Chapter 2

2.

As expected, when Mother saw Tessa's fake tears, her expression grew even colder toward me.

"Tessa, why are you still defending that wicked girl? You're far too kind for your own good!"

"If I had known, I never would have wasted money on piano lessons for that greedy liar. What a waste of resources!"

Tessa clung to Mother, looking like a small, protected animal.

It was always like this. Whatever she said, they believed without question.

Over the years, I had tried to tell them about the terrible things Tessa did to me.

But they always brushed it off, accusing me of being jealous of her.

Eventually, I just grew tired and stopped talking altogether.

While I was lost in my grief, a sudden gust of wind seemed to blow through the room.

My brother, Zane, burst into the room, rushing straight to Tessa's side to check on her.

Once he saw she was okay, he spat on the floor in disgust.

"Avery is such a piece of trash. She couldn't even protect her own sister. What's the point of her even being alive?"

Tessa waved her hands as if trying to deny his words.

"You're all misunderstanding her! Before I passed out, I heard her telling the kidnappers to take me too so she could protect me..."

Hearing this, everyone's blood began to boil.

"What did you say?" Mother gasped, shaking with fury. "That monster actually..."

Dad was trembling with rage. "That girl! She tried to kill her own sister for her own selfish gain!"

"When I find her, I'm going to break her legs!"

Zane clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked, a sound that made my ghost heart shiver.

Tessa, seeing the extreme reaction, got scared that her lies might be exposed later and tried to backtrack.

"Wait, maybe I heard it wrong. I was so dizzy... please don't be mean to her. She'd be so sad if she heard you."

"Besides, she's my big sister. I'm sure she wants what's best for me..."

Mother looked at her with pity. "You're just too good, Tessa. You still care about family harmony even now."

"She's just a toxic person. Let's not talk about that unlucky girl anymore."

"Tessa, listen to me. Just rest here. We'll handle everything else!"

Tessa nodded obediently and closed her eyes with a sweet smile.

The three of them looked at her with such pure love that it made my nose sting.

I was standing right next to them, yet I felt like a complete stranger.

In that warm, cozy atmosphere, I felt a bone-chilling loneliness.

I realized they probably wished I had never been born at all.