Chapter 3

I floated in midair, watching my own memories being played, feeling strange and curious.

For a moment, I felt like I was outside this world entirely.

The expression on Celeste's face grew increasingly terrified. She buried her face in Hayden's chest.

"Hayden, please don't let her play it, okay? I don't want to see Uncle's accident, and I don't want... to watch my parents die again..."

Tenderness appeared on Hayden's face. He spoke tentatively.

"Mom, maybe we shouldn't watch this?"

"This is just too cruel for Celeste."

But the memory USB had already started playing, and Mom was already staring entranced at Dad in the footage.

It was the summer when I was six years old.

Mom and Dad took Hayden and me to visit my cousin's family, who had immigrated to Country M.

Throughout the journey, Hayden seemed very excited.

I knew he had always liked Celeste more than me. Feeling sullen, I didn't want to talk to him.

Noticing this, he pinched my cheek with a smile.

"Who told you not to sweetly call me 'brother' every time you see me like Celeste does?"

"With your personality, you're like a little old lady all day long."

Though the words were complaints, his voice still carried affection.

Back then, Hayden wasn't as disgusted with me as he is now.

But the accident happened without warning.

On our third day at my uncle's house, a severe earthquake struck Country M.

My uncle and aunt were pierced through by steel beams from the villa and died on the spot.

Dad, dragging his injured leg, struggled to pull Hayden and me out.

Even unconscious, Hayden kept mumbling, "Save my sister... don't worry about me, save my sister quickly."

Dad turned to see Celeste standing under a chandelier, frozen in fear.

The massive chandelier swayed precariously, just like today's scene.

Without hesitation, Dad pushed Celeste out of the way and was buried himself under the rubble.

At the time, Mom had been drinking tea in the spacious villa garden and escaped disaster.

But when everyone regained consciousness, Celeste tearfully told Mom,

"Uncle died trying to save Keira."

"Keira was so scared she just stood there unable to move. No matter how much I called her, she didn't respond. Uncle died trying to save her---he was crushed by the chandelier..."

I'll never forget the look in Mom's and my brother's eyes that day.

Their eyes held bone-chilling hatred.

...

"Aunt! Hayden! It wasn't like that!"

Celeste's face was pale as she anxiously explained.

"I was too scared then, my memories got confused..."

"I didn't mean to say that. I was terrified and just heard Hayden say 'save sister' and got confused. Please believe me!"

Hayden was silent for a long time, then suddenly sighed helplessly.

"Celeste, don't blame yourself. We know you didn't mean it."

"Mom... you should comfort Celeste too. She's always been prone to overthinking. Because of this, she probably won't be able to sleep tonight."

But Mom seemed not to hear, staring fixedly at the computer screen, mumbling continuously.

"He died saving Celeste, not Keira, not Keira."

"It wasn't Keira who caused her own father's death, it wasn't her, it wasn't her all along..."

The colorful screen light fell on her face, illuminating her pale features even more clearly.

The woman beside them refused to let it go, scoffing.

"The one whose confused memories led to amnesia should be Keira, shouldn't it?"

"The tumor has been compressing her nerves from age nine until now. All these years, not one of you noticed."

"So even without today's accident, she wouldn't have lived past another year. I suppose we should congratulate her for being released early."

My fingers trembled involuntarily twice.

So... I was so sick that I'd even forgotten something this important?

But even if I only had one year, I wanted to live it properly.

Because back then, it was Dad who dragged me out of the ruins and gave me a second life.

I hadn't yet lived fully enough to see this world on his behalf...

Hayden's expression became very ugly in an instant.

Celeste tugged his hand, looking at him pitifully and helplessly.

He stared at the ground with a complex expression, lips pressed tightly together.

"Don't worry, there's more excitement to come."

The woman's voice rang out like thunder exploding in Celeste's ears.

Her body swayed, eyes wide with terror.