Chapter 4: Shadows of Guilt

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Victoria had met Jake shortly after moving to the U.S. five years ago. She had left China behind to be with her brothers, Will and Aachi, and to pursue her studies. But the excitement of starting fresh was shattered the moment she landed and learned the devastating news of Aachi's death. It was a heartbreak she hadn't expected, and during those difficult days, she made the choice to stay in the country and live with her remaining brother, Will.

New to the country and still reeling from grief, Victoria believed that at least with Will by her side, she wouldn't have to face this new world alone.

When she moved in, she quickly realized things weren't going to be as simple as she thought. Will had a girlfriend named Lisa Smith, and though their first meeting seemed pleasant enough, it didn't take long for cracks to appear.

"Hi, I'm Will's sister, and you must be Lisa?" Victoria had greeted her with a warm smile when they first met.

Lisa smiled back, her tone sugary sweet. "Yes, I'm Lisa, Will's girlfriend. We'll all be staying here together."

"Nice to meet you, Lisa. Thanks for taking care of my brother. I hope we can get along well."

"Same to you, Vic," Lisa had replied, smiling as they hugged. For a few weeks, everything seemed fine.

But soon after, Victoria noticed Lisa's behavior started to change when Will wasn't around. In front of him, Lisa was kind and polite, but the moment they were alone, her attitude turned hostile.

"Vic, you're not allowed to use the phone after 6 p.m. It messes with my sleep," Lisa snapped one evening.

Victoria was caught off guard. "I need to use my phone to talk to my parents. They live in a different time zone."

"I don't care. Will doesn't use his phone after 6, and I expect the same from you," Lisa said firmly.

To avoid conflict, Victoria reluctantly agreed, opting to step outside whenever she needed to call her family. But this was just the beginning of Lisa's control.

Lisa began making Victoria's life a living nightmare whenever Will wasn't around. She harassed her constantly and manipulated Will, pretending that all her strictness was for Victoria's own good. She played the role of a concerned partner, turning Will against his own sister while knowing full well how fragile Victoria's situation was.

The constant emotional strain took its toll on Victoria. Her mental health deteriorated; she developed an eating disorder and fell into depression. The once hopeful girl from China was now struggling just to get through the day.

"Vic, let's have dinner together," Lisa suggested one evening, her voice unusually cheerful.

"I already ate," Victoria lied, not wanting to endure another tense meal.

"Vic, you never eat with us anymore," Lisa pressed. "Besides, Will and I need to discuss something with you."

Reluctantly, Victoria sat down, her stomach already tightening with anxiety. Will pulled out a piece of paper-a list-and handed it to Lisa.

"Vic, we've noticed a few things lately," Lisa began, reading off the list as Will sat silently by her side.

"Let's start with number one: you chew too loudly."

Victoria blinked in disbelief as Lisa continued.

"Next, you slurp your drinks."

"Then, you make a mess when you eat."

With each trivial complaint, Victoria's heart sank further. She glanced at her brother, hoping for some defense, but he remained silent, complicit in Lisa's pettiness.

The list went on, and all Victoria could do was sit there, the weight of their words crushing her spirit. What had once been a dream of living with her brother had now become a nightmare she couldn't escape.

Victoria felt her heart sink deeper with every word Lisa spat out, each one a needle pricking the little hope she had left. Will, sitting silently beside his girlfriend, offered no defense. He knew his sister well yes, she could be a messy eater but the look in his eyes showed no sign of support. It was as if the bond they once shared was disappearing right in front of her.Victoria's last bit of strength crumbled. She lowered her head and excused herself, retreating to her room.

The weight of everything hit her all at once. Losing Aachi, feeling alone in a country that was meant to be a fresh start-none of it felt like it was worth fighting for anymore. She collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in her pillow as tears streamed down her cheeks. When did everything fall apart? She cried until she didn't even know when sleep finally took her.

In her dreams, she was back in her safe place, with Aachi, the one person who had always been by her side.

"Aaachii, I don't wanna eat," a younger Victoria whined.

Aachi raised an eyebrow and smirked, teasingly calling her by the nickname only he used.

"Ichi," he replied, narrowing his eyes. "You always say that."

"I want it crunchier!" Victoria pouted, puffing out her cheeks in that cute way she knew would soften him.

Aachi laughed, giving in as always. "Alright, but only this time. Next time, you eat it as it is, okay?"

"We'll see," she teased back, giggling at his playful frustration.

There was a brief silence as they shared a quiet moment, the warmth of sibling love filling the air.

"Aachi?" Victoria whispered.

"Yes, Ichi?" he replied, his eyes softening.

"Will you always be by my side, bro?"Aachi's face grew serious for a moment, but his smile never faded.

"I'll always be with you when you need me. And even when I'm not around, I'll send someone to look after you."

"But you're going to the U.S. tomorrow," she said, her voice wavering. "Will I ever see you again? I feel like it's my fault."

Aachi gently cupped her face, wiping away the tears before they could fall. "Don't ever think it's your fault. Things happen, but none of it is because of you. I'll find a way back to you, no matter what."

That last promise echoed in her mind as the dream began to fade. She remembered the accident, the one incident that had torn her family apart. It wasn't her fault, but Victoria had always carried the burden as if it were. Over time, the guilt consumed her, turning her into a shadow of the carefree girl she used to be. She withdrew from the world, becoming an introvert, slipping into depression that only deepened as she lost Aachi for good.

Now, lying in bed with only her memories to comfort her, Victoria felt the crushing weight of the present again. She had lost Aachi, and it felt like she had lost Will too. But worst of all, she had lost herself.

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