Too Late For Regret: I Was Burned Alive Novel by Nelson _ Novel





Too Late For Regret: I Was Burned Alive Chapter 01

The day I was discharged from the burn unit, both my mom and my husband, who had promised to pick me up, didn't show.
I struggled to make it home, only to see the arsonist—who should've been in prison—sitting on the couch, surrounded by them.
I lunged forward, trying to strangle her, but my husband Benjamin Jarrett stopped me and said indifferently, "I was the one who deleted the surveillance footage that could prove Penelope burned your sister to death."
My mom, Margaret Kelce, lifted her coffee cup, blew on it, and said casually, "I was the one who locked the fire exit door."
That fire Penelope Langford set killed my sister, Evelyn Kelce, on the spot.
It left me severely burned, and I had to go through two full years of skin grafts before I could barely show my face in public.
For those two years, every time I closed my eyes, I could smell Evelyn's body burning.
Touching the grotesque scars on my face, I asked in a trembling voice, "Mom... Penelope is just an adopted daughter. Why are you helping her like this?"
Mom replied impatiently, "Your dad already ruined Penny once when he kicked her out. She scared you a little to get revenge. Isn't that only fair?
"Either you keep your mouth shut, and I'll arrange plastic surgery for you...
"Or I'd send you to a psychiatric hospital and tell everyone you lost your mind and burned your sister to death.
"Your choice."
***
It had only been three days since Evelyn's death anniversary.
After two years in the hospital, this was my first time coming home, and Mom said this was what we deserved.
"Mom... we're your biological daughters."
My voice trembled. "Why... Why would you do this to Evelyn and me? Tell me."
She looked away and didn't answer.
Benjamin cleared his throat and sidestepped the issue. "Natalie, Penny already knows she was wrong. She's been feeling guilty all these years, so just let it go.
"If you're willing to reconcile with her, I'll support you for the rest of your life."
"She burned my sister to death! Why should I apologize to a murderer?"
I grabbed a cup from the coffee table, ready to throw it.
However, Mom's slap landed across my face with a smack first.
The force knocked me onto the table, and half my face burned with pain.
The newly healed skin on my body tore open, and warm blood dripped onto the glass.
"What are you making a scene for? Penny was so scared that she slit her wrists and tried to kill herself to pay for your sister's life. Isn't that enough for you?
"Take a look at yourself. With how you look now, who would even want you besides Ben and me?"
Evelyn's life was worth nothing more than a cut wrist on Penelope?
Meanwhile, in the hospital, I had been jabbed with the thickest needles, left to fester, burning with a fever that wouldn't break.
I was forced to swallow pills until I wanted to throw up.
Yet, in their eyes, none of that mattered more than Penelope.
"What exactly are you trying to pull? You've been stuck in a hospital bed for two years and still haven't figured things out?
"Forget it... Ben, take her back to her room. Don't let her keep making a scene and scare Penny."
Benjamin walked over without hesitation, grabbed my arm, and dragged me upstairs.
His grip dug straight into my barely healed wounds.
"Ben... let go... it hurts..."
He ignored me.
I struggled the entire way, pain tearing through every inch of my skin like it was being ripped off.
Eventually, the pain drained me of all strength, leaving me no choice but to be dragged along.
Suddenly, I laughed.
Penelope was the adopted daughter our family took in.
Two years ago, Dad found out she had been stealing money from the house and burned the family portrait Evelyn had drawn.
Enraged, he suffered a heart attack and kicked her out of the house on the spot.
Not long after that, he passed away.
On the day of his funeral, Penelope showed up and caused a scene, smashing his memorial portrait.
I couldn't hold back and slapped her.
I never thought that slap would become their excuse to join forces and take revenge on Evelyn and me.
"Just listen and behave. Stop upsetting Mrs. Kelce," Benjamin said.
He threw me onto the bed and turned to leave.
He didn't care at all that my wounds were still bleeding, soaking through my clothes.
It took me a long time before I could even sit up again.
Only then did I realize that the bedroom that used to be mine had already been taken over by Penelope.
The portrait Evelyn gave me before she died was gone, replaced with Penelope's photos.
The plush toys Benjamin and I had won together on our dates were gone too, replaced with the figurines she liked.
At that moment, laughter drifted in from the doorway.
Through the half-open door, I saw Penelope wearing my pajamas.
Her arm was looped through Benjamin's, leaning into him intimately.
"Ben, does this look good on me?"
She tilted her head up slightly.
I realized she was wearing Evelyn's necklace.
That was the only thing Evelyn had left behind, the thing she treasured most when she was alive.

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