Chapter 585:

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“Because when James described what he was planning to do to you, I realized something,” Rose said, her voice growing stronger. “I realized that I had spent so many years being angry at you for having the life I wanted that I forgot you were the only person who ever really loved me.”

Camille felt tears starting to burn her eyes at Rose’s words.

“When we were teenagers, when I was scared or lonely or angry at the world, you were the one who sat with me. You were the one who listened when I told you about the foster homes, about feeling like I didn’t belong anywhere.” Rose’s voice cracked with emotion. “You were my sister before you were my enemy.”

“What changed, Rose? What made you start hating me instead of loving me?”

Rose lifted her head and looked directly at Camille for the first time since sitting down. “Fear. Fear that I wasn’t good enough to keep your love. Fear that Mom and Dad would eventually get tired of me and send me back. Fear that you would realize I wasn’t worth being your sister.”

“Rose, that never would have happened.”

“But I didn’t know that. All I knew was that you had everything I wanted — parents who loved you unconditionally, confidence that you belonged somewhere, the security of knowing you would never be abandoned again.” Rose’s tears were flowing freely now. “Instead of being grateful that you shared your family with me, I became resentful that it wasn’t mine by birth.”

Camille reached across the table and took Rose’s hands, feeling how cold and small they were. “Rose, you were my sister by choice. That should have made it more special, not less.”

“I know that now. But back then, all I could see was what I didn’t have instead of what I did have.” Rose squeezed Camille’s hands tightly. “And by the time I realized how much I had thrown away, it was too late. I had already hurt you too badly to ask for forgiveness.”

𝖣𝗶𝘀c𝗼𝘷er n𝗲𝘸 𝗌𝘁o𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌 𝘰𝗻 𝘨𝗮𝗅ոо𝘃𝗲𝘭𝘴.𝖼𝗈𝗺

“It’s not too late now,” Camille said softly.

Rose stared at her sister in disbelief. “Camille, I tried to have you killed. I hired men to attack you in that parking garage. I spent years manipulating and undermining you. How can you even consider forgiving me?”

“Because holding onto hatred was destroying me just as much as it destroyed you. Because I remember the sister who taught me to braid friendship bracelets and read me bedtime stories when I was scared.” Camille’s voice was steady despite her tears. “Because when it mattered most, when James asked you to help him hurt me, you chose love over revenge.”

Rose broke down completely at Camille’s words, sobbing with the force of years of suppressed guilt and regret. Suddenly, she slipped out of her chair and dropped to her knees beside the table, looking up at Camille with desperation and hope.

“Camille, please,” Rose said, her voice breaking. “Please forgive me. I know I don’t deserve it. I know I can never undo what I did to you, to our family, to your marriage. But please, if there’s any part of you that still remembers loving me, please forgive me.”

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