Chapter 120
"If I'm Selina, the daughter the Harvey family lost twenty-one years ago," Selina's voice wavered, a blend of rage and despair, "don't you think you should make amends? Shower me with the love and affection I missed? How can you be so self-righteous and indifferent to my suffering? Manuel, remember how you treated me when I first returned? You said I could never replace Ashley in your heart!"
Faced with Selina's accusation, Manuel's initial confidence faltered. The realization that Selina was his idol, Angel, coupled with their fractured relationship, felt like a knife twisting in his heart. "Selina, you misunderstand. Ashley is, after all, the youngest child. We grew up together..." He began to explain, his voice trailing off.
"I know," Selina interrupted. "Ashley is my biological sister. You shared every day, a lifetime bond. I understand you're closer. I accept that. I don't want to compete with Ashley. All I ever wanted was my fair share of family love—a simple, rightful request. But you didn't just fail to provide that; you mercilessly crushed my hopes and longings! To you, a woman without a high school diploma, from the countryside, isn't worthy of the Harvey name. So why bother with me at all? I was better off without you!"
Selina's accumulated rage, a lifetime's worth of hurt, pierced Manuel like relentless gunfire. She'd intended to speak calmly, but her emotions overwhelmed her. She was human, full of emotions and desires—how could she be emotionless? The life others took for granted had always eluded her. When it finally seemed within reach, it pulled her into an abyss, shattering her.
She'd secretly envied children cherished by their parents, living harmoniously. She'd buried her yearning, unwilling to burden others. Even her mentor's companionship couldn't fill the void left by her absent family.
Manuel was speechless. Whether it was the timid Selina who'd initially arrived or the bold woman before him, she'd never revealed this side of herself. This raw, unfiltered outpouring of emotion washed over him, bringing a wave of remorse. Her words pounded in his heart, suffocating him.
After confessing her truth, Selina felt a weight lift. She tossed her hair, saying, "Manuel, if I weren't Angel, your idol, you wouldn't even listen to what you consider 'nonsense.' Isn't that ironic? You sought me out because of who I am as an idol, never because I'm your sister!"
What good was such a family? Were those deemed useless simply ignored, discarded? Only the useful deserved to be Harvey daughters. The thought sickened Selina.
She'd rather have belonged to a normal, unremarkable family. Perhaps then she could have been happy. What was the value of wealth and power when corruption and darkness festered beneath the surface?
Manuel was lost for words. He recalled Selina severing ties with the Harveys, bringing them shame. Her relentless opposition to Ashley had fueled his resentment, his wish for her to simply disappear.
However, her first-place win in a jewelry design contest, with her stunning "Shackled Hearts" piece, changed his perspective.
Now, he humbled himself before her because she was Angel. Every interaction had stemmed from anger, questioning, or some other motive—never from a desire to understand and bond with his long-lost sister.
Why had it come to this? Manuel felt ugly and selfish.
Selina, unwilling to engage further, turned to leave. She heard him mutter, "Sorry, Selina."
Those words stopped her momentarily. The next second, a stinging slap landed on Manuel's face. He hadn't seen it coming; his pupils quivered in shock. Only when the burning sensation spread did he stare at her in disbelief. "That makes me sick, you so-called piece of trash," Selina spat with disgust. "Go cherish your beloved Ashley."
Gasping, Manuel clenched his fists. "Selina... I was wrong..."
"You realize it now? Too late—or maybe not, I don't care. As I said, I've broken ties with the Harveys. We'll live separate lives. We owe each other nothing." The very thought of entanglement with the Harveys made her physically ill.
Selina attempted to leave, but Manuel grabbed her arm. She retaliated, spinning and landing a kick to his stomach. He endured the pain, clinging to her, knowing that releasing her would mean losing his sister forever.
"I know I'm too late... Selina, it's my fault... I cared too much about Ashley's feelings, about keeping the peace. You disrupted everything, and I hurt you," Manuel confessed. "If there's any chance to make amends, I'll do anything." This time, it wasn't because she was Angel, but a genuine remorse for his cruelty. He wanted to make amends, even if they couldn't be siblings again, at least they wouldn't be enemies.
A cold smile touched Selina's lips. "Alright, Manuel. If you make Ashley kneel, just like you forced me to when you falsely accused me of theft, slap her, and send me a video… then I'll put it on Twitter, and I'll forgive you."
"You… Selina, that's impossible…"
Selina broke free, questioning sharply, "Why? Don't tell me you've forgotten your face when you forced me to kneel, thinking I was a thief! But with Ashley, it's suddenly impossible? You're a hypocrite!"