Chapter 2

2

Sure enough, my mother's face turned cold as stone.

"Sending someone as selfish as her to study abroad would be a waste. She'd probably just come back even more rotten!"

Lulu sighed softly. "Don't be angry, Mom. I'm sure Quinn has her reasons."

My mother's gaze softened instantly. "Lulu, you're just too kind. That's why she keeps bullying you."

Lulu always knew exactly what to say to make them adore her.

I knew that even if I were alive and standing in front of them, telling them about every cruel thing Lulu had done since we were kids, they'd just slap me.

They'd call me a liar. They'd say I was just jealous.

After all these years, I was used to it.

As they spoke, my brother Ryan burst into the room, looking frantic.

The moment he heard about the accident, he had hopped on a flight from out of state to rush home.

Just like my parents, his world revolved entirely around Lulu.

Once he saw she was okay, he let out a long breath of relief, but his face quickly twisted into rage.

"I've said it before, Quinn is a curse on this family. She's been trying to hurt Lulu since the day she was born!"

Lulu seized the opportunity, acting like a victim. "Don't be mad, Ryan. Even if she pushed me into the street, I'm sure she didn't mean it!"

The room exploded.

My father slammed his hand on the table. "What? She pushed you?!"

My mother gritted her teeth. "That little bitch. I'm going to make her pay for this!"

Ryan's eyes looked like they were filled with poison. He looked like he wanted to tear me limb from limb.

Lulu seemed to realize she might have pushed the lie too far. She quickly acted to cover her tracks.

"Wait, Mom, Dad... maybe I remembered it wrong. She's my sister. She wouldn't do that, right?"

Ryan tapped her forehead affectionately. "You're too innocent, Lulu. You have no idea how dark some people's hearts can be."

"We must have been blessed in a past life to have a daughter like you."

"Mom will listen to you, sweetheart. We won't even think about that brat. Let's just focus on getting you better."

The warm, golden light of the setting sun fell across Lulu's bed.

I watched the four of them acting like a perfect, happy family. A hollow ache filled my soul.

I felt like an intruder in my own life.

I wasn't their family. I was just a stray dog they happened to live with.

I tried to run, to get away from them, but my soul was tethered to my mother.

I couldn't make a sound. I could only stand there and listen as they insulted my memory.