Chapter 12

The sound of Elena's slap echoed in the room. 

Erika shrieked, clutching her face, her eyes widened in disbelief. Her head spun to Elena, and then without hesitation, she lunged at her, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking it hard. She didn't care if Elena was pregnant or not, she was equally enraged.

"You bitch!" Erika screamed. "How dare you! I was only taking back what was rightfully mine! You have no right to come at me!" 

Elena stumbled back, but she wasn't about to let Erika have the upper hand. She was devastated and betrayed. She grabbed Erika's wrists, trying to pry her off, but Erika's nails dug into her skin like claws. The two of them struggled, their scuffle turning into a full-blown fight. 

Then, a sharp voice rang out. "Elena!"

Elaine stood at the doorway, her face was twisted in fury. Her eyes darted between the two of them, but instead of reprimanding Erika, her anger was directed to Elena. 

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Elaine stomped inside, yanking Erika away from Elena and pushing the latter away. "How can you lay a hand on your sister?! It hasn't been long since she recovered!" 

Elena's heart sank deeper than it already was. Her chest heaved rapidly, as she pointed her finger at them. "She started it."

"No, Mom. She slapped me first! Don't lie, Elena. You slapped me after I simply told you the truth!" Erika sniffled, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She shot Elena a triumphant look before turning back to their mother. Her voice began trembling. "I only told her about the truth. That you only adopted her to take care of me! Isn't that right, Mom?"

Elena parted her lips, wanting to refute that, but then, Elaine's reaction poured cold water over her. Elaine looked away guiltily. 

Before Elena could respond to that, heavy footsteps thundered up the stairs. Hector appeared, carrying a furious and darkened face. He didn't even glance at Erika or Elaine and just went straight to Elena. 

"You," Hector called out, his voice cold and furious. 

Elena stiffened. A chill ran down her spine. "D—Dad…?"

Hector did not answer. He aggressively pulled out his phone and showed it to Elena. Displayed on the screen was a video. 

The footage was clearly from a dash cam, showing the parking lot of the town's supermarket at night. In it was the image of a woman walking, carrying two bags of groceries. A man bumped into her, causing her groceries to scatter. 

The woman picked up the fallen items and continued heading in a certain direction, but then, a black van pulled up beside her. The video did not catch who was inside, but the woman seemed to be talking, and then after a minute, she willingly stepped into the van. 

There was no struggle. Not even force. Anyone who watched it would think it was not a kidnapping. 

Elena felt her entire body go cold. The woman was her. But there was something wrong. "No…that's—that's not me! That's impossible! Dad, I was kidnapped! I was kept in a box—"

"Enough!" Hector yelled. His face was filled with restrained rage. Perhaps the only thing that was stopping him from hitting Elena was because of her condition. "You got into that van yourself! Stop fooling us!"

"No! I don't remember that! I swear! I don't remember that happening!" Elena frantically begged her father to believe her. She grabbed his arm, but Hector snatched it back. 

"Silence!" Hector roared. His hand snapped out before Elena could react, his palm striking her face with brutal force. He failed to hold back anymore. 

Elena staggered, her vision spun. "

"You lied to the police! You're a disgrace to this family! After all the things we've done to you! We raised you right and this is how you'll repay us!"

Tears trickled down Elena's face. "D—Dad, please, I don't remember—"

Hector did not let her finish. He went out of Erika's room, headed to Elena's and grabbed a handful of her clothes from the closet, then he hurled them at her feet. 

"Get out," he said, his voice was seething. 

Elena's heart stopped. She was frozen on her spot. Her complexion paled. 

"Get out right this instant. We don't need you anymore," Hector added. 

Elena's legs felt weak. She turned to Elaine, to Erika, and to even Nathan whose figure was at the root of the stairs, looking at her with dead eyes. Her mother looked away, her lips pressed into a thin line. Erika only stared at her with an unreadable face. 

"M—Mom…please…hic…"

But Elaine did not say a word. Hector grabbed her wrist when she did not move. He dragged her downstairs and shoved her outside, throwing her clothes with her. The chilly breeze of the night touched her skin as the door slammed shut behind her. 

She was abandoned again. 

For a long time, she sat on the porch, hugging herself pitifully. The neighbors heard their family's dispute, and some even peeked out their window to check on Elena, yet no one dared to lend help. 

Her family did not change their mind and refused to open the door for her again. With nothing else to do, she rose to her feet and slowly walked away, leaving the clothes on the spot. 

The dawn was breaking already. Elena was walking without a definite destination. Unconsciously though, her feet brought her to the road leading to the forest. She stopped thinking about how things happened that way; how she did not remember getting into that van willingly; or how she will continue her life now. 

A sudden honk startled her, snapping her from her dazed state. She turned to look behind and saw a familiar camper van heading toward her. It stopped beside her; the door slid open, and the smiling face of the older woman who once helped her before appeared. 

"Hey there, sweetie. We met again. Do you remember us?" The older woman asked cheerfully. Behind her were her two children, peeking at Elena with surprise and wonder. 

Elena simply nodded. 

The woman got out of the van and asked her again, "Are you off somewhere?"

Elena could not answer. Off to where? I have nowhere to go, she thought inwardly. She simply shook her head. 

The boy inside whispered, "Is she mute? She also didn't speak with us before!"

The girl covered his mouth and nervously looked at Elena. Their mother awkwardly laughed. She extended her hand to Elena and introduced herself again. "My name is Sarah Stormwood. These are my children, Lara and Richie. My husband, the driver, is named Richard."

Elena stared at her for a bit. Sarah tried to gesture her words, thinking that perhaps the lady was deaf and mute. But she stopped when Elena touched her hand and replied, "My name is… Elena… Elena Russel."

That introduction may have been the start of her new life.