Chapter 228:
Elyse gazed at Mabel gently. “Please don’t cry,” she said. “What can I do to help you?”
Mabel sobbed, pleading, “Elyse, could you give me a few more of your compositions? If I don’t release new music, I’ll fade from the entertainment scene, and the company will drop me.” Tears welled in her eyes. “With just a few of your compositions, I can revive my career.”
Elyse was about to respond when disappointment washed over her. Slowly retracting her hand, she asked coldly, “Did you come here only to ask for my compositions?”
Unaware of Elyse’s change in demeanor, Mabel replied anguishedly, “I’m desperate. Won’t you help me?”
Forcing a smile, Elyse replied coldly, “Am I responsible for your misfortune? You didn’t earn your place in the entertainment industry; you stole my work and passed it off as your own. Now that your career is crumbling, you expect me to rescue you with my work? Why should I help you? Just because we’re sisters?”
Mabel clenched her teeth, her gaze venomous. Accustomed to arrogance and dominance, she struggled to conceal her emotions.
The malice in Mabel’s eyes pierced Elyse’s heart. This was her younger sister, someone she’d cared for since childhood. How could her sister look at her with such hostility? Elyse’s demeanor grew colder. “I’ve warned you before not to covet what isn’t yours.”
With a serious expression, Mabel retorted, “Elyse, I’m your sister. I’m in distress, and you refuse to help me. Do you even consider me your sister?”
Elyse’s anger ignited. Had her past care and kindness been in vain? She shouldn’t have been so generous.
“You struggled in school, and I helped you every day. I stood up for you when you were bullied. I’ve helped you countless times. Yet you seem to have forgotten all that, haven’t you?” Elyse’s voice was laced with disappointment.
Mabel angrily swept the coffee off the table. “If you’ve helped me so many times, why won’t you help me now? You don’t see me as your sister. You’ve been weary of me for a long time,” she demanded fiercely.
Elyse felt utterly disappointed. She rubbed her temples wearily, the weight of painful memories pressing down on her. “Did you say I don’t treat you like my sister? I don’t believe you see me as your sister. It’s more like you treat me as your servant, freely taking whatever you need, assuming I’ll always provide whatever you desire,” Elyse ruthlessly exposed Mabel’s true intentions. How could a sister behave like this?
They seemed more like enemies than siblings. A bitter smile touched Elyse’s lips. She chuckled inwardly at her naiveté, especially after her disappointments with Lanny and Glenda.
“Please leave. I won’t give you any of my work. Just forget about it,” Elyse stated flatly.
Mabel was taken aback. “But you’re my sister. Why won’t you help me? I just need a few compositions. I don’t want anything else. Why won’t you help me?” Her voice quivered with desperation.
As in the past, Mabel was throwing a tantrum, demanding until she got her way. But she misjudged the situation. Elyse wasn’t like Glenda; she didn’t succumb to Mabel’s tactics.
With a steely gaze, Elyse pointed to the exit. “Leave immediately. I won’t repeat myself.”
“Give me your compositions, Elyse Lloyd! Give them to me!” Mabel slammed her fists on the table and lunged for Elyse’s phone.
Elyse reacted swiftly, anticipating Mabel’s actions. She dodged, keeping her phone out of reach. Mabel’s attempt was thwarted when Elyse dodged again, causing Mabel to slip and fall into the spilled coffee.
“Ahh!” Mabel cried out in pain, noticing her bleeding hand.
Elyse couldn’t bear to see Mabel in pain and offered her hand. “Go home immediately.”
“You’re not even willing to help me while I’m in misery,” Mabel confronted her, displaying her bleeding hand.
Elyse glanced at the wound. “You did this to yourself. It’s not my responsibility.”