Chapter 4: Framed at the Family Table

That night, Autumn came to the hospital again. She frowned at the bruises on my face.

She brought me flowers—cheap ones from the gas station.

“Honey, I don’t know who’s spreading rumors about you. I believe you. You’d never fake products or hurt anyone. I’ll help you get to the bottom of this!”

Her expression was so sincere that if I hadn’t overheard their conversation, I might have believed her.

She was always good at pretending. I wondered how many other people she’d fooled over the years.

I stared at her. “Honey, you really don’t know who started these rumors?”

I watched her face carefully, searching for any sign of guilt.

She gave a guilty little laugh. “How would I know? Don’t think too much. Focus on getting better.”

She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice light and breezy.

Maybe out of guilt, Autumn took care of me for a while, but I was just numb.

She brought me soup, changed my bandages, even sat with me while I slept.

That numbness was shattered at a family dinner.

The whole family gathered at my parents’ place—pot roast in the oven, laughter echoing through the halls.

Autumn’s face twisted with jealousy. My heart ached sharply.

She glared at Emily, her knuckles white around her fork.

Finally, dinner was over. My sister-in-law and I were waiting upstairs.

Emily sat beside me on the couch, her hand resting on her belly.

Someone shouted, a chair crashed, and suddenly Emily was tumbling down the stairs.

Blood spread beneath her. I panicked and called for Lucas.

My hands shook as I dialed 911. Lucas came running, his face pale.

At the hospital, the baby couldn’t be saved.

The doctor’s words were cold and final. Emily sobbed, clutching Lucas’s hand.

But Autumn tugged at my sleeve.

She leaned in close, her voice low but loud enough for everyone to hear. Her eyes were dry, her face unreadable.

“Ryan, I know you’re upset that so many clients have switched to my brother-in-law, but you can’t push your sister-in-law. She’s pregnant!”

She made sure everyone heard her. I stared at her, stunned, as the room went silent.

People started whispering, glancing at me with suspicion.

I stared at her in disbelief. “What are you talking about? I didn’t push her!”

My voice cracked, desperate. I looked to Lucas for help, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes.

Autumn wiped her eyes. “Ryan, I can’t watch you keep making mistakes. If you’re angry, take it out on me, but your sister-in-law and the baby are innocent!”

She dabbed her eyes with a tissue, the picture of wounded virtue.

Lucas jumped up from the bed and punched me in the face.

The blow caught me off guard. My head snapped back, pain exploding behind my eyes.

“Ryan, I’m your brother! She’s your sister-in-law! How could you do something so horrible?”

His voice was thick with rage. I saw tears in his eyes, but I knew they weren’t for me.

Dad grabbed my arm, holding me back. He turned to Autumn, his face grim.

“Autumn, did you really see Ryan push her?”

He wanted to believe me, but he trusted Autumn more. I felt the last bit of hope drain away.

She nodded without hesitation. I felt nothing but hollow despair.

Her eyes were cold, her voice steady. She didn’t even flinch.

“Autumn, I’ve loved you all these years. What did I ever do to deserve this?”

My voice was barely a whisper. She wouldn’t even look at me.

She looked away. “Ryan, we’re husband and wife. I can’t let you keep making mistakes.”

She sounded so righteous, like she was doing me a favor.

My father sighed. “Ryan Lane, for doing something so cruel, transfer your shares in the company to your brother. Think of it as atonement.”

His voice was heavy, final. I realized then I’d lost everything.

Lucas’s eyes lit up. In that moment, I understood—this was the real goal all along.

He tried to hide his smile, but I saw it. I saw everything clearly for the first time.

I laughed through my tears. “I didn’t do anything. Why should I atone?”

The sound was bitter, broken. No one answered.

I shook off my father’s hand and punched Lucas over and over.

My fists flew, fueled by years of betrayal. I didn’t care anymore. I wanted him to hurt the way I did.

“From now on, I have no brother!”

I spat the words out, looking Lucas dead in the eye. I meant every syllable.

I made sure Autumn heard it, too.

She looked away, but I saw the fear in her eyes. Maybe for the first time, she realized I was done.

But things weren’t over. Lucas, furious and embarrassed, said he’d sue me and wouldn’t let me off easily.

He stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. I knew he’d follow through. He always did.

He hired a lawyer and filed suit.

The papers arrived a few days later—official, cold, final.

When the summons arrived, Autumn paced around anxiously.

She wore a path in the living room carpet, biting her nails.

“Ryan, stop being stubborn. Those shares aren’t worth it. Otherwise, you’ll go to jail!”

She tried to sound concerned, but I heard the impatience underneath.

“Besides, you did do something wrong! Why are you being so awful now?”

She raised her voice, hoping I’d back down. I didn’t.

I snorted. “Autumn, did you really see me push her?”

I stared at her, daring her to lie again. She hesitated, just for a second.

She looked guilty but still shouted, “I saw it! Ryan, you’re such a disappointment.”

Her voice was shrill, desperate. I almost felt sorry for her.

“I’m doing this for your own good. If you insist on going to court, I’ll testify against you!”

She crossed her arms, daring me to call her bluff. I didn’t.

I closed my eyes. I couldn’t understand how the person I once loved had become like this.

I remembered the girl I used to know—the one who laughed at my jokes, who dreamed of traveling the world.