Chapter 3

Seraphina's words sparked the usual fire of resentment in my parents' hearts.

"If not for her, you wouldn't be this frail. She truly is a curse. Why did I ever give birth to a child like her? If I had known, I should have smothered her in the cradle." My mother's face grew cold as she spat the words.

"We can't do that," my father interjected. I actually felt a spark of hope, thinking he might have a shred of affection left for me. I was wrong.

"Seraphina's health is poor; we still need Sienna as a blood bank for her transfusions. If we kill her, what happens to our girl?"

So that was it. I shouldn't have existed. I shouldn't have been alive.

I had dared to hope for a moment that she would look at me―that she would show me a shred of love.

It was my own foolishness all along.

Sienna, you should give up. Yet, tears spilled from my eyes anyway. Apparently, even a ghost can cry.

"Please don't be angry, Mom and Dad. If my sister doesn't want to save me, I deserve it." Seraphina sobbed, then continued.

"It's just that I'm so weak, I won't be able to stay by your side forever. But Seraphina isn't afraid. I just want you to be happy."

Eleanor's eyes filled with doting pain. "You're so good, Seraphina. Mommy will make sure you're saved. Don't be afraid!"

Dad chimed in, his eyes full of loathing for me. "We keep her around just to save you. If she dares to disobey, I'll beat her to a pulp!"

The atmosphere in the room was heavy, but it was interrupted when my brother, Silas, walked in with our younger brother, Leo.

Silas had been abroad for business, but he rushed back the moment he heard the news, bringing Leo with him.

They swarmed around Seraphina, checking her condition with frantic worry.

Only when they were sure she was fine did they finally relax.

Little Leo leaned over the bed, his voice trembling. "Are you hurting, Seraphina? Let me kiss it better!"

Leo was only five, but he was wise beyond his years. He used to do the same for me when I got hurt, but he'd eventually believed Seraphina's lies and turned against me.

"Mom, Dad, I told you! Sienna is a curse. She's going to doom us all. You kept her here, and now look―Seraphina is almost dead because of her!" Silas yelled.

Seraphina immediately started acting. "Brother, it's my fault! She didn't mean to push me!"

"What? Sienna pushed you?" Silas's face went black.

The others were furious.

Dad gripped his fists. "She dared to bully Seraphina? I'm going to kill her."

Mom's eyes burned. "I should have suffocated her."

My brother looked ready to tear me apart.

Little Leo's cute face hardened. "She doesn't deserve to be my sister!"

The words were hauntingly familiar. They pierced my heart. He had said that to me before.

Seeing the crowd rally around her, Seraphina's lips curled into a smirk of pure arrogance, as if she were saying, See? They love me best.

She put on a brave, wounded face. "She's still my sister. I won't hold it against her."

Eleanor pulled her into a doting embrace. "My poor Seraphina, you're just too kind. I'm so worried you'll get taken advantage of."

"But I have you, don't I? I know you'll protect me," Seraphina giggled.