Chapter 1

Vivian had severe depression and was always trying to end her life.

Every time before she slit her wrists, she would go to the church and pray for me.

"I'll gladly trade my life for Maya's success in career and love."

Maybe God heard her prayers, or maybe it was just my own hard work.

I built my own fashion brand and married Lucas, the CEO of a publicly listed company.

When Lucas found out about Vivian's suicidal tendencies, he took away her utility knives, threw out her sleeping pills, and never left her alone for long.

"Vivian, with Maya and me here, you're going to get better."

I never imagined they would fall for each other over time.

When I caught them in bed together, Vivian sobbed and begged me.

"Maya, I prayed to God to bring Lucas into your life. He's my only reason to live now. Can't you just let me have him?"

Heavily pregnant, I threw a massive fit.

Even Mom and Dad scolded her.

"Have you lost your mind? Being depressed doesn't give you the right to sleep with your sister's husband!"

That very night, Vivian left a note and killed herself.

"I was wrong. I'll pay for my sins with my death."

Everyone blamed me for driving her over the edge.

Only Mom and Dad defended me against the backlash.

Until the day I gave birth.

I overheard Mom and Dad whispering to Lucas.

"Lucas, you can go abroad to find Vivian now. For the sake of the baby, Maya will compromise even if she finds out!"

It turned out Vivian wasn't dead at all.

And my parents had never been on my side.

Since that was the case, I went to church too, praying that I would never cross paths with any of them again in this lifetime.

In that quiet, neglected hospital room, a single tear rolled down my cheek.

The sharp pain from my C-section incision right now

didn't compare to a fraction of the agony tearing through my heart.

Mom and Dad were still talking outside.

"When Vivian faked her death back then, it scared Maya half to death."

"Don't worry, Lucas. Go to her. Maya has been carrying the guilt of being a murderer for a whole year. She won't dare make a scene."

I let out a bitter laugh.

Yeah, for the past year.

I hadn't slept through a single night.

Every nightmare was filled with Vivian's bloodied face.

Our relatives all cursed me for being heartless, for driving my own younger sister to suicide.

"She's pure evil. Vivian was already suffering from severe depression—couldn't she just cut her some slack?"

"Besides, Maya owes everything she has to Vivian's prayers. How could she be so ungrateful?"

The rumors had sliced into me like dull blades.

Yet in the end,

Vivian hadn't died at all.

Even my own flesh and blood had never cared about what I was going through.

If I had the strength,

I would have charged out there and torn off their masks right then and there.

But right now,

listening to their cruel words, I didn't even have the energy to lift a finger.

Lucas's familiar voice sounded nauseatingly cold.

"Mom, Dad, let's go find Vivian together. She's missed you both so much this past year."

"If we hadn't needed to keep Maya calm so she'd carry the baby to term, you wouldn't have had to suffer being separated from Vivian. You've both endured so much."

A chill swept through my entire body.

How pathetic.

I was the victim kept completely in the dark,

yet out of Lucas's mouth, they were the ones who had suffered.

Mom and Dad quickly agreed.

"Alright, let's head over together. The nurses here will look after Maya anyway..."

Footsteps faded away.

They just walked out on me.

It wasn't until evening

that they finally bothered to text me an excuse.

"Maya, your parents and I have an urgent matter back home for a couple of days."

"We'll bring back those local donuts you love."

I clutched my phone tightly,

my chest tightening with disgust.

I didn't like those donuts.

Vivian did.

Noises of laughter drifted in from the room next door.

I turned my head toward the door.

I could see a new mother surrounded by family.

Her husband was gently feeding her fruit,

while both sets of grandparents hovered around the baby with bright smiles.

And me? In this vast hospital room, I was completely alone.

I bit my lip, not daring to make a sound.

I was terrified someone might show me kindness,

because any bit of warmth would break the dam, unleashing an ocean of tears.

Midnight came.

I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Through the haze of exhaustion, a soft rustle came from the doorway.

I snapped my eyes open.

A few ragged-looking homeless men were already standing silently by my bed.

They stared down at me with filthy, predatory eyes,

like hunters cornering their prey.

"The tip was right. No family around. She's all ours."

Rubbing their hands together, they closed in on me.