“Mr. Stiles…” The butler’s voice shook him from his stupor.Without warning, he lashed out with a kick to the butler’s side. “What are you standing there for? Get rid of these rats now!“You must’ve helped her, right? Who knows where you two got these rats and that corpse from, huh?!”The butler winced, his face contorted with a mix of pain and indignation. I watched the scene unfold, speechless.The butler was no saint—known for his cunning and wit—but he was nothing more than an employee. Unlike Wendy and the others, he had only ever followed my father’s orders.“I did no such thing, Mr. Stiles,” he stammered, trying to keep his composure. “That really is Miss Jennifer. You were the one who locked the storage closet. I only just opened it myself.”The butler’s explanation did nothing to appease my father’s rage. Instead, he jabbed a finger toward the storage closet and snarled.“Jennifer cannot be dead. That’s fake! She must’ve staged this to run away!“Just you wait! When I
That night, my father returned to his study, still convinced that I had somehow run away.To support his belief, he even pulled up footage from the villa’s surveillance cameras.There were no cameras inside the house, but the exterior was covered. Every corner outside the villa was monitored. If anyone tried to enter or leave, it would be caught on camera.The footage left no room for doubt—I hadn’t left the house since being locked in the closet.“That’s not possible!” he bellowed, hurling the laptop against the wall. It shattered on impact, pieces scattering across the floor.“She must’ve tampered with the footage! She’s smart, isn’t she? Of course, she’s capable of something like this!“I’ve never met someone so unfilial!”As if his tantrum weren’t enough, he grabbed an ashtray and hurled it against the wall as well.Just then, Wendy walked in with a glass of milk, only to freeze in shock as the ashtray shattered inches from her. The glass slipped from her hands, spilling mi
“You should’ve thought about feeling scared when you locked Wendy up! It’s too late to beg for mercy now!“Our parents have spoiled you for so many years—I think you’ve enjoyed enough of it! Wendy doesn’t have a father or a mother anymore! How dare you bully her?!“I’m telling you, if you harm her again, I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget!“You’re evil, Jennifer! Dad’s been too kind to you.“I have no evil sister like you!“It would be great if you died. I’m ashamed to be your brother.”Ian’s words rang in my ears as I struggled in the suffocating darkness.I wondered what had gone through my mind in those moments of desperation.Too many thoughts swirled, too fleeting to hold on to.Perhaps I regretted it.I regretted trusting a stranger so easily.I regretted not going to the ancestral home with my parents, where I might have saved Mom.I regretted caring about my father and brother as if they were worth it.Before I lost consciousness, a thought crossed my mind
The crash startled them both.My father sat up first, hastily straightening his clothes. He scanned the room, exhaling in relief when he saw they were alone.I was shocked too—I hadn’t expected to be able to grab things. Instinctively, I decided to test this newfound ability.“Ah! A ghost!” Wendy shrieked, spotting a shadow.I froze, stunned. Can she see me?After a moment, Wendy seemed to realize there was nothing there. She reached out and wrapped her arms around my father’s waist.“Hug me. I’m scared.”Suddenly, she was on his lap, and her top was on the ground.I watched, horrified, as the atmosphere shifted, their movements growing intimate. Soft sighs and whimpers filled the room.How I wished I were blind and deaf.Just as the two were lost in the throes of passion, the door burst open.My father, startled, fumbled and soiled his pants. Wendy scrambled to grab a nearby pillow to cover herself, staring in shock at the policeman who stood at the doorway.The officers,
When we reached the police station, I tried to follow them into the interrogation room, but an invisible force stopped me. My spirit seared with pain every time I tried to push through, a sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time. It was unbearable.I wanted to see him plead guilty to his crimes.I tried repeatedly to push past, but it was no use. Each attempt made my spirit feel like it was on fire, and the pain became too much to bear.Over the next few days, I spent my time pacing outside the station doors, hoping to overhear information from the officers coming and going.I couldn’t gather much, but I did hear some wonderful news.There was sufficient evidence to charge my father with murder, and he had pleaded guilty. His sentencing was imminent, and it was likely he’d face death row.His company was also under investigation for tax evasion.I thought Wendy might be released, but the police had discovered she was responsible for her cousin’s death. She had pushed him into the
It was dinner time.Dad glanced at his daughter, who was eating quietly, then frowned as his gaze fell on the empty seat at the end of the table."Where's that worthless girl gone? Does she expect us all to wait for her?"His tone sharpened as he continued, "Looks like she needs to be punished harder!"The butler, pausing mid-motion as he set down the dishes, answered cautiously, "Mr. Stiles, Miss Jennifer is still in the storage closet. Would you like me to release her?"Dad's hand froze mid-air. His eyes flickered briefly toward the storage closet, a flash of shock crossing his face. He recovered quickly, lifting his wine glass for a sip."For what? Maybe a few more days in there will teach her a lesson better. Otherwise, she would bully her siblings again."The butler glanced at the two children seated at the table, their cheeks rosy with health and their eyes bright with anticipation for the meal.Internally, he pitied the eldest daughter, who was still locked away. After a
Even now, as a spirit, just the sight of the sealed-off storage room door made me feel suffocated.It was as if the darkness would engulf me again at any moment.I staggered backward and quickly made my way to the dining room.There, Dad and Ian surrounded Wendy, their voices soft and comforting.Dad had his arm wrapped protectively around her. “You’ve lost weight recently, Wendy. You should eat more.“I know what happened last time must’ve scared you. It’s only right Jennifer gets punished for what she’s done.“I’ve gone easy on her this time, but don’t worry. I’ll make sure she knows her mistake. That’ll never happen to you again.”Ian chimed in, his tone gentle. “You’re my one and only sister, Wendy…”I stood silently behind them, listening as my father reprimanded me as if I weren’t there, and my brother denied my very existence as his sister. I wanted to cry, but no tears came.By blood, they were my only family. Yet, to them, it felt like I didn’t exist.Being tied up a
After ensuring Wendy had eaten enough and was smiling happily again, Dad finally addressed the butler."Go let Jennifer out. Make sure she's cleaned up and presentable, or she'll ruin everyone's appetite."His expression carried an air of self-satisfaction, as though letting me out of the storage closet after a week was some grand act of generosity.The butler quickly called for others to handle the task.Standing beside Dad, Wendy held his hand with a sweet, innocent smile. "Dad, please don't scold her when she comes out, okay?"She's your daughter, after all… I am not, and I'm just happy enough that you're so kind to me."Dad's eyes softened as he ruffled her hair lovingly."You're both my daughters. However, you're my little princess."His voice carried a note of pride as he added, "You're too kind, Wendy. I've been far too lenient with Jennifer."Don't worry. I won't let her bully you ever again."How dare she lock you in the storage room at all?! I can't even imagine how
When we reached the police station, I tried to follow them into the interrogation room, but an invisible force stopped me. My spirit seared with pain every time I tried to push through, a sensation I hadn’t felt in a long time. It was unbearable.I wanted to see him plead guilty to his crimes.I tried repeatedly to push past, but it was no use. Each attempt made my spirit feel like it was on fire, and the pain became too much to bear.Over the next few days, I spent my time pacing outside the station doors, hoping to overhear information from the officers coming and going.I couldn’t gather much, but I did hear some wonderful news.There was sufficient evidence to charge my father with murder, and he had pleaded guilty. His sentencing was imminent, and it was likely he’d face death row.His company was also under investigation for tax evasion.I thought Wendy might be released, but the police had discovered she was responsible for her cousin’s death. She had pushed him into the
The crash startled them both.My father sat up first, hastily straightening his clothes. He scanned the room, exhaling in relief when he saw they were alone.I was shocked too—I hadn’t expected to be able to grab things. Instinctively, I decided to test this newfound ability.“Ah! A ghost!” Wendy shrieked, spotting a shadow.I froze, stunned. Can she see me?After a moment, Wendy seemed to realize there was nothing there. She reached out and wrapped her arms around my father’s waist.“Hug me. I’m scared.”Suddenly, she was on his lap, and her top was on the ground.I watched, horrified, as the atmosphere shifted, their movements growing intimate. Soft sighs and whimpers filled the room.How I wished I were blind and deaf.Just as the two were lost in the throes of passion, the door burst open.My father, startled, fumbled and soiled his pants. Wendy scrambled to grab a nearby pillow to cover herself, staring in shock at the policeman who stood at the doorway.The officers,
“You should’ve thought about feeling scared when you locked Wendy up! It’s too late to beg for mercy now!“Our parents have spoiled you for so many years—I think you’ve enjoyed enough of it! Wendy doesn’t have a father or a mother anymore! How dare you bully her?!“I’m telling you, if you harm her again, I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget!“You’re evil, Jennifer! Dad’s been too kind to you.“I have no evil sister like you!“It would be great if you died. I’m ashamed to be your brother.”Ian’s words rang in my ears as I struggled in the suffocating darkness.I wondered what had gone through my mind in those moments of desperation.Too many thoughts swirled, too fleeting to hold on to.Perhaps I regretted it.I regretted trusting a stranger so easily.I regretted not going to the ancestral home with my parents, where I might have saved Mom.I regretted caring about my father and brother as if they were worth it.Before I lost consciousness, a thought crossed my mind
That night, my father returned to his study, still convinced that I had somehow run away.To support his belief, he even pulled up footage from the villa’s surveillance cameras.There were no cameras inside the house, but the exterior was covered. Every corner outside the villa was monitored. If anyone tried to enter or leave, it would be caught on camera.The footage left no room for doubt—I hadn’t left the house since being locked in the closet.“That’s not possible!” he bellowed, hurling the laptop against the wall. It shattered on impact, pieces scattering across the floor.“She must’ve tampered with the footage! She’s smart, isn’t she? Of course, she’s capable of something like this!“I’ve never met someone so unfilial!”As if his tantrum weren’t enough, he grabbed an ashtray and hurled it against the wall as well.Just then, Wendy walked in with a glass of milk, only to freeze in shock as the ashtray shattered inches from her. The glass slipped from her hands, spilling mi
“Mr. Stiles…” The butler’s voice shook him from his stupor.Without warning, he lashed out with a kick to the butler’s side. “What are you standing there for? Get rid of these rats now!“You must’ve helped her, right? Who knows where you two got these rats and that corpse from, huh?!”The butler winced, his face contorted with a mix of pain and indignation. I watched the scene unfold, speechless.The butler was no saint—known for his cunning and wit—but he was nothing more than an employee. Unlike Wendy and the others, he had only ever followed my father’s orders.“I did no such thing, Mr. Stiles,” he stammered, trying to keep his composure. “That really is Miss Jennifer. You were the one who locked the storage closet. I only just opened it myself.”The butler’s explanation did nothing to appease my father’s rage. Instead, he jabbed a finger toward the storage closet and snarled.“Jennifer cannot be dead. That’s fake! She must’ve staged this to run away!“Just you wait! When I
My father's expression darkened as the half-hour mark passed, and I still hadn't appeared."It's already been thirty minutes! What? Does she think I can't do anything to her?!"What a stubborn girl! She still doesn't understand what she's done wrong!"Hmph! I'd like to see what tricks she has up her sleeve!"In a fit of anger, he threw the teacup in his hand onto the ground, the sharp crack echoing through the room.I watched silently from behind, amused. Beneath his anger, there was a flicker of worry, though he'd never admit it. I couldn't help but snicker when he knocked into a chair as he stood up."Wait here for me, Wendy. I'll drag Jennifer over to apologize."He stormed toward the storage room, his steps heavy with frustration. Just as he neared the door, a rat darted out, causing him to jolt in surprise."What's going on? Where did that rat come from?!"The butler stood pale-faced by the door, his expression twisted in a grimace as he turned away. "Mr. Stiles… Perhaps
Things weren't always like this, not before Wendy came into our lives.Back then, I still had a mother and father who loved me, and Ian was just a little boy.Ian and I would play together, Mom would tell me bedtime stories, and Dad would take me on walks in the park.Everything changed three summers ago.Mom and Dad left for the ancestral home while Ian and I stayed behind for school.A few days later, Dad returned with two pieces of devastating news.Mom had been in a car accident at the ancestral home. She didn't survive.And before her death, she and Dad had adopted the daughter of an old friend.I lost my mother but gained a sister.At first, I welcomed Wendy. I thought of her as the last connection I had to Mom since Mom had adopted her before the accident.I wanted a sister, too, so I did my best to care for her.I made sure no one at school bullied her, keeping an eye out for trouble in her class.I helped her with homework and took care of her whenever she was sick
Dad was in the middle of a meeting when he received the call. Without a second thought, he rushed home.As soon as he arrived, he carried a pale Wendy and roared, "You are my daughter, Wendy. No one can send you away!"Don't say a word about leaving again."At first, I thought something serious had happened, but when I stepped out of my room and saw the scene before me, the bitter irony wasn't lost on me.I was speechless. Wendy was no delicate porcelain doll, nor was she afraid of the dark. A short time in the storage room hardly warranted such theatrics.That was until Ian shouted, "It's all Jennifer's fault! She's the one who locked Wendy in the storage room! Who knows how long she would've been trapped if I hadn't come back!"Dad stormed upstairs, dragged me out of my room by my hair, and shoved me into the storage closet. Tying me up, he raged, and in that moment, I finally understood—this family had no place for me."How could you be so evil, Jennifer?!" Ian yelled, his ey
After ensuring Wendy had eaten enough and was smiling happily again, Dad finally addressed the butler."Go let Jennifer out. Make sure she's cleaned up and presentable, or she'll ruin everyone's appetite."His expression carried an air of self-satisfaction, as though letting me out of the storage closet after a week was some grand act of generosity.The butler quickly called for others to handle the task.Standing beside Dad, Wendy held his hand with a sweet, innocent smile. "Dad, please don't scold her when she comes out, okay?"She's your daughter, after all… I am not, and I'm just happy enough that you're so kind to me."Dad's eyes softened as he ruffled her hair lovingly."You're both my daughters. However, you're my little princess."His voice carried a note of pride as he added, "You're too kind, Wendy. I've been far too lenient with Jennifer."Don't worry. I won't let her bully you ever again."How dare she lock you in the storage room at all?! I can't even imagine how