Chapter 2

That night, I floated into their bedroom.

Dad was already fast asleep, even snoring softly.

Mom tucked Leo in, kissing his forehead.

As she stood up, her gaze instinctively drifted towards the window, towards where the car was parked.

My heart leaped into my throat.

Mom, did you remember me?

But she only stood for a second before reaching out to pull the curtains shut, blocking out all the darkness and cold from outside.

All night, I stood by their bed, watching their peaceful sleeping faces.

Dad and Mom slept so soundly, as if they had completely forgotten me.

The next day, the sun rose as usual.

Dad walked into the yard, stretched, and prepared for his morning exercise.

Passing by the car, he frowned, sniffing the air.

"What's that smell? So awful. A dead rat?"

He muttered in disgust, walked around the car, showing no desire to investigate further.

To celebrate Leo's "recovery," Brenda and Mom had prepared a lavish lunch.

In the living room, Dad and Brenda were chatting on the sofa.

"Arthur, I swear, you're too soft-hearted. For a girl like that, you need tough love!"

Brenda proudly shared her wisdom with Dad.

"You did the right thing this time. You need to discipline her severely, so she knows who's in charge in this house. Otherwise, what will happen?"

"She'll think she can run wild in this house!"

Dad's face showed his agreement.

"If Leo hadn't been so lucky this time, I would have broken her legs!"

Seeing this, Brenda became even more animated, bringing up things from my childhood.

"Exactly! Don't you remember how she 'accidentally' pushed Leo's bottle off the table when he was little?"

"How she 'accidentally' put salt in Leo's porridge?"

"I always said, she's rotten to the core, naturally jealous of our Leo!"

In her mouth, I became a malicious older sister, constantly plotting to harm my brother.

"I told you before, that girl is cunning, but you wouldn't believe me."

"See? Now her true colors are showing!"

"Thank goodness we found out early, otherwise my precious nephew would have suffered even more!"

Dad's face grew darker and darker. He gripped his wine glass, gritting his teeth as he said:

"That ungrateful brat!"

"I should have listened to you back then and sent her away! Keeping her around is nothing but trouble!"

Mom was sweating profusely in the kitchen, bringing dishes to the table one by one.

Dad saw that all the dishes were ready and called out to the kitchen:

"Eleanor, stop working, come and eat with us."

Mom came out with the last plate of braised pork, a hint of hesitation on her face.

She glanced at the dining table, then towards the door, and whispered:

"Arthur… Mia… she hasn't eaten since yesterday, will she be…?"

My heart leaped. Mom, you still remember me, right?

"Clack!"

Brenda slammed her fork down on the table, cutting Mom off.

"Eleanor, what foolishness are you talking about?! She almost killed Leo, and you still feel sorry for her?!"

"If we don't teach her a lesson now, make her feel the pain, she'll never learn to protect her brother!"

"Skipping a few meals won't kill her! Let her reflect properly!"

Brenda turned to Dad, her tone becoming earnest:

"Arthur, don't go soft now. Leo is the only one that matters, the one who'll carry on the Miller name, your legacy. Mia? She's just a girl, she'll marry off and be someone else's problem. You need to show her who's boss now, or she'll ruin Leo, everything you've worked for!"

Dad glared fiercely at Mom, angrily scolding her:

"You're always making trouble! Always too soft-hearted!"

"If you feel sorry for her, then get out there and stay with her now!"

"I'd like to see how long your mother-daughter bond lasts!"

"If you dare to say one more word for that ungrateful brat, you can leave this house too!"

Mom's face turned ashen, and her hand, holding the bowl, began to tremble.

She immediately placed the dish on the table, forcing a smile that was worse than a cry, and dared not mention my name again.

Dad and Brenda were drinking and chatting jovially. Mom continuously served food to Leo.

They started planning their afternoon activity: a BBQ at a charming local spot.

Leo clapped his hands with delight. Dad and Brenda laughed, and Mom joined in their laughter.

No one mentioned me again, as if I had never existed.

As they prepared to leave for the BBQ, an indescribable, faint stench of decay wafted out the moment the car door opened.

Dad frowned deeply, cursing in disgust:

"That rotten girl, she must have peed in there! What a nuisance, so dirty and smelly!"

He said, opening all the car windows, hoping to air out the smell.

The wind rushed through the windows, blowing through my semi-transparent body.

How I wished this wind could also carry away my despair and pain.

Dad stood outside the car for a while. When he thought the smell had dissipated enough, he got into the driver's seat.

He never opened the trunk again, never even glanced at it.

Soon, Mom, holding Leo, and Brenda, carrying snacks, got into the car, chatting and laughing.

"Oh, what's that smell? Don't let it stink up my precious little one!"

Brenda exaggeratedly pinched her nose.

"Arthur, whatever you do, don't open the trunk! If that smell gets out, we won't be able to enjoy dinner tonight!"

"Don't worry," Dad impatiently started the car, "I couldn't care less about her."

And so, the family drove off, taking my lifeless body wit