Falling From Heaven And Stepping Into Hell.

"Daddy, please let me explain—" 

Bang! 

A beautiful girl around eighteen was pushed and thrown over to the floor. Her brushed-up, silk black hair was a mess, her pretty little face was stained with tears, and her luscious blue eyes glimmered with brand-new tears. 

Meanwhile, a glaring pair of red eyes stared down at her, filled with hatred and hostility, chilling Annika's soft heart. She couldn't believe how someone could hate their own flesh and blood this much. It's not like she was picked up from the streets. Yet here her father was, glowering at her with rage and detest as if she were an outsider. 

"How can you do this to your sister, Annika?" Her father, Nicholas Knight, growled at her, pure rage evident in his voice. "She is your goddamn sister, Annika!" He yelled, as if she was at the fault when all she did was act in self-defense. 

"But daddy, I—" 

"Shut up!" Her father shouted. "Stop calling me your father! I don't have a ungrateful daughter like you who watches her own sister fall!" He trembled with anger coursing through his veins, causing him to start coughing. 

Cough! Cough! 

"Dad, please calm down," A fair, slender hand reached out to him and gently stroked his back.

A tiny and petite girl stepped out from behind with bandage adorning her hand. She was dressed in a pure white dress, appearing pale but beautiful like the first snow fall. Her sweet and meek appearance looked sad and crestfallen. 

"It's okay, I can understand Annika's feelings towards me, Dad," she spoke, her voice fairly low but loud enough for the socialites of New York in the hall to hear. "She considers me an enemy since Daddy is deluging me with love and affection." 

"But little sister, I am meeting Daddy after nineteen years. I didn't had the privilege like you to receive love since birth." She sorrowfully looked at Annika before continuing."I spent eighteen years of life in an orphanage, getting bullied and mistreated for a piece of loaf." Her voice wobbly and painful, softening the hearts of many. "I didn't had the honor like you to eat in a golden plate, sister."

"Dear..." Nicholas's eyes softened, and he patted her back. "It's okay, you are safe now." 

"I am so sorry, Dad, and little sister Annika." She cried out and hide her face in Nicholas embrace. "I am really sorry for being greedy of your and brother's love, Daddy." 

"It's okay, Avery." Nicholas stroke Avery's back. "It's nothing to be sorry about. It's your birthright," he consoled her. Then he fiercely glared at Annika who was watching them with heartbroken eyes. "What are you looking at, you heartless girl? Apologize to your sister at once!" He yelled again. 

"But Daddy, why should I—" Annika tried to explain herself. That whatever her father is thinking is not true and she didn't just... but before she could say a single word, a black shadow flash like a light and..

Slap! 

The socialites present in the crowd gasped harshly. Never in a billion years, would they have thought that Nicholas Knight, the doting father, would dare to slap his precious little daughter. 

Annika's face turned to the side and skin ripped open on the corner of her lips with trail of blood oozing out it. Tears gathered in her eyes at the stinging pain in her cheeks. 

"Shut up!" Nicholas glowered. The look that he gave to Annika was bone-chilling as if she had committed treason and only a death sentenced would obliterate her sin. 

"Your explanation holds no value to me. I just want you to apologize to your sister," he spat out with utmost hatred, as if she was at the fault for stepping aside to save herself and not falling with her sister. 

The atmosphere in the hall felt frigid and heavy. 

The socialites of New York watched from the side, their hidden snickers, laughs, and mocks on full display as they watched the pampered daughter, who was once full of pride and arrogance pushed to the ground, withering in humiliation. 

Crystal-clear tears fell from Annika's blue eyes, her heart breaking into millions of pieces. She can't help but think where she went wrong. 

From childhood to adulthood, she had always been obedient and docile. Always working hard and proving her worth as the princess of the Knight family. She had never done a single thing that can smeared the family name to dirt. She stayed up late and hungry until midnight just to be the top of her class, receive awards as the best student, and become the golden child of her family. 

Yet here her father was, treating her as a criminal when all she did was stepped to the side to avoid falling down the stairs with Avery. 

 'If only big brother Aaron and Eli were present.. this wouldn't have happened,' Annika sorrowfully thought in her heart. 

"Now, what are you waiting for? Apologize, you disgraceful child!" Nicholas red eyes appeared murderously intense as he glared at her with chilling iciness. "You're humiliating me further." 

"Yes, daddy..."Annika looked down with remorse. She then shakily stood up, but winced in pain. "Hiss—" The fall from earlier might have twisted her ankle. 

Once she stood up, she looked at Avery whose face was hidden in her father's embrace. She slowly spoke, shame covering her face. "I am sorry, sister." Even though it was not her fault, she still have to apologize. Only because of Avery Clifford, who has invaded her life like a dreadful storm. 

From a pampered princess of her loving father, she has become a villain to him. And all because of this girl right here, who is acting all meek and docile, provoking her father's protective nature. 

For a momentary second, Annika saw red. She wanted to yank Avery out of her father's embrace and throw her to the floor before smashing her face with her heels! 

Avery removed her face from Nicholas's chest and weakly looked at Annika with soft smile. "It's okay, sister. I just hope you don't hate me anymore." 

Nicholas patted Avery's heard with soft eyes. "Dear, you're so kind." 

"I really don't want anything, Daddy. I just want to stay happily with you, brothers, and sister Annika," Avery spoke sweetly and she cutely hide her face in Nicholas chest. "I want to experience the family love." 

"Aww, dear." Nicholas cooed at her little act and gently stroke her head. 

Meanwhile, Annika stared at her father and supposed sister with blank eyes, her soft heart turning into stone little by little. The little bit of love and affection she had left for her father had disappeared. 

All she wanted to do right now was disappear into nothingness and forget everything.