The doctor jotted something down on a clipboard before approaching her.
"If you collapse again, who's going to help your father?" The girl lowered her head. "I'm not telling you this to make you feel guilty—I just want you to understand that your health needs to be a priority. I'll prescribe you some vitamins, and a balanced diet so you can regain the weight you've lost. Just look at those dark circles," the man said with a shake of his head. "You need proper rest. Try to live a calmer life. I know it's hard with everything you're going through, but I'll do what I can to help."
"I'll make sure she eats something, and her friend won't let her overdo it again," Robinson promised, looking at the doctor.
"Perfect."
"How's Dad?" she asked.
"He's doing better. We'll do everything we can to make sure nothing bad happens or his condition worsens," he assured her. "Alright, she needs to rest. You'll be able to go home tomorrow without any issues. Your sister already left—someone came to pick her up."
Jade frowned.
"Do you know who it was?" she asked.
"No, I just know the girl said her name was Allison," the doctor replied. "Alright, let's go, kid. Jade needs to rest."
"Bye, Jade. I'll come back for you tomorrow," Robinson said, kissing her forehead.
She gave him a faint smile and closed her eyes, allowing herself to rest for a while…
{...}
Saturday, February 18th
Robinson had picked her up early from the hospital. They returned to the hotel, where Jade spoke with Maximiliano to explain the entire situation. The brunet offered to cover the hospital bill—and though she didn't want to accept, she had no choice.
She asked for the day off because she had something urgent to take care of—something that couldn't wait.
Jade put on her headphones. She told herself that if she wanted to succeed in what she was about to do, she needed to stay calm, at peace.
She couldn't let rage consume her—otherwise, she could make herself sick, or worse, lose control and do something she might regret. Might, though that regret seemed unlikely considering how badly she wanted revenge.
She turned on her phone and let Beethoven's Silence soothe her. A malicious smile curled on her lips as she imagined everything she would do once she arrived. The bus continued its route as Jade planned her vengeance…
Some time later, the bus stopped at her stop. She got off, humming Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper, and walked the two blocks to her house.
She reached the door and got ready to unlock it.
She knew Elías wasn't home—on Saturdays, he met with his fellow officers to play pool at the bar. Janeth usually went shopping with her friends, and Alicia volunteered at a dog shelter.
She smiled as she closed the door behind her.
The little vixen had no classes that day, so she'd still be in bed. Jade knew she was a late riser, especially on days off—she did little else besides attend college. Elías and Janeth spoiled her far too much.
First, Jade went to the kitchen for the spare key, just in case the door was locked.
Quiet and steady, she climbed the stairs.
She cracked her knuckles and, once in front of her sister's bedroom, pulled out a hair tie and fastened her two braids into a tight knot.
She grabbed the doorknob and turned—it was locked. She took out the spare key and unlocked it.
Allison was asleep, wearing nothing but her underwear.
Jade stepped inside, scanning the room. It was a complete mess. She walked into the bathroom and grimaced at the sight of a used condom lying on the floor.
She picked up an empty bottle and filled it with water at the sink. Then, without a second thought, she walked back into the room and dumped the cold water all over her.
Allison shrieked immediately.
Startled and dripping, she looked around, trying to make sense of what had happened—then locked eyes with her furious sister.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" she snapped, sitting up and pushing the wet hair from her face.
Jade approached with unsettling calm, grabbed her by the hair, and yanked her out of bed.
"What's wrong with me?" she laughed—so coldly, so darkly—that it terrified her half-sister. "Nothing's wrong, little sis. I just want to have a little talk with you," she said, laughing again. "I need to clear up a few things you don't seem to understand."
Still holding her by the hair, Jade dragged Allison out of the room and threw her onto the hallway floor.
Allison tried to get up, but a brutal slap from her sister sent her back down.
Jade crouched beside her and gripped her hair again.
"Never again—do you hear me? Never again talk to my father like that, you stupid slut, or I swear I'll destroy you. I'll beat you even worse than I'm about to now. You know why? Because this time… you're not getting away."
"Bitch! Let go of me!" Allison screamed, trying to get up—but it was too late. Jade had crossed a line. There was no turning back. She hadn't wanted to go this far, but she couldn't stop herself. The result was slamming Allison's head into the floor.
"Get up!" Jade roared, her vision red with rage. Images of her father lying in a hospital bed, the times she saw him cry, Lucas's disappointment when Allison humiliated him after learning they didn't share the same blood—all of it flooded her mind. And with it came an absence of remorse. No guilt. No mercy.
Allison struggled to stand. Jade was about to grab her again, but the girl moved first and hurled a small vase at her—it hit Jade right in the forehead, sending her to the floor.
She touched the spot where a trickle of blood began to emerge, and her fury ignited even more.
"You're insane!" Allison shouted, rushing down the stairs.
"Come back here, Allison! We're not done talking!" Jade yelled, chasing after her.
Allison grabbed a robe from the closet and bolted out into the street. Jade was right behind her, determined not to let her get away so easily.
"You're not getting away from me!" Jade howled as she ran after her sister.
She reached out and grabbed her by the hair. Allison screamed in pain as her scalp was yanked back.
"Where do you think you're going?" Jade demanded, her voice dark and unfamiliar. She wasn't the same girl anymore—she was someone else, completely transformed.
She spun Allison around and slapped her so hard it made the others look like a joke. As her sister tried to get up, Jade's fist came down with full force, landing on her nose. Allison let out a cry of pain—the nose was broken, and blood streamed down her face.
Jade's knuckles were scraped and bleeding.
While her sister whimpered on the ground, Jade began pacing around her and said in a threatening tone:
"I don't want to hear a single comment from you about the rules my father sets for Alicia—or you'll have to deal with me," she warned. "You're forbidden from talking to my dad if your only purpose is to hurt him. I swear to God I'll come back here and shave you bald if I find out he got sick again because of you. Do you understand me?"
Allison nodded repeatedly.
"What? Didn't catch that," Jade said mockingly, clearly enjoying the moment. That bitter, hostile, hateful part of herself—the one she usually kept locked away—was finally free, reveling in the beating she was giving her half-sister.
"I won't do it again!" Allison cried from the floor.
Some people were watching from a safe distance, and a few were even recording the fight with their phones.
"Perfect," Jade said.
She turned around and started walking away when someone shouted:
"Behind you!"
Jade spun around just in time to be slapped by Allison. The surprise blow knocked her to the ground.
"Don't think I'm gonna take orders from a dumb bitch like you!" Allison shouted, using her sister's moment of vulnerability to land a kick to her stomach, knocking the wind out of her.
"You're the bitch," Jade hissed from the floor, glaring at her sister's bloodied and bruised face.
The small crowd watching had split into two sides—some were cheering for Allison, others for Jade. Her half-sister tried to kick her again, but Jade reacted just in time, grabbing her foot and pulling, making her crash to the ground.
The blow to the head left Allison dazed for a few seconds—just enough time for Jade to get to her feet again.
Some of Elías's friends were crossing the street but stopped when they saw the commotion.
When they realized who the two women fighting in the middle of the street were, they froze.
Jade grabbed her sister by the hair—again, for what must've been the umpteenth time in that brutal fight.
"I curse the day you were born," Jade spat on the ground. "I curse Janeth for making you my sister. You're nothing but a slut." Her eyes filled with tears. "And I swear, if anything happens to my father… I'll kill you."
Someone grabbed Jade by the waist and pulled her away from Allison.
"Let go of me! Let go!" she screamed. "I'm not done with her yet!"
"Calm down!" a man shouted, holding her tighter.
Several people rushed over to help Allison, who was barely conscious on the ground.
"I'll let you go, but you have to calm down," the man said.
Jade stopped struggling, and they released her.
"She passed out," one of the men said, lifting Allison. "The ambulance is on its way."
Jade looked around—no one was paying attention to her anymore, too focused on her sister. She took advantage of the moment to slip away. She rushed back into the house, heading straight to the backpack she had packed before but hadn't been able to take with her last time.
Heart pounding, she rummaged through her things until she found a cap and a pair of sunglasses.
She put them on and left through the kitchen door, walking quickly to the nearest bus stop. Once on board, she let out a small sigh of relief as the vehicle began to move.
[...]
She arrived at the hotel, and as soon as she stepped inside, everyone who passed her stared in horror.
She had managed to hide somewhat on the bus thanks to the cap and sunglasses, but at work, there was no hiding her tangled hair, the dried blood on her face, or the state of her clothes.
She was limping slightly, and the pain had started to kick in now that everything had cooled down and the adrenaline had worn off.
Her ribs ached, her cheek was swollen, and her forehead throbbed. Still, she smiled. If she was in pain, she could only imagine how much worse Allison must be feeling after the beating she'd taken.
She stepped into the elevator and leaned against the back wall, closing her eyes. When the metallic doors opened, she stepped out slowly.
She headed for Maximiliano's office. She needed help in case Allison decided to press charges. After what had happened with Dominick, she had promised herself she would never end up in jail again. Not even for a night.
She knocked, and when she heard permission to enter, she stepped inside.
Maximiliano was reviewing some documents. He needed to amend the hotel's food supplier contracts. He smiled when he saw his friend—until he noticed her condition. The smile vanished instantly.
"Dear God!" the brown-haired man stood up immediately and rushed over to help her. "What happened to you?"
He took off her cap and sunglasses. She had a cut on her forehead, a busted lip, a swollen cheek, and was covered in dirt.
"I got into a fight," she said weakly, trying to smile. "I went to put Allison in her place."
Maxi sat her down in a chair and went to the drinks station to get some ice. He took out a handkerchief, wrapped the ice in it, and pressed it to her cheek. She cursed at the sting.
"Just look at you…" he scolded gently, holding her chin with care.
"You should see her," Jade replied with a crooked grin that quickly turned into a grimace. "She's way worse."
"You're unbelievable," her friend said, shaking his head with a half-smile.
"I came because I need your help. I don't have a lawyer, and I don't know much about this legal stuff. If Allison takes legal action, I want—"
"Don't worry," he cut her off. "I won't let that happen. You're not going back to jail—not ever. I'll take care of everything…"