Chapter 3 Truly Unfair

It wasn't until we returned from the cemetery that I realized something peculiar: my soul seemed bound to Sebastian. I could follow him, but no one else.

The familiar Clarke Residence remained the same as the one in my memory.

Sorrow crawled at my chest as I looked at the big family portrait in the living room, which no longer had a trace of me inside.

I thought back to my first year at the Clarke Residence and to the gifts I received upon my return.

Sebastian gave me a Toy Poodle, my first real pet. Meanwhile, my parents took me to a photography studio to create a family portrait.

At that time, my grandmother was still alive and well.

She pulled me from the back row, positioning me by her side. Her warm eyes gazed down at me as she said, "Naomi, we've finally found you. Don't worry. From now on, we'll never lose you again."

I cried in her lap, believing I really had found my family and happiness.

But never once did it cross my mind that it would be the start of my nightmare from then on.

During the fifth year after I was brought home, I was once again abandoned by my family. I even ended up dying tragically in the end.

"Sebastian, will this dress look good on me at the engagement party tomorrow?" Rebecca emerged from her room in a high-waisted mermaid dress, twirling to show it off.

Sebastian glanced at her and smirked. "What does it matter if I think it looks good? As long as your fiance likes it, that's all that counts."

Rebecca pouted in mock offense. "Oh, you're teasing me now? Fine! Just you wait—when you have a girlfriend, I'll tell her every embarrassing story from your childhood."

Just then, my parents came downstairs and happened to hear Rebecca's words. "Sebastian, don't spoil Rebecca too much. We won't want her coming back here crying when she gets married later."

Rebecca twirled in front of the mirror. "I won't. Shawn is wonderful to me."

My mother shook her head repeatedly. "My, my, listen to you! You're not even his wife yet, but you're already speaking for him. Come here—I have something to show you."

She approached Rebecca with a red velvet jewelry box in hand.

"What is it? It looks rather familiar."

Curious, I looked over as well. However, as soon as I fixed my gaze on the jewelry box, I was stunned in place.

I recognized the box. It was the same jewelry box my grandmother had left for me, one she had personally handed to me in front of the entire family.

Rebecca reached out and took the jewelry box, her eyes lighting up the moment she opened it to reveal a complete set of natural mauve jadeite jewelry.

When my grandmother handed me the box, she told me that my grandfather gifted her this set of jewelry when he was still alive.

Even then, its market value exceeded 200 million. Now, years later, its worth had likely soared even higher.

"Isn't this Grandma's gift for Naomi?"

Browned off by her question, my mother reprimanded her, "We've told you before, Rebecca, to forget Naomi ever existed. Since we acknowledge you as our daughter, this jewelry set naturally belongs to you."

Rebecca's eyes gleamed with happiness, but she still pretended to hesitate, masking her excitement with an air of consideration.

"What if she comes back one day?"

"Even if she dares to come back, she has no place in this family! And if she dies, she is not worthy of having a spot in the Clarke family's memorial hall!"

As always, the mere mention of my name sent Sebastian into a rage.

Before Rebecca could protest further, my mother picked up the necklace from the box and placed it around Rebecca's slender, swan-like neck.

Rebecca, already strikingly beautiful, now radiated even more elegance with the jadeite necklace glinting against her fair skin.

I looked at myself in the mirror coldly.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't attain her elegance and beauty. As long as Rebecca was present, she would attract everyone's attention.

She was the brightest star in the entire Clarke family, whereas I was just a boorish girl they plucked from the streets.

The engagement party was held the following day at the city's grandest hotel.

The hall was adorned with luxurious decor, every corner glowing with joy and opulence.

The guests mingled with bright smiles, their laughter filling the air. Life seemed to have been happier for everyone in the five years since my death.

I drifted through the crowded hall, a silent observer as Sebastian greeted guests and Rebecca clung to her fiance, Shawn Hall, her sweet smile never faltering.

Suddenly, someone among Shawn's group of friends brought up the topic of me. "It's a good thing that hideous Naomi ran away. Thanks to her absence, you lovebirds can finally get engaged."

The people around Rebecca and Shawn immediately chimed in, eager to flatter.

"That's right! A disabled woman like her, daring to dream of marrying into the Hall family? Becoming Shawn's wife? It's laughable! Pure wishful thinking!"

Upon hearing their remarks, Rebecca said hypocritically, "That's not a nice thing to say. After all, she is my sister."

Shawn, who stood beside her, scoffed disdainfully. "A murderer like her isn't worthy of marrying into the Hall family. Rebecca, you're too kind for your own good, defending someone like her even now."

"Rebecca, Shawn has a point. Naomi should be shot on sight if she's ever found!"

Upon hearing that, Rebecca pursed her lips and leaned against Shawn.

I gazed icily at the deeply loving couple.

Back then, my grandmother thought of obsequiously bequeathing favors on my behalf and begging the Hall family to agree to the marriage between Shawn and me while she was still hale and hearty.

However, Rebecca was defiant toward the proposal. She had loved Shawn for years and had dreamed of marrying him one day.

When my grandmother suggested the marriage, she saw it as a threat—a theft of the life she believed she deserved. Her hatred for me solidified that day.

Thus, in order to stop the marriage from proceeding, she grabbed a cleaver and chopped off my finger.

Although Shawn didn't mind marrying a woman he didn't love, he couldn't stand having a disabled woman as his lawful wife.

Because of this, he stormed to the Clarke Residence and insisted on calling off the engagement.

And so, time passed. Rebecca's dream became a reality, and I became nothing more than a skeleton.

Rebecca inherited everything that should have been mine—my parents' love, Sebastian's loyalty, and the blessings of friends and relatives.

And now, she stood here, radiant and adored, married to the man she had always desired.

God was truly cruel. How could someone who had destroyed me so completely be allowed to live such a happy life?

My heart felt as though it had been sliced to ribbons, and the ache suffocated me.

As the party came to an end, Sebastian's phone rang. It was a call from Riley.

Sebastian excused himself from the crowd and found a secluded corner.

"Mr. Clarke," Riley's voice stammered on the other end. "The craniofacial reconstruction image… it's ready. I've sent it to you. You should… check your phone. From my observation… the person in the image… looks a lot like… Naomi Clarke."