They Have a Family Group Chat, I’m Not in It Chapter 03
The four of them came home late that night.
They must have been drinking—the air smelled of alcohol.
I was packing my things at the time.
The moment they saw this, my parents’ faces changed instantly.
Mom rushed over, grabbed the clothes out of my hands, and threw them on the floor. “Hazel, what do you think you’re doing? Running away from home? Didn’t I already send you money? Why are you still making a scene?”
I quietly picked up the clothes and stared hard at her. “Making a scene? Who’s really making a scene? I saw the family group chat. Have any of you ever treated me like family?”
Mom’s face went pale. “Hazel, let me explain…”
I laughed coldly. “Don’t bother. I don’t want a family like this anyway.”
Dad finally spoke up from the side, but everything he said was accusatory. “It’s just a group chat. What does that prove? Hazel, you’re way too sensitive.”
Too sensitive?
Fine.
No matter what, they’d find a way to make me the villain.
I ignored them and kept packing.
Nova came over crying. “Hazel, did you see my texts? I’m sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn’t come to live with you, none of this would be bothering you.”
She reached out and grabbed my arm. “Hazel, please don’t be mad at me, okay? If anyone should leave, it’s me. You’re the one who belongs in this family.”
I pulled my arm away. “Save your fake kindness. I won’t fall for it!”
I didn’t push her hard, but Nova stumbled backward toward the corner of the table.
Mateo caught her just in time. He stepped in front of her and shoved me hard.
I didn’t see it coming. I hit the ground hard.
A dull crack came from my knee. It hurt so much I cried.
But there wasn’t a trace of guilt on his face. If anything, he looked almost pleased. “You were the one who laid hands on Nova first. This is your well-deserved lesson! See if you ever dare do that again.”
A hint of pity flickered across Mom’s face.
She was about to help me up when Nova’s sobs pulled her away. “Aunt Margaret, maybe I should just leave. All I do is make everyone unhappy.”
Mom forgot about everything else and pulled Nova into her arms. “Sweetheart, how could I ever let you leave? You only have me now.”
Then she turned to look at me, her eyes full of disappointment. “Hazel, you went too far this time. I’m very disappointed in you.”
Disappointed?
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
She wanted me to give in to Nova on everything. I did that.
She wanted me to be understanding and considerate. I did that too.
So what was she disappointed about?
That I couldn’t keep letting Nova treat me like a dog and still stay quiet?
Or that I stopped pretending I didn’t notice they’d never treated me like family?
But Mom, I’m a person. I have my own pride and dignity.
Dad tried to play peacemaker. “Hazel, your mother is really upset this time. Just apologize to Nova and we can put this behind us.”
Apologize again.
It was always me who had to apologize.
But not this time. I refused to give in.
I lifted my chin and looked at them, enunciating every word, “I will not apologize!”
Before I knew it, Mateo kicked me hard. “Then let’s see which is harder—your mouth or my fists.”
Blood rushed into my mouth. I coughed and spat out a mouthful of red.
But Mateo didn’t stop. He kept yelling at me. “Hazel, don’t try any of your tricks on me. I’m telling you, if you don’t admit you’re wrong to Nova, I’ll keep hitting you until you do!”
He raised his foot again.
Dad stopped him. “Mateo, don’t. She’s your sister!”
Mateo shot back immediately. “She’s not my sister. She’s so petty. I don’t want a sister like her. My only sister is Nova.”
Mom spoke up right then as well. “Hazel, don’t blame us for favoring Nova. Look at how you’re acting. I remember you used to be so understanding.”
With that, she took Nova’s hand and led her into the room.
Out of the corner of my eye, Nova looked back at me, triumph written all over her face.
As if to say, “See? You’ll always lose to me. Everything you have, including your family, is mine now.”
And Mateo, as if he’d been given permission, started walking toward me again, eyes hungry.
Dad, seeing that Mom had already taken that position, said nothing more and went back to his room.
Mateo cracked his knuckles. “Hazel, I’m telling you for the last time. Apologize to Nova properly. My punches won’t hold back any longer. Don’t end up taking a beating for nothing and then having to apologize anyway.”
It was the first time I’d ever seen him act like this, and he suddenly felt like a total stranger to me.
Usually, he wasn’t exactly warm to me, but with our parents around, he never went too far.
But now he looked at me like I was some unforgivable criminal. Like he wanted to tear me apart.
Our conflicts had never escalated this far before.
Nova was truly skilled at manipulating everyone.
First Mom. Then Dad. Then Mateo. One by one, they were all willing to hurt me for her.
I smiled bitterly. “You can beat me to death tonight. I’m still not apologizing.”
Mateo threw punch after punch at me.
I didn’t make a sound.
Compared to the pain in my heart, this was nothing.
In the end, Dad came out to stop him. “Enough. We don’t want anyone ending up in the hospital.”
And Mateo, probably bored by then, stopped.
The whole house went quiet.
I lay on the cold floor, remembering everything.
After a while, I heard my parents whispering in their room.
“Did we go too far today?”
“No. Hazel was the one who went too far. She needed a lesson. We can just cook her something nice tomorrow to make it up to her. You know her. Nothing matters to her more than family.”
I let out a hollow laugh. So just because I cherished this family bond, they could trample all over my dignity without a second thought.
Just then, my phone buzzed.
Jenna had sent my flight information. It was an early morning flight.
I forced myself up despite the pain, grabbed my ID, and walked straight out the door.
The moment I closed the door behind me, I felt nothing but relief.
I was done with this family for good.