Oops, I’ve Been Exposed

The crisp sound of the slap echoed in the yard. Woody’s arms remained open awkwardly. He looked at her in disbelief.

Shane and Mindy were shocked, too. They didn’t expect Sasha to do that and were caught completely off guard.

Honestly, Woody would have dodged the slap with ease. Even a dozen special forces soldiers couldn’t touch him, much less a young woman like Sasha.

He wanted to deny the reality even when the slap landed on his face. He couldn’t imagine why the cute little girl who used to admire him and follow him around would slap him.

They weren’t blood-related siblings, but they were as close as any siblings could be.

He figured it was because she had great hopes for him that caused her disappointment to be even greater.

He used to be an outstanding person. It was normal for Sasha to admire him like any other girl.

No one expected him to become a convict and get imprisoned for four whole years.

Her admiration naturally turned into disappointment-extreme disappointment. She hated him for being meek and ambitious.

Woody smiled wryly inwardly. There was more disappointment waiting for them. He took the fall for Brutus. Not only did the Yorks not show any gratitude, they even betrayed him in the end.

How could he tell them about these things?

“You bastard! How dare you show up here? Haven’t you caused enough damage to our family? Look at my parents. Look at what you’ve done to them!” Sasha bellowed angrily.

The anger she had held back finally exploded. The intense anger in her eyes made Woody look away.

“What are you saying, Sasha?”

Shane reprimanded her immediately, ” You’re a lady. How can you slap someone like that? Have you forgotten everything I taught you?”

“That’s right, Sasha. Look carefully. This is Woody. Didn’t you use to admire him? How could you slap him?” Mindy also joined in reprimanding Sasha.

Sasha retorted angrily, “I was young and naive then. That’s why I admired an irresponsible bastard like him. He was the one who committed the crime, but all of us had to pay for it while he took it easy in jail!

“Dad had to set aside his pride and beg Kurt on his knees to get that letter of forgiveness. We even had to sell the house and borrow money from a loan shark. Then, we lived in poverty like beggars.

“If not for him, I would have been a carefree little girl even if we weren’t wealthy. The whole time I was in university, I didn’t even get to buy any nice clothes. I had to eat the cheapest food in the canteen. My classmates made fun of me.

“There were countless times I cried in my own bed, but I never had the courage to tell you two. I felt so mortified when the counselor asked me if I needed to apply for financial aid. I never dared to tell anyone that my father was a professor.

“Dad got Alzheimer’s disease because of malnutrition and the stress from the debt. He’s only 60 years old!

“Meanwhile, Mom had to wake up before dawn every day and scavenge for trash at the risk of being chased by stray dogs to make ends meet. Her spine and legs are all damaged.”