When His Perfect Mask Shattered I Awoke (Anneliese) novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Go F*ck Yourself, People

Chapter 5 Go F*ck Yourself, People

Anneliese pulled her shirt up and bared her stomach.

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The skin, once fair, was burned red. Two thick scars slashed across her lower belly like deep cuts on paper. The heat from the earlier spill had turned the skin around them even redder, making the scars look sharper, crueler.

Four years had passed, but they still looked fresh. That was how badly she had been hurt.

She hadn’t just nearly lost her womb. If she hadn’t crawled out of that alley soaked in blood and half–conscious, she would have lost her life too.

She didn’t look away as she turned to face her so–called family. She let them see it all.

The room fell still. So quiet it could choke.

“What’s the matter?” Her voice came low and cold. “The burns are real. I’m still healing and getting ready for pregnancy. The doctor said I can’t miss meals. Was it really too much to ask for a bowl of soup?”

She studied their faces.

Timothy’s jaw locked. Melanie brought a hand to her mouth. Neither of them met her eyes. Their guilt slipped out through the cracks in their masks.

Perseus glanced once, then looked away fast, his breath catching in his throat.

They weren’t shocked because they cared. That silence was fear.

That was when Anneliese finally understood.

It

wasn’t just Christopher and Zacharias who knew what Selina did to her. They all knew. Her

parents. Her brothers. Every last one of them.

They had all been part of it.

“What are you doing? Put that down!” Zacharias rushed toward her and yanked the shirt back down.

He didn’t want anyone to see. Not the scars. Not the truth. Not the damage that wouldn’t go away. Those marks weren’t just wounds. They were reminders. Of a past he never wanted to deal with.

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Chapter 5 Go Fck Yourself, People

He covered her up fast, so fast he didn’t notice how the fabric stuck to the burn.

Pain shot through her body. Anneliese winced, then slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”

Zacharias grabbed her wrist. “Come on. You need cold water.”

Right then, the TV lit up. The speakers rang out with a soft, cheerful voice.

“Hi. Mommy! Hi, Daddy! Hi, my super handsome brothers! Good evening! Oh wow, Anne and Zach are there too? Did you miss me?”

Selina’s flawless face popped up on screen, all rosy checks and sparkling eyes.

She wore a white hoodie with bunny ears and sat by a tall window with sunlight pouring in. A perfect breakfast tray rested on the table beside her.

She smiled like sunshine. Her eyes sparkled with playfulness. Her wild brows gave her that “Im sweet but don’t mess with me” kind of charm.

Selina. The golden one. The princess.

She waved at the camera like nothing had happened here.

The tension at the table cracked and crumbled. No one looked at Anneliese anymore. Not when Selina was smiling on screen.

All eyes turned toward the television.

“Morning, sweetheart.”

“Did you sleep okay, Selina?”

“That can’t be all you’re eating. Don’t starve yourself, honey.”

“I checked the forecast. It’s getting cold there. Make sure you dress warm.”

Even Zacharias let go of Anneliese’s wrist.

His gaze locked on the screen, focused and calm. Anneliese had never seen him look at anyone like that.

She stood frozen. And she felt stupid.

She had promised herself she didn’t care anymore. That these people weren’t worth it.

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Chapter 5 Go F*ck Yourself. People

But now, watching every single person she cared about turn their backs again, it felt like her chest had split open.

The scars throbbed. Her body pulsed with rage. Her fists clenched so hard her nails dug into her palms.

She wanted to smash that screen into a hundred pieces.

She stared at Selina’s fake smile with burning eyes.

“Anne? Why are you just standing there?” Selina looked toward her, then turned to Zacharias. “Zach, did you make her mad again? You better be treating my sister right. If not, I’ll fly home and teach you a lesson myself!”

She raised her fist in a playful threat, all cutesy and bold.

Zacharias chuckled and slid his arm around Anneliese’s shoulder. “Of course not. We’re doing great. Already trying for a baby, right, honey?”

He looked down at her, all warmth and affection.

Anneliese raised her chin and smiled. She slipped her arm through his and leaned closer with a bright, sugary tone.

“Yeah. Next time you come back, our baby will be calling you Aunt Selina.”

Zacharias stiffened just slightly.

On the screen, Selina’s smile froze. Her eyes dimmed. She glanced at Zacharias, her face not as perfect anymore.

Anneliese lowered her gaze and smirked. She knew Selina. Knew her too well. Selina had always been the shining one. The star. The one everyone loved.

But that girl’s pride ran deep. And so did her ego.

Even if Selina didn’t care about Zacharias, she would never want to see him belong to anyone else. Especially not Anneliese.

And now? Now they were both breaking.

“Zach, congrats to you and Anne.” Selina’s smile lit up her face, smooth and sweet like nothing had ever gone wrong.

Zacharias stared at her. His throat shifted as he swallowed, and he gave a small nod. His voice

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C

Chapter 5 Go F*ck Yourself. People

came out quict, almost forced. “Thanks.”

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But the air changed. Something invisible passed between them and pulled everything tight.

Anneliese felt her stomach turn. She slipped her hand out of Zacharias‘ grip and walked off without a word. She headed straight for the room that used to be hers.

Behind her, the laughter started again. Light. Carefree. As if she had never been there.

No one noticed she had left. No one cared about the sting on her skin or the burn under her shirt.

But she cared. Her skin still burned, and she wasn’t about to let another scar claim her body.

She pushed open the door to her old bedroom. The space looked completely different. Her room had become a showroom full of model airplanes. Right across from the entrance, a photo of Selina hung on the wall.

Selina wore a sharp flight suit and a pair of dark sunglasses. Her arms were crossed, her chin raised, her grin bold. The aviation school loomed behind her.

Anneliese laughed under her breath, sharp and cold.

“I forgot to tell you. We redid the room, Christopher said from behind her. He had followed her upstairs. “You’re married now. You don’t live here anymore. Use the guest room upstairs if you need to shower.”

He shut the door like her being there spoiled the place.

Anneliese turned around. Her face was blank, but her eyes were ice.

“What now? Since I’m married, I don’t even get a servant’s room anymore? When Selina gets. married, are you going to strip her of her dance studio, piano room, painting studio, reading nook, and this little hangar of hers too?”

Selina had an entire floor to herself.

Anneliese had nothing. Not even a corner.

They never meant to let her come back. But they always acted like she was the one who kept her distance. Like she was the one who didn’t care. It was disgusting.

Christopher met her stare, and for a split second, something guilty flickered in his expression.

But it vanished, buried under a wave of irritation.

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11:27 Fri, Sep 5

Chapter 3 Go Fck Yourself. People

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