Chapter 3

"Cora... are you serious? You're giving all your personal savings and properties to Serena too?" Ethan grabbed my arm, his eyes wide with shock.

Now it was my turn to be puzzled.

For years, they had worshiped Serena. Whatever she wanted, they forced me to hand over.

If I refused, I was selfish, petty, and evil.

Now that I was giving her my entire life without a fight, why were they acting like this?

Robert was the first to recover. Pride lit up his face. "Our girl has finally matured! All those years raising you weren't in vain after all! Cora, accepting your sister into your heart is the best thing you've ever done. Now we can grow old knowing you girls will look after each other!"

Look after each other?

Dad, Mom... you've been blinded by her snake-like deceit for a decade. Do you honestly believe Serena will ever look after anyone but herself?

Another violent wave of vertigo crashed over me. A warm trickle ran down my upper lip.

I touched it. Crimson blood stained my fingertips.

"Cora? Why is your nose bleeding? The air isn't even dry today," Eleanor asked, frowning.

My hand froze. Looking at the expectant, indifferent faces around me, I couldn't stop the question from slipping past my lips.

"Dad. Mom. If... if I died of a terminal illness one day, would you regret any of this?"

Eleanor didn't even blink. She merely chuckled dismissively.

"Look at that healthy glow on your cheeks! How could you possibly die? Stop spouting such morbid nonsense!"

"She's right," Robert chimed in, turning his worried eyes back to Serena. "Serena is the frail one here. Once she's discharged, we need to hire a private chef to rebuild her health."

"I agree!" Chloe piped up, hugging Ethan's leg. "Mommy is super healthy. It's Mama Serena who needs our protection!"

The last dying ember in my chest extinguished completely.

I had nothing left to lose.

I looked down at Chloe, a soft, dead smile grazing my lips.

"Chloe, didn't you always want Serena to be your real mommy?"

"I'm granting your wish. Serena is your real mom now. Aren't you going to call her 'Mom'?"

A spark of raw excitement exploded in Chloe's eyes. "Really?!"

I smiled faintly. "Yes. Once you call her Mom, you can eat her cooking every single day, and she'll stay by your side forever. Isn't that what you always dreamed of?"

Chloe practically jumped into the air. "Yay! Mommy, you're the best! Thank you, Mommy!"

Dropping my hand without a backward glance, she threw herself into Serena's open arms.

Serena hugged her, while Robert, Eleanor, and Ethan watched the picture-perfect scene with glowing adoration.

I turned and walked away.

At the doorway, I took one last look back.

My parents and Ethan were gathered around the bed, laughing and playing with Chloe and Serena.

Not a single soul noticed my departure.

I closed the door softly, leaving the hospital forever.

With only twenty-four hours left to live, I had nowhere to go.

My entire youth had been spent running, working, and begging for breadcrumbs of love. I had never stopped to breathe.

I bought a one-way train ticket to a coastal town. I sat on the chilly beach, watching the crashing black waves under the moonlight. I wanted to climb a mountain to see the sunrise, but my body finally gave out.

Collapsing onto the sand, right before my consciousness faded, I dialed a number I hadn't called in five years.

The world went pitch-black.