Chapter 2

2.

As I expected, the moment my mother saw Serena feign tears, her expression hardened, and her resentment toward me deepened.

"Serena, why are you still defending that venomous girl? You're far too soft-hearted, and that's exactly why she took advantage of you!" She looked at her with such tenderness.

"If I'd known she would turn into such a lying, greedy brat, I never would have spent money on her piano lessons. It was a complete waste of resources!"

Serena clung to my mother, like a small animal finding safety.

It was always like this. No matter what happened, my parents took her side unconditionally, creating a sharp contrast to my reality.

Over the years, I had tried to expose Serena's schemes, but I was always shut down and accused of being jealous.

Eventually, I gave up, too exhausted to even try.

I was lost in my sorrow when I felt a gust of wind.

My brother, Caleb, burst into the room in a panic, rushing to Serena's side to fuss over her with exhaustive checks.

Only after he was satisfied that she was fine did he spit on the floor in disgust.

"Elara is truly useless. She couldn't even keep her own sister safe. What's the point of her even being alive?"

Serena waved her hands, as if to defend me. "You're all wrong about my sister! Before I passed out, I heard her telling the kidnappers to take me with her. Maybe she was trying to protect me…"

The room went silent.

"What did you say?" my mother gasped, trembling with rage. "That wretched girl actually… actually…"

My father's face turned livid. "The unfilial brat! She put her own sister's life at risk for her own selfish gains!"

"When I find her, I'll break her legs myself!"

My brother clenched his fists, his knuckles white. The sheer malice in his voice sent a shiver down my spine.

Serena hadn't expected such a volatile reaction. Afraid things would spiral out of control, she quickly backtracked. "Oh, I… I might have misheard. Don't be too hard on her! She'd be so heartbroken if she heard you talking like this."

"She's my sister, after all. I'm sure she hoped for the best…"

My mother patted Serena's head, her heart melting. "Oh, my sweet Serena, you're just too kind. It's truly touching that you want peace in this family."

"But she's infuriating. Let's not talk about her anymore."

"Serena, listen to Mom―just rest. We'll handle the rest!"

Serena nodded obediently and closed her eyes.

The three of them looked at her with such doting affection that my heart broke all over again.

I was standing right there, yet I felt like a complete stranger they wanted nothing to do with.

Even in this warm, crowded room, I felt a loneliness that was chilling to the bone.

Maybe they all wished I had never existed in the first place.