Chapter 2

I was locked in that room for seven days straight.

Every night, the maid would slide a single bowl under the door.

Inside was nothing but cold leftovers and scraps.

Outside, I could hear laughter echoing through the halls—the four of them, a perfect little family.

Lydia made sure to parade Julian past my door every single day, her sickly-sweet voice dripping through the crack.

"Julian, this watch is too expensive—why don't you give it to Evelyn instead?"

"I know you love me, but Evelyn is their real daughter, and she's the one you're technically engaged to."

"Maybe we should just... end this. As long as I can see you happy from afar..."

Her voice cracked into a sob.

"I'd die a thousand deaths and it would still be worth it."

Julian pulled her into his arms, then kicked my door hard enough to rattle the frame.

"Stop talking nonsense. That piece of trash they dragged back from the gutter isn't even worth carrying your shoes."

"Just looking at her pathetic face makes me sick—why the hell would I give her something this expensive?"

"Don't worry, Lydia. Even if I marry her, I'll never lay a finger on her. You're the only one I'll ever love..."

I leaned against the door, listening to their declarations of undying devotion.

A dry, bitter laugh scraped out of my throat.

"Wearing something that expensive to bed? Better be careful—you might wake up with a stiff neck."

The next morning, Lydia's shrieks tore through the hallway.

"Ahh! It hurts! My neck—I can't move it!"

Then came my sister's panicked voice, followed by the frantic footsteps of the household staff scrambling to help.

I sat in the dark, eyes closed, a slow smile spreading across my face.

On the eighth day, the lock finally clicked open.

Lydia stood in the doorway, arms crossed, looking down at me like I was something she'd scraped off her shoe.

"Oh my God, Evelyn, you look like death. Did you really starve yourself just to guilt-trip us?"

"Come on, get up. Mom and Dad want you at the company."

"All you have to do is stand in front of everyone and admit you lied, apologize to me, and we can all move on."

I pushed myself to my feet and walked toward the door.

The moment I reached the top of the stairs, Lydia leaned in close and whispered in my ear.

"You poor little bastard—did you really think you could steal my parents and my man?"

I froze mid-step and turned to look at her.

Before I could say a word, Lydia let out a blood-curdling scream.

"Evelyn, no! I swear I won't take the inheritance from you!"

Then she threw herself backward and tumbled down the stairs.

"Lydia!"

Julian bolted toward the staircase, and my parents and sister came running from every direction.

Lydia lay crumpled at the bottom, her face pale and twisted in pain, but somehow she still managed to force out a weak smile.

"Julian... don't blame Evelyn... I just... lost my balance..."

My sister's eyes went bloodshot.

"You've lived in this house for over twenty years and never once fell down these stairs—there's no way this was an accident!"

My mother flew up the steps and landed two brutal slaps across my face.

I was so weak from starvation that the force sent me crashing to the floor, my ears ringing.

My father stood at the bottom of the stairs, pointing at me with pure hatred in his eyes.

"How did we ever give birth to a monster like you?!"

I pressed my hand to my burning cheek and stared back at them, feeling the last shred of warmth in my chest turn to ice.

I let out a cold, humorless laugh.

"...If I really wanted to hurt her, I wouldn't need to lift a finger."

My brother's entire body shook with rage, and she kicked over a decorative plant stand.

"Dad! Mom! Do you hear this?! Do you hear what she's saying?!"

"Lydia's lying there in pain, and Evelyn has the audacity to double down on her threats!"

Julian cradled Lydia in his arms, his face contorted with fury.

"You're still refusing to admit what you've done! Stop pretending you have some kind of supernatural power, you delusional freak!"

My father turned his face away, as if even looking at me disgusted him.

"Get her out of my sight. Lock her back in her room—now!"

I struggled against the guards' grip and let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

"You're all playing your parts so well—just make sure she doesn't actually break a bone and pass out from the pain."

Lydia, who'd been sobbing dramatically in Julian's arms, suddenly went rigid.

Her head lolled forward, and she slumped, unconscious.

My mother screamed.

"Someone get her in the car! We need to get to the hospital—NOW!"

The guards scooped Lydia up and sprinted out the door, with my parents and brother racing after them.

The roar of engines filled the courtyard, and within seconds, they were gone.

I was thrown back into my room like garbage.