Chapter 2

When I was six, I was abducted by traffickers. Mum was so devastated that she fell into a deep depression. To ease her pain, Dad went to an orphanage and adopted Isabella.

When I was found by the police at fifteen, I thought my parents had been waiting for me. But when I returned home, I found the entire family orbiting around Isabella.

The brother who used to spoil me, the father who always made sure I ate, and the mother who used to sing me lullabies—when they saw me, the first thing they said was:

“Even though you’ve come back, Isabella will feel hurt. She’ll think we love her less now that you’re here.”

Isabella moved into my old room, and Dad said:

“Megan, you’ve always been sensible. Since you’re back now, let Isabella have her way—she’s younger than you!”

“Megan, Isabella is an orphan. We’re all she has. You’re her sister now, and you have to love her too, okay?”

Isabella blew out the candles on my birthday cake, and Mum said:

“Megan, Isabella has never had a birthday before. Let her blow out your candles and eat the cake. She deserves it more.”

Isabella took my beloved British Folklore Jigsaw Puzzle, and James said:

“If she likes it, let her have it. I’ve given you plenty of things, and Isabella’s never seen or played with any of them. I’ll buy you something new later.”

…

Memories flooded my mind, and even though I was now just a soul, my heart still ached.

I had thought that once I came home, my parents and brother would love me even more. But I was wrong. Isabella had replaced me, stealing all the love from my family. But aren’t I their real daughter?

As my soul followed James home, I watched Isabella excitedly throw herself into his arms, and he smiled, hugging her back.

“You’ve made us so proud. Securing a promotion at a Prestigious Company was no small feat.”

Mum beamed with pride, and Dad handed Isabella a knife to cut the cake.

“James is home too! Let’s cut the cake together—it’s Isabella’s favorite, Strawberry Sponge Cake!”

Isabella grinned as she cut the cake, giving slices to Mum, Dad, and James. They looked like a perfect, happy family.

Halfway through the meal, they finally remembered there was someone missing.

“James, didn’t you message Megan to come celebrate with us? Why isn’t she here yet?” Mum asked.

I looked up, my heart swelling with hope. Maybe Mum still cared about me after all.

James’s face darkened immediately.

“Don’t worry about her! She had the nerve to spread rumors that Isabella was using drugs. God knows who filled her head with that nonsense!”

“Forget about her. Ever since she came back, she’s been acting crazy. If she doesn’t want to come, we can still have a happy birthday for Isabella without her!”

Dad’s face turned grim as well, and he reassured Mum. Mum didn’t think much of it and continued eating.

I curled up in the corner, bitterly smiling to myself.

Of course, as long as Isabella is around, they wouldn’t even think about me.

They didn’t notice the flash of guilt on Isabella’s face, though. She had every reason to be guilty, because I wasn’t lying. She really was using drugs.

Isabella had been playing the role of the sweet, innocent daughter at home, but in reality, she was a wild delinquent. Since I came back, I could see the hatred in her eyes.

She would intentionally provoke me and then cry to make our parents and James take her side. I was driven to the brink of insanity, but Dad just called me crazy.

I had developed a habit of staying up late, and about a month ago, I noticed that Isabella would often sneak out when our parents weren’t paying attention. She’d return home reeking of smoke and alcohol, looking completely drained the next morning. But she’d tell Mum and James it was all from working hard, and they’d fall for it, feeling sorry for her to the point of tears.

Half a month ago, I went into her room to retrieve a notebook she’d borrowed under the pretense of "work research," and that’s when I found it—drug paraphernalia. And worse, I uncovered links between her so-called prestigious company and an illegal organ trafficking ring connected to Southeast Asia.

I was terrified. I ran to tell Mum and Dad, but they wouldn’t believe me. They thought I was jealous of Isabella’s success.

“What are you trying to do, Megan? Spread lies that your sister’s into drugs?”

“Megan Murphy, Isabella is an orphan! We’re all she has. Are you so jealous you want to drive her out and make her suffer again?”

“Get out! Don’t come back until you know what you’ve done wrong!”

They didn’t believe me. Even James turned his back on me. I was devastated, and I stormed out of the house. But as soon as I stepped out, I was grabbed by several large men, who dragged me into an alley where no one would see.

I never imagined how much pain a knife could cause when it plunged into your body. I never thought Isabella would actually want me dead, but here I was, surrounded by her company’s thugs. Through blurry eyes, I saw her standing there, smiling down at me—a smile as sinister as a poisonous flower.

“Megan, I bet you’re wondering why I’ve always been against you.”

“Who wouldn’t want to stay in a rich family, with fancy clothes and loads of money to spend? Why should I leave just because you came back?”

“I only wish you’d never been found by the police in the first place!”

As I took my final breaths, they stuffed my body into a car trunk, cleaned up the blood, and drove to the countryside. Isabella, blood splattered on her face, finished me off with terrifying precision. Her smile was grotesque, twisted in a way that sent shivers down my spine, even as I lay dying.

After disposing of my body, she cleaned herself up and went home, acting as if nothing had happened. And all that time, neither Mum, Dad, nor James even thought to wonder where I was.