She never corrected them.
Not because she was ashamed.
Because she learned long ago that they only noticed her when they needed something.
“You stole my car,” Elena said.
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“I borrowed it.”
“You were drinking.”
Vanessa smirked.
“Careful. False accusations are illegal.”
Elena’s eyes moved to the dented hood and the dark stains on the bumper.
“Who did you hit?”
Vanessa’s face tightened.
Before she could answer, Carmen slapped Elena across the face.
The crack echoed through the street.
“Don’t speak to your sister like that!” her mother shouted. Mother-daughterjewelry
Elena ignored the sting.
“Is the victim alive?”
“That’s not important right now,” her father said.
Elena stared at him.
“Of course it is.”
“The important thing is Vanessa still has a future,” he replied. “Her business. Her engagement. Her reputation.”
He didn’t finish the sentence.
He didn’t need to.
Elena knew the rest.
You have nothing.
You are expendable.
You can take the fall.
Vanessa stepped closer and smiled.
“For once, you could actually be useful.”
At that moment, Elena’s phone vibrated.
A message appeared:
**Secure room ready, Judge Vargas.**
She locked the screen before anyone could see it.
In the distance, sirens approached.
Carmen grabbed her arm.
“Listen carefully. You’re going to tell the officers you were driving.”
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