Once My Family Now My Ruin Novel by Aaren Collins _ Novel




Once My Family Now My Ruin Chapter 01

The night before I had to turn in my final art portfolio, a bunch of thugs grabbed me off the street and dragged me into a dark alley. They kept me there all night—beatin’ me, hurtin’ me in ways I can’t even talk about without shakin’.
The doctors didn’t sugarcoat it: I’d never hold a paintbrush again. My dream? Gone. Poof.
My childhood sweetheart, Raphael, was supposed to be on a business trip. He didn’t answer a single one of my panicked calls. When he got back, he broke down cryin’, swearin’ up and down he’d hunt down whoever did this and make ’em pay.
My brother Cameron pulled every string he had. Got the best surgeons in the city rushed to the hospital for me.
But lyin’ there in the ambulance, driftin’ in and out of consciousness, I heard Cameron lower his voice real quiet.
“Raphael, man… don’t you think you went way too far? Hirin’ those guys just to stop Lenie from turnin’ in her work? I get you wanted to clear the way for Gina, but c’mon—there had to be another way.”
Raphael grabbed a tissue and gently wiped the blood off my swollen, busted face—like he was the sweetest, most caring guy in the world.
“As long as Lenie’s in the picture, Gina doesn’t stand a chance of gettin’ in. Besides…” He leaned in, his voice soft and sickly sweet. “Lenie’s always gonna have me. I’ll take care of her.”
Now the two people I trusted more than anyone—the guy I’d loved since we were kids, and my own brother—had turned everything into a sick lie. All to hand my future over to their precious adopted sister, Regina.
The doctor sounded urgent. “She’s in bad shape. The surgical team’s ready. We need to go now.”
Raphael went quiet for what felt like forever. Finally, he said, “Hold off till tomorrow.”
The doctor stared at him like he’d lost his mind. “Her hands are crushed. If we wait, the damage is permanent. She’ll never use ’em again—even if she survives.”
Cameron actually hesitated, tryin’ to talk sense into him. “She’s already paid enough, Raphael. Don’t cripple her for life.”
“I want her crippled,” Raphael said flat out. “It’s the only way Gina gets her spot. We’re too deep in this now. Gina’s gettin’ into that academy, no matter what.”
Then he bent down, pressed his lips to my bloody forehead in this slow, tender kiss that made my stomach churn. His voice was all soft and loving, like he meant it. “I’m right here, Lenie. No one’s ever gonna hurt you again. Promise.”
He nodded at the doctor. “Go ahead and knock her out first.”
I was shakin’ so hard I could barely breathe. Bit my lip till I tasted blood. It felt like someone was carvin’ my heart out with a dull knife—this empty, burnin’ pain that just wouldn’t stop.
No wonder my bodyguards “forgot” to pick me up after class. This wasn’t random. It was planned. Every brutal second of it. All so Regina could slide into that one spot at the fancy art academy.
The two men I’d trusted with my life had almost killed me for the same damn woman.
Those thugs had shot me up with drugs to keep me awake through every punch, every violation, every twist of the knife. So when they finally gave me that tiny dose of anesthetic? It did jack squat. I felt every single stitch, every tug of thread through torn skin. I felt it all.
Tears burned down my face. I started coughin’ so hard I thought I’d choke.
Raphael freaked out right away, strokin’ my cheek like he actually cared. “Does it hurt that bad, baby? Don’t be scared. I’ve got you.”
Cameron was pacing, all mad and antsy. “Those sick bastards… they’re not even human. Don’t worry, Lenie. I’ve already thrown a fortune at private investigators. I’ll find ’em. They’ll pay.”
He whipped around and barked at the doctor. “What the hell’s takin’ so long with that shot? If she feels one more second of this, I swear I’ll shut this whole hospital down!”
Anyone watchin’ would’ve sworn he loved me more than his own life.
Their faces looked so real—so full of worry and guilt. But it was all fake. A perfect act. They’d wrapped me up in lies so tight I couldn’t breathe.
The pain in my chest was sharper than anything they’d done to my body. I was seconds from blackin’ out.
Raphael’s eyes filled with tears the second he saw me like that. “Your injuries are too serious, Lenie. Rushing the surgery could make it worse. We’ll wait for the top specialists tomorrow, okay? Just trust me. I’ll make sure you’re okay.”
I looked up at his “sincere” face and forced the question out. “Will I… still be able to paint?”
“Of course you will,” he said right away. “I promise.”
“You’re so damn talented,” he added, his voice crackin’ just right. “Next year you’ll get in for sure.”
But he couldn’t even look me in the eye. His head stayed down, heavy with the guilt he was fakin’.
As the darkness finally pulled me under, their faces started to warp—twistin’ into somethin’ ugly and hungry, like they wanted to rip me open and swallow whatever was left.

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