Chapter 11
Her eyes drifted to his wrist. “That scar… was it from a car accident
too?”
Sean paused for a split second, then quickly pulled his hand back.
He removed the empty IV bag from the stand. After a long pause, he answered, “Yeah. Car accident.”
He leaned one arm on the edge of the table, still facing away from her. Backlit by the window, his profile was blurred, unreadable.
“I’ve got one too. On my leg.” Sadie said softly, lifting the hem of her skirt just a bit. “Here–looks a lot like yours, doesn’t it?”
Sean glanced over and immediately looked away. Her slender leg was pale, the scar on her thigh stark against her skin.
But her skirt had risen a little too high–too high for comfort.
He turned his head and said flatly. “Don’t go lifting your skirt in front of a man, kid.”
“But you’re a doctor,” she said with innocent confusion.
His throat tightened. ‘Sure, but I’m still a man.
‘Has no one taught her basic boundaries?‘
He changed the subject. “That scar could’ve been treated. Why didn’t you have it removed?”
Sadie’s expression shifted slightly. Her chest tightened with a familiar ache.
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Chapter 11
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Because Cordell Douglas once told her the scar was a reminder of their parents. He said when he had time, he’d help her remove it himself.
And she had believed him.
But later, he looked at her scar with disgust. Told her it was ugly. Said he’d never help her remove it.
Told her she was the reason their parents died.
Said that scar was her punishment. Her burden. That she should carry it forever.
She had been devastated. And for a long time, she believed it. That guilt made her try even harder to please her brothers, to earn their approval.
The memory hit her like a wave, knocking the air from her lungs.
She couldn’t bring herself to explain any of that now, so instead, she deflected. “What about you? Why didn’t you get yours treated?”
“I’m a guy–it doesn’t matter. But for a girl, it’s better to have it removed.”
Sadie forced a smile. “Maybe someday.”
Seeing that she had gone quiet again, Sean didn’t press further. He simply sat beside her and turned on the TV.
Sadie looked up at the screen–and blinked.
It was a livestream of an esports tournament.
Her sixth brother, Rhett, was currently competing.
So that was why he hadn’t shown up to Lorena’s party–he was here, in
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Chapter 11
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this match.
But just like in her previous life, he lost to the young heir of the Francis family from Arcpus.
She remembered how, after that loss, Rhett was publicly mocked by the opponent.
When he got home, humiliated and furious, he pulled the whole family into forming their own esports team.
Jeremy, Malik, Brent, Rhett… and her.
They failed in the prelims–but there was still the wildcard round.
Thanks to the wildcard round, their team had staged a remarkable comeback. They clawed their way through the ranks until, in the national finals, they once again faced the young heir of the Francis family from Arcpus.
Back then, Sadie devoted nearly every waking hour to training. She analyzed hours of gameplay footage, memorized the tendencies and tactics of the opposing team–all so she could help secure victory.
Lorena wasn’t in the lineup.
She lacked natural talent and was only ever a benchwarmer, never actually allowed onstage.
That suited Sadie just fine.
She loved playing with her brothers, just the family–no outsiders interrupting their bond. In that space, she felt like she truly belonged.
She cared about the competition so much, she even let her exam prep fall behind.
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But just when they won a critical round–when the championship was almost in their hands–her brothers made a baffling decision.
They pulled her out of the game and subbed in Lorena.
They went on to win the tournament and were crowned national champions.
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