You’ll Regret Stealing Him from Me — My Sister Who Took My Fiancé and Celebrated Was a Fool - Chapter 43

“You humiliated Lady Seraphina in public.”

Father’s voice was calm but heavy. Each word struck my chest like a hammer.

“You blindly believed Isabella’s words.”

Every accusation pierced my heart. There was no escape, no room for rebuttal.

“You refused to listen to those around you.”

No, that’s not.

“You made the wrong judgment.”

But I wasn’t I the victim here? Wasn’t I just deceived?

“Th-that’s not?!”

I raised my voice unintentionally, reflexively. It came out louder than I expected.

“I reported Isabella! I helped uncover the truth!”

I desperately defended myself. That’s right, I acted too. I had doubts, I requested an investigation. I tried to expose the truth. Because of that, the facts came to light.

“I was deceived too!”

My voice trembled. My throat was dry, making it hard to speak.

“Because Isabella lied!”

That’s right. I wasn’t at fault. Isabella was the one who deceived me. She was the one to blame.

“I’m the real victim here!”

I insisted on my innocence. But Father’s expression didn’t change.

He just stared at me coldly without even trying to hide his disappointment. His gaze was the same stern one he’d given me when I was a child being scolded.

“This is all your fault!”

Isabella, who had been listening silently, suddenly shrieked in anger.

She glared at me. Her eyes, once wet with tears, now burned with fury.

“You’re the one who tattled to your father! That’s why this happened!”

Her shrill voice echoed through the study, sharp enough to make my ears hurt.

“You betrayed me!”

What was she even saying? Betrayed her? Me?

“You were supposed to be my fiancé! You should have protected me!”

Isabella was completely overcome with emotion. Tears welled up as she lashed out at me. The face I once found cute was now twisted, ugly.

“I was just trying to take back what was mine!”

“Stolen goods don’t belong to you!”

I shot back, incredulous. Was she still saying this? Even though it was obvious she had plagiarized?

“Everything was my sister’s fault!”

Isabella wailed, clenching her fists, shaking.

“My sister stole my achievements! Why am I the only one being blamed?!”

Anger surged through me again. Did she still not understand? Had she not grasped the gravity of what she’d done?

“That’s exactly why you’re at fault! You did something wrong! Of course, you’d be blamed!”

I raised my voice, stepping closer to her.

“Trying to steal credit, that’s the lowest of the low! You did something unforgivable!”

“You’re no better! You’re worse! You just stood by and watched me struggle! You never helped me at all!”

She hurled the accusation back at me.

“You’re the one who humiliated my sister in public! I never asked you to go that far! That was your decision!”

For a moment, I was speechless. It was true I had been the one to publicly announce the annulment of our engagement.

“You’re the one who hurt her!”

“That was—”

I tried to argue back, but the words caught in my throat.

“You were the one who called off the engagement! I just told you the truth! You’re the one who acted!”

“Because you lied to me!”

I shouted, my voice so loud it felt like my throat would tear. I had to drown out her words.

“You deceived me! You cried and played the pitiful little sister! And I believed you!”

“That’s your own fault for being stupid!”

Isabella screamed back, relentless. Her shrill voice made my head throb. Her face was red, her hair disheveled.

“What did you say?!”

She had no right to blame me. Everything started because of her lies.

“I—”

“You believed what you wanted to believe! You attacked my sister on your own! I never asked you to!”

“But you—”

“You did it all by yourself!”

The ugly quarrel dragged on. A pathetic exchange of blame, a disgusting spectacle of mutual insults.

Disgraceful.

I knew it. I was making a fool of myself in front of Father. But I couldn’t stop. I had to refute Isabella’s words.

“You’re the one at fault!”

“No, you are!”

“Both of you, SILENCE!”

“……”

A deep, low, yet overwhelming voice reverberated through the study.

Like thunder, it made my body freeze.

Isabella and I fell silent at the same time.

Father loomed over us, his eyes filled with deep disappointment and anger.

“Enough of this foolish argument.”

His voice was cold, devoid of emotion.

“Disgraceful.”

That single word made me shrink in shame. Pathetic. I couldn’t believe Father had to see me like this.

For a while, no one spoke. A suffocating silence filled the room.

Father crossed his arms, staring us down. I couldn’t meet his gaze. I looked down, fixing my eyes on the floor. Beside me, Isabella also stayed quiet.

The silence stretched on, growing heavier. It would have been easier if he had just said something.

“Regarding this matter, your punishment will be decided soon.”

Finally, Father spoke, his voice still low and grave.

“Until then, you are not to act on your own. Return to your rooms and reflect. Think about what you’ve done, the weight of your responsibility and what you must do from now on.”

Each word sank into my chest like lead.

“That is all. Dismissed.”

It was an order that brooked no argument. Of course, none was allowed.

“Y-yes…”

I replied weakly and left the study.

Isabella followed behind me without a word.

Walking down the hallway normally unremarkable, but today it felt unnaturally long. In the end, we didn’t exchange a single word before returning to our rooms. Isabella and I parted ways midway. She kept her head down, heading to her room in silence.

Anger, sorrow, everything was tangled together in a mess. What was right? What was wrong? I didn’t know anymore.

My strength left me, and I slumped to the floor.

A decision would be made. What punishment awaited me? What would I be told? What would become of me?

My thoughts spun in circles, refusing to settle.