Chapter 5

The next day was the anniversary celebration at Ella's school.

This wasn't my first time attending an event at her school.

In fact, I'd been to every one.

Whenever Ella went on stage, I had to be by her side.

Because my parents worried there might be danger on stage.

And because my broken leg forced me to drop out of school.

So I was always especially happy to hear I could go to Ella's school.

On the way there, I used to excitedly ask Ella all kinds of questions.

But I only ever got perfunctory answers.

Today I was unusually silent.

My mother glanced at me through the rearview mirror:

"It's been a whole night, Anna. Have you figured it out?"

My father's sharp eyes also locked onto me through the mirror:

"If you still haven't come to your senses, your mother and I will just pretend we don't have a daughter like you!"

I looked out the window, taking a long time before responding.

"I've figured it out."

I seemed to hear all three of them sigh with relief.

They automatically assumed I meant I'd continue protecting Ella properly from now on.

My mother turned around with a beaming smile:

"I knew my Anna was the most obedient!"

My father's gloomy expression also brightened:

"That's my good daughter!"

"In a while, I'll change those bunk beds in your room to single beds."

So the reason they'd refused to change the beds all along was for today.

To reward me after I became their tool once again.

Ella ate the snacks my mother had made for her and smiled sweetly.

"Then thank you in advance, Anna."

In the past, I would have ruffled Ella's hair and told her it was no problem.

And secretly been pleased by my parents' praise.

But today I only managed a stiff twitch of my lips before turning to look out the window again.

At school events, Ella usually performed ballet.

After I broke my leg, my mother immediately signed Ella up for classes.

Under the stage lights, Ella was like an elegant white swan.

Her skin was smooth and fair.

Not even a tiny scar anywhere on her body.

Below the stage, besides the amazed gazes falling on Ella, there were also disgusted glances occasionally cast my way.

"They're from the same mother---how can the difference be so huge?"

"The ugly duckling and the swan, literally!"

"Why does Anna have to be on stage? To be laughed at?"

The disdainful comments stabbed into my ears like little knives.

Just like every time before.

Except before, my mind was full of protecting Ella, so I never took these hurtful words to heart.

I looked across the distance at my parents.

They heard them but acted as if they didn't.

Their proud gazes remained fixed only on Ella.

Never once speaking up for me.

The comments before my eyes suddenly began scrolling frantically.

[Here it comes, here it comes! The chandelier is about to fall!]

[Anna, get ready! You have to save Ella!]

I looked up at the dazzling chandelier overhead.

Sure enough, just like the comments said, it was swaying slightly.

And Ella, taking her bows on stage, was directly beneath it.

I slowly turned my wheelchair amid my parents' applause and cheers.

The next second, the chandelier fell.

I looked up and met my parents' horrified expressions.