissive words, he’d sealed the bracelet’s fate. A flash of smug triumph crossed Chloe’s eyes. “That’s right! I really love this bracelet. Just name your price. I’ll pay whatever you want.” But I stubbornly shook my head. “I don’t want money. I just want my bracelet back.” Asher glared, his voice sharp. “Give you an inch, and you’ll take a mile, won’t you? If you’re not going to take the money, then get out!” Chloe grabbed his hand, her voice soft and placating. “Asher, don’t be mad. I’ll talk to her.” She walked closer, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “Don’t think that just because I was gone, you could play sweet for Asher, or hook up with Finn to be his girlfriend, and replace me. I’m always going to be the most important person to them.” “You want the bracelet? Fine. If you genuinely get down on your knees and beg me, I might consider giving it back.” My breath hitched, a silent gasp caught in my throat. It was the only thing my grandmother had left me. Thinking of her kind, gentle face, my heart felt like it was being brutally squeezed by an invisible hand. Slowly, deliberately, I bent my knees, and knelt down right there, in front of everyone. “Please, give it back to me.” Asher and Finn just sat on the couch, watching with cold indifference, making no move to stop me. “You really are pathetic, aren’t you? You think getting on your knees and playing the victim will work? Who are you trying to emotionally manipulate here?” Chloe tilted her head, her eyes glinting with a chilling malice. “Okay then. Here.” The words had barely left her lips when she released her grip. “Oops. My bad. Slipped.” She’d done it on purpose. Absolutely. My chest heaved, my vision blurring with rage, and I slapped her so hard my palm stung. The next second, I was brutally shoved, sent sprawling right onto the scattered pieces. Finn scooped Chloe into his arms, comforting her, gently blowing on her reddening cheek. Asher’s face was thunderous. “Blair! How dare you hit her in front of me? Apologize to Chloe, right now!” His words were like a thousand knives, slicing my heart to ribbons. When I stayed silent, he continued to mock me. “Do you actually think that pathetic bracelet from a dead person is worth all this? How much longer are you going to be a psycho about it?” My whole body trembled, and then, unable to take another second of it, I slapped him. “Asher! It’s not a worthless piece of junk! It’s the most important thing I have, and you had absolutely no right to give it away!” “She deliberately shattered it. I’m not apologizing.” Asher, his face a mask of fury, stomped right on the scattered pieces. “I actually felt a shred of pity for you. You really know how to push my buttons, don’t you? So invested in this damn bracelet, huh?” “Hold her down! Make her press her forehead to these broken pieces! She’s not leaving until she’s done it ninety-nine times!” Someone quickly pinned me down, forcing my head to repeatedly hit the sharp shards. A sharp, agonizing pain radiated from my forehead, but it was nothing compared to the searing pain in my heart. In moments, warm blood trickled down my cheeks, splattering onto the floor. My face was a mess of blood, and I was barely conscious through the pain. Asher felt an inexplicable tightness clawing at his chest. “Do you finally get it?” I didn’t utter a sound. He scoffed. “Keep going. Until she understands her place.” Finn suddenly spoke. “Asher, she’s going to get seriously hurt if this keeps up.” Asher just casually waved his hand. “What, Finn? Feeling sorry for her? Don’t forget who took those photos.” Just then, Chloe suddenly slumped, collapsing dramatically. Finn scooped her up without a second thought, not even sparing me a glance as he turned and walked out. His face was etched with a panic I’d never seen him display, not once, for me. Asher looked at me, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. “See? Finn never cared about you. Don’t dream about what isn’t yours. You don’t deserve it.” “You lay a finger on Chloe, and you’ll answer to all of us. She’s family.” After they left, I dragged myself to the hospital to get patched up. I was just stepping back out onto the street when Professor Sterling called. “Blair, we might have to leave earlier than planned.” Back at the hospital, Asher found himself feeling an odd, unsettling restlessness. Back at the hospital, an odd, gnawing unease had settled in Asher’s gut. He shook the feeling off and walked into Chloe’s room, only to find her beaming, phone in hand. “I still can’t believe it! ” she chirped. “Asher, Finn…you actually made Blair disappear. All for me.” The instant the words left her mouth, both men’s expressions hardened.

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