Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 4

Time Heals All Wounds By Oliver Thomas 4 Summary

 

The post about Josephine spread rapidly across campus, earning her the harsh label of “evil girlfriend.” She felt the weight of judgment everywhere, from classmates avoiding her to Sebastian’s friends mocking her. Despite this, when she unexpectedly met Alexander, he offered genuine concern and an opportunity to join a prestigious project team, recognizing her academic talents. Josephine accepted, eager to focus on something positive amid the chaos.

 

At home, Josephine’s family shifted their approach from ignoring her to provoking her. Connor and Julian flaunted their close relationship with Elara on social media, trying to make Josephine jealous. In response, Josephine muted and deleted their contacts, trying to distance herself emotionally. However, her fragile peace shattered when their housekeeper called frantically, warning her that her father was giving away her late mother’s treasured piano.

 

Rushing home, Josephine arrived just in time to see movers taking the white grand piano out the door. Elara pretended to be concerned but quickly revealed her insincerity. When Josephine confronted her, Elara twisted the situation, suggesting it was more meaningful for someone else to have the piano if Josephine wasn’t using it. Enraged, Josephine refused to let them take it and called the police, declaring the piano her personal property.

 

The arrival of the police escalated the conflict. Josephine firmly stated the piano’s value and her ownership, while her father and Elara grew defensive and angry. Her father accused her of being ungrateful and insisted he didn’t need her permission to move furniture. Josephine stood her ground, asserting her rights and delivering a shocking ultimatum: her father and brothers had one week to move out of the house.

 

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below

The post spread like wildfire.

By late afternoon, I had earned the dreaded title of “evil girlfriend” throughout the entire campus.

Wherever I went, I could sense the weight of countless eyes fixed on me. Whispers floated through the air, accompanied by pointed stares.

Even classmates who once greeted me warmly now crossed the street to avoid any interaction.

Sebastian’s friends made it a point to track me down, their smug grins barely hiding their amusement. “Josephine, you really need to relax. Learn to forgive and forget, you know?” one sneered.

I refused to waste my breath on their nonsense.

Then, unexpectedly, I bumped into Alexander outside the library. He actually paused and asked with genuine concern, “The forum post—want me to handle it for you?”

His tone was casual, but I could hear the worry beneath his words.

“No need. They’re just a bunch of clowns,” I replied, trying to sound indifferent.

He studied me for a moment before letting the topic drop. Then he added, “By the way, I’m assembling a project team. It’s about digitally preserving urban cultural heritage. We still need someone to manage data integration and analysis. Interested?”

I blinked, caught off guard by the offer.

I knew about that project—it was one of the school’s most prestigious initiatives, reserved for the top students from each department.

“Why me?” I asked, skeptical.

“Because you have the best grades and the sharpest logic,” he said as if it were obvious. “I’ve read all your previous papers and reports.”

I hadn’t expected him to pay that much attention to my work.

“Alright. I’m in,” I said, needing something to focus on, something to keep my mind occupied.

This project was exactly what I needed.

Over the next several days, I practically lived between the library and the project workspace, burying myself in research and data.

Meanwhile, Dad and my brothers must have realized that ignoring me wasn’t working, so they switched tactics.

Connor began flooding his Instagram with pictures of him taking Elara everywhere—Disneyland one day, skiing the next, then lounging at some beach resort.

Every caption was the same smug nonsense: “Having a sister is the best. Real ones know.”

Julian was even worse. He changed his profile picture to a photo of him and Elara together, clearly trying to provoke me.

They thought this would get under my skin, make me jealous, make me regret leaving.

I muted both their stories and deleted all my old chats with Julian.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Then, one afternoon, my phone rang. It was our housekeeper, her voice frantic and trembling.

“Miss Josephine, you need to come home right now! Your mother’s piano—your father is giving it away!”

My mind went blank.

That piano—Mom had given it to me for my tenth birthday. It was one of the few precious things I still had left of her.

I hung up immediately and jumped into a cab, my chest tightening with every passing minute.

When I arrived at the house, I saw them—movers carrying the white grand piano out the front door.

For a moment, I couldn’t catch my breath. My vision blurred, and my hands trembled.

But I forced myself to hold back the tears, biting down hard on the lump in my throat.

Elara stood nearby, directing the movers with a fake, overly concerned expression.

“Careful, don’t scratch it… it’s really expensive,” she said in a tone dripping with insincerity.

The instant she noticed me, panic flashed across her face, but she quickly masked it, slipping back into her usual innocent act.

“Oh, Josephine! You’re home! Dad said you don’t play anymore, and it’s just taking up space, so my friend who studies music really needs one, and we thought—”

“Put it down.”

The movers froze, exchanging uncertain glances.

Elara bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears again.

“Josephine, please don’t be like this… I know it was your mom’s, but if you’re not using it, isn’t it better to let someone who will? Isn’t that more meaningful?”

Her words echoed the same twisted logic Sebastian had used when he replaced me in the duet.

“More meaningful?” I laughed bitterly. “Its meaning is that people like you don’t get to touch it.”

I pulled out my phone and dialed 911.

“Hi, I need to report a break-in and theft of my personal property,” I said firmly.

Elara’s face drained of color.

“Josephine, you—you can’t call the police! This is our house!”

“This is MY house.”

My name was on the deed. All of them were living under my roof.

Including you, Elara—a parasite who had overstayed her welcome.

Before she could respond, Dad and my brothers came rushing outside.

The police arrived quickly—this was a wealthy neighborhood, and potential thefts were taken seriously.

Dad’s face flushed red the moment he saw the officers.

“Josephine! Have you lost your mind?! Calling the cops over this?! Cancel it right now!”

I ignored his outburst and turned to the officers.

“Officers, this piano belonged to my late mother. It’s worth over one million dollars. They’re trying to move it without my permission.”

The officers’ expressions shifted as they began questioning Dad and Elara.

Dad shook with rage, pointing a finger at me.

“You ungrateful little brat! I’m your father! I don’t need your permission to move a piece of furniture!”

“Actually, you do. Because it belongs to me. My mom left it to me. Everything in this house that belonged to her—you don’t get to touch.”

“And while we’re at it, I’m officially giving you notice. You have one week to move out.”

Conclusion

 

The chapter closes on a poignant note of resilience and reclaiming one’s rightful place. Josephine, despite the harsh judgment and isolation she faces from her peers and family, stands firm in her convictions. Her refusal to be cowed by whispers or provocations, and her decision to assert control over her mother’s cherished piano, symbolize a deeper reclaiming of her identity and boundaries. The project offer from Alexander offers a glimmer of hope and purpose, a chance to channel her pain into something meaningful and forward-looking.

 

At the same time, the confrontation at home exposes the fractures and betrayals within her family, highlighting themes of loyalty, respect, and the struggle for autonomy. Josephine’s bold action against those who seek to diminish her legacy reflects her growth and determination to protect what is hers. The chapter leaves us with a sense of quiet strength and the promise that, even amid turmoil, one can find clarity and courage to face the future.

 

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

 

Next chapter promises to delve deeper into the escalating tensions within Josephine’s family, as the fragile peace shatters completely. The confrontation over the piano is just the beginning—emotions will run high, loyalties will be tested, and the true extent of the family’s fractures may finally come to light. Josephine’s resolve will be challenged as she faces not only external opposition but also the painful reality of those closest to her turning against her.

 

Meanwhile, the project with Alexander offers a glimmer of hope and a potential new path for Josephine, but it also hints at complexities beneath the surface. As she immerses herself in this prestigious initiative, unexpected challenges and alliances may emerge, forcing her to navigate not only academic pressures but also the intricate dynamics of trust and support. The next chapter will keep readers on edge, blending personal struggle with the pursuit of something greater, all while Josephine fights to reclaim her space and identity.