Chapter 2

"Bang!"

Dad kicked open the door, grabbed my hair, and threw me to the floor.

“You murderer! You killed your sister! How could I have raised something so cruel?”

Mom, her hair disheveled, clutched Seraphina's diary, sobbing hysterically.

That's when I learned that Seraphina had filled the diary with accusations against me, from childhood up.

She wrote that I, her gifted younger sister, always loved to show off in front of her, subtly mocking her as worthless.

She claimed I humiliated her, saying she didn't deserve to be a sister, and cursed her for not getting Mom and Dad's love.

So, she didn't want to compete anymore. She wanted to leave.

I froze on the spot.

Why would she lie?

All my life, Mom and Dad had clearly favored her, cared more for her, simply because she knew how to read their moods and charm them.

I, on the other hand, could only gain a little more attention by constantly practicing my cello.

Fearing she'd be sad due to her lack of talent, Mom and Dad would practically move mountains to give her the best of everything.

To spare her feelings, they missed every one of my competitions, always staying with Seraphina.

Today's finals were crucial for my future, and after much pleading, they finally agreed to attend.

But after I won, they went crazy upon hearing Seraphina had jumped into the sea, abandoning me and rushing out.

Now, their eyes held nothing but disgust and hatred for me.

"Last night, Seraphina told me, 'Mom, I might never catch up to Elara. My life is a joke'… How did I not realize what she meant!"

Mom suddenly crouched down, her nails digging deep into my chin.

"She's your own sister! Is this how you belittled her, drove her to her death?!"

Pain made tears well in my eyes. I struggled to speak, "Mom, no, I didn't..."

Before I could finish, Dad, his face a storm cloud, snatched up my crystal trophy and slammed it hard into my mouth.

"Still trying to argue after all this?! You used this mouth to force Seraphina to suicide, didn't you?!"

Blow after blow, the heavy trophy slammed into me. My vision blurred, a warm gush erupted from my nose.

Bang! The trophy finally shattered against my lips.

Several sharp fragments pierced my mouth, and I nearly passed out from the pain.

Blood dripped onto my white dress, blooming red where it touched.

As if that wasn't enough, Dad pressed me down, forcing me to kneel on the shards.

My knees screamed in agony, the fragments felt like they were piercing my bones. I wailed.

The next second, Dad stormed into my room, dragged out all my awards and certificates, and tore them to shreds in front of me.

Even the clay sculpture of our family of four that I'd handmade for his birthday was smashed at his feet.

No! Dad, why don't you believe me...?

Tears streaming down my face, I lunged to pick up the pieces, but Mom's foot came down hard on my hand.

"You murderer, give me back my Seraphina! Why wasn't it you who died instead?!"

She was hysterical, her high heel slamming down onto my fingers, one by one.

"Ah!"

The excruciating pain of breaking bones was too much. I couldn't hold on, and everything went black.