Chapter 3

But what they didn’t know was that this time, after being locked away in that damp basement, I truly died.

My soul drifted lightly through this world, like a wisp of smoke, silent and unseen.

I watched my mother and Leisha laughing together by the seaside, the sunlight bathing them in a warm, golden glow as if blessing them with its light.

Meanwhile, I was nothing more than a speck of dust in a forgotten corner of the world, untouched by even the faintest ray of sunshine.

"Sweetheart, do you like this necklace? Go ahead, buy it," my mother said, her face filled with affection for Leisha.

The necklace, glittering with diamonds, sparkled even brighter under the sun.

"Thank you, Mom!" Leisha replied, delighted as she took the necklace, but then, as if struck by a sudden thought, she added, "Oh, by the way, Mom, what do you think Sarah is up to now? Should we video call her to show her the beautiful seaside?"

Her innocent suggestion carried a hint of mockery.

Hearing those words, I felt a sharp tug at my heart, but the worst was yet to come.

"Call her? Why bother with that useless thing? Just mentioning her reminds me of my poor Laura, skipping school with her and getting killed because of her! The only reason I let her stay in this house is because she's my own flesh and blood. Otherwise, I would have..."

My mother’s voice dripped with disdain and indifference.

"Compared to that dead girl, you’re a blessing. I’m so grateful I chose to adopt you," she continued, each word piercing through my soul like an arrow, echoing in the emptiness around me.

"If I’d known back then, I wouldn’t have given birth to her—such a curse…" she added.

My vision blurred. Though as a soul I couldn’t shed tears, my heart hurt so bad it felt like it was being stabbed over and over.

Memories flooded back, crashing over me like waves.

I thought back to when Laura talked me into skipping school. We were climbing over the wall when her foot slipped. That was when the awful accident happened that killed her.

I remembered myself, small and frail, with a desperate, helpless gaze.

I remembered the cold shoulders of my family as they placed all the blame on me and the realization that I would never again feel the warmth of a mother's embrace in this life.

The scene of them at the seaside, enjoying their happy vacation, stood in stark contrast to me, who had silently followed behind them, enduring the pain, always seeking approval and love but never receiving a moment of genuine care or tenderness.

Memories of similar scenes in real life resurfaced again and again.

Every time my mother happily took Leisha out to play, I was left alone, anxious, and uneasy at home. Each time I came back from school, hoping to share my day, all I got were cold words or complete indifference.

All these moments intertwined, proving that even in death, my existence was still denied and forgotten.

The sound of waves crashing against the shore reached my ears, clear and sharp, but I could no longer hear any warmth from this world—only the echoes of struggle and weeping deep within me.

Mom still didn't seem to realize I was dead.

She still thought I was the stubborn girl I used to be, always opposing her.

But she had long forgotten that for many years, I had stopped arguing with her, never once provoking Leisha, and instead worked tirelessly in what was supposed to be my own home, doing chores like a servant.

All of this, because I hadn't stopped Laura from climbing over that wall.

I felt so guilty, so I endured everything, believing that no matter how badly my mother treated me, I deserved it.

I kept telling myself that Mom was just heartbroken over Laura's death and that if she hated me, I should understand her more.

But with Leisha's arrival, Mom grew more and more distant. The woman who once held me close now hurt me repeatedly, with a cruelty I could never have imagined.

Even in death, I couldn’t escape her grasp, watching her grow closer to a daughter not of her blood.

“Leisha, once we get back, the test results should be ready. If a transplant is possible, I promise I’ll get you a healthy kidney, my sweetheart!”

Mom stroked Leisha’s hair affectionately, while Leisha, unable to hide her smile of delight, hugged Mom tightly, though her eyes were filled with disdain.

Maybe she was thinking the same thing I had wondered all those years: If Mom could treat her obedient biological daughter like a sinner, how could she ever truly care for an adopted daughter without blood ties?