My brother and childhood sweetheart both fall in love with my adopted sister who is about to marry someplace afar in my stead.

One of them has forgotten about me, and the other has broken his vow to always be by my side. To win back Mona Pierce—who has learned the truth—they join forces to push me down the stairs on my birthday.

I lose all hope in them and agree to the arranged marriage. Five days later, I leave the Greer family for good.

Yet, after my departure, they regret everything.

On the day of the birthday party, Douglas Greer and Marcel Finley joined forces to push me down the stairs, just to amuse Mona Pierce.

Douglas, the only family I had left, sighed as he looked down at me lying in a pool of blood.

"Jolene, Mona is marrying far away for your sake. So, is it so wrong for me to share half of the love I have for you with her?"

Marcel, my childhood sweetheart who had once risked his life to save me, was holding Mona affectionately.

He chuckled coldly and said, "Jolene, you've bumped your head, but Mona lost her lifelong happiness."

They cursed at me for being vicious, completely forgetting how they had once begged me not to marry far away and gone to great lengths to find someone to be my adopted sister.

Watching the two of them walk away, I felt utterly disappointed. Without hesitation, I dialed the number of my arranged marriage partner.

"Mr. Woodrow, when are you coming to pick me up?"

"Ms. Greer, are you really sure? Marriage isn't a trivial matter," Brad Woodrow asked, his alluring voice carrying a hint of concern.

I struggled to suppress the trembling in my voice and nodded. "Yes, I'm sure."

"Alright then. I'll pick you up in five days."

After hanging up, a new post from Mona popped up on my phone.

"No matter where you hide, those who love you will find you and bring you home. Today, I'm the happiest woman in the world."

One of the attached photos captured Douglas carrying her home on his back, while another showed Marcel, dressed in an apron, cooking dinner for her. The third photo had the two men standing on either side of her, gazing at her with adoration, with a pile of gifts that should have been mine at their feet.

I let out a bitter laugh, my heart aching.

After our parents passed away, Douglas and I leaned on each other to survive. I still recalled how he had held me tightly and said, "Don't be afraid, Jolene. From now on, I'll be your support. I'll take care of you for the rest of your life."

He was only 18 years old at that time, yet he suppressed his own grief to comfort me.

While looking after me, he also took on the responsibility of running the family business. Knowing how frail and sickly I was, he climbed a thousand steps up to a chapel on Mount Serenity to get a rosary bracelet for me.

When I saw his bloodied knees from kneeling and praying, I scolded him for being foolish. But he just smiled and told me that I was his only reason for living.

And then there was Marcel, my childhood sweetheart. We started out as friends. But ever since we played house at seven years old, he insisted on claiming me as his own, saying that I could only marry him.

Every year on my birthday, he would give me a ring. From the foxtail grass rings of our childhood to the custom diamond rings he gave me then, he had repeated his vow to marry me again and again.

Douglas and Marcel doted on me and showered me with endless love until Mona appeared.

When the Woodrow family proposed an arranged marriage with me, Douglas—unwilling to let me marry far away—found an orphan girl as a substitute. And so, Mona, who had grown up on the streets, came to live with us.

Feeling guilty, Douglas and Marcel compensated Mona in every way possible—from high-end fashion to expensive jewelry. Gradually, their concern for me faded.

I stared blankly at the jarring photo on my screen. Mona had taken all the love that belonged to me in just three years.

The winter wind and snow seeped in through my collar. I shivered and pulled my coat tighter around me as fresh blood slowly oozed from the wound on my head.

My phone buzzed with a message from Douglas.

"Jolene, does it still hurt? Mona said she needed reassurance to feel secure, so we had no choice but to go along. We were so worried when she ran off in a fit of anger during a snowstorm, so we had to ask you to make this sacrifice.

"Don't worry. Once she marries into the Woodrow family, you'll still be the younger sister I love the most!"

I laughed bitterly and turned off my phone. The group photo of the three of us on the lock screen hurt my eyes again.

In the picture, I was smiling brightly while Douglas ruffled my hair and Marcel stood nearby holding cotton candy.

Back then, I truly believed that I would always be that happy. But now, it all seemed like a cruel joke.

"Ms. Greer, your injury hasn't healed yet, so it's best to ask your family to come pick you up." The nurse handling my discharge looked at me pitifully.

I forced a smile before saying, "I don't have a family anymore."

Only five days were left for me to say my goodbyes to them.

When I returned home, the three of them were happily watching TV.

Douglas was peeling grapes and feeding them to Mona one by one, while Marcel held up a glass of juice near her, afraid she might get thirsty later.

They stopped chatting and laughing the moment I walked in.

Douglas quickly stood up and took my coat. "Jolene, does your head still hurt? What did the doctor say?"

He reached out to touch my forehead. But I instinctively dodged away, leaving his hand hanging in the air.

"I'm fine," I said coldly. Then, I scanned the floor. The shocking bloodstains from the morning had been wiped clean as if nothing had happened.

"That's good to know." Douglas withdrew his hand, his voice turning chilly. "Mona is delicate, so you'd better not scare her, okay?"

Marcel instinctively shielded Mona but froze when he saw the bandage on my head. "Jolene, didn't the doctor say you need to rest? What kind of trick are you pulling now?"

I simply chuckled coldly and said nothing.

"Jolene, don't blame Douglas and Marcel. They were just worried about me," Mona said softly and meekly. "Douglas has already explained everything to me. Don't worry. I was an orphan to begin with. If you want me to take your place in marriage, I'll do it without hesitation. Even if you asked me to die, I would still do it…"

As she spoke, her eyes instantly reddened, and her voice became choked with emotions.

"Mona, don't say that. In my heart, you'll always be my sister." Douglas tenderly ruffled her hair—a gesture that had once been reserved only for me.

"That's right, Mona. We'll keep thinking of a solution. Don't worry. I'll never let you marry someone else!" Marcel declared with conviction, completely forgetting the promises he had once made to me.

Watching their affectionate display for each other, I felt a wave of nausea churn in my stomach. Once, I had been their cherished sister and sweetheart. Now, I was nothing more than an outsider, out of place in their world.

I took a deep breath to force down the anger rising up in me. "I'm tired, so I'll head up to my room first."

Not long after that, Mona's delicate voice sounded outside my door.

"Jolene, I made an ice cream sundae for you. Can you please open the door? I was only joking earlier. I never thought that Douglas and Marcel would actually push you—"

The knocking grew more urgent, followed by Douglas' impatient voice. "Jolene, open the door now. Mona has already apologized, so stop sulking! She has come to live with us, which makes her a part of our family! As her older sister, you should be more considerate toward her!"

His words sent a jolt through my heart. My gaze fell on the rosary bracelet by my bedside. Back then, Douglas had said that I was his only family. But now, he was someone else's brother.

"Jolene, not everyone can put up with your spoiled temper. Mona's health isn't the best, so can you please stop stressing her out?"

On the wall of my bedroom hung a painting Marcel had made for me. But now, he had forgotten his vow to protect me.

"Forget it. Let's leave her alone to cool down for now," someone muttered, and the noise outside gradually faded.

I gathered every gift they had ever given me and threw them all into the fireplace. The rosary bracelet Douglas had insisted I never take off, Marcel's love letters, the crystal shoes, and the princess dresses—all of it.

As the flames dwindled, my tears dried up, leaving only ashes and an empty heart. I didn't want Douglas or Marcel anymore.

When I woke up the next morning, the hallway was nearly blocked by a mountain of gift boxes. Apology notes from Douglas and Marcel were prominently pasted on top of them.

"I was wrong yesterday. I'll make it up to you with an even better birthday party. Douglas."

"Sorry, Jolene. Please forgive me for the sake of these gifts. Marcel."

My gaze dimmed briefly after reading their hastily scribbled words.

In the past, whenever I was angry, Douglas would wait outside my door with red-rimmed eyes, vowing that he wouldn't leave until I forgave him. Marcel would pitifully hold out boxing gloves, begging me to hit him instead of bottling up my anger.

But now, the two who had never let my anger last beyond a day were nowhere to be seen, and in their places were only these cold, impersonal gifts.

Whatever. It didn't matter. I was leaving in a few days anyway.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh and tossed everything into the trash. The trio coming down the stairs together happened to witness this scene.

"Jolene, what are you doing? These gifts are expensive!" Mona rushed forward as if to dig through the trash, but Marcel pulled her back.

"Mona, don't touch that. It's dirty! Some people are just spoiled princesses who'll never be as understanding as you."

Douglas' expression darkened. It was a rare sight. "Jolene, you're being unreasonable. I specially prepared these for you. How could you just throw them away?"

Specially prepared? Yet, inside those beautifully wrapped boxes were free samples and trial-size skincare or cosmetic products.

When I didn't respond, Mona quickly stepped in to mediate. "Jolene, don't be angry. Douglas and Marcel only lent me the full-sized products to try because they felt bad for me. I'll return them to you right away. You're a heiress raised in privilege, while I'm just an orphan. So it doesn't matter what I use."

"But I care!" Douglas blurted out. He gripped Mona by the shoulders and said emphatically, "Mona, remember this—you're my sister, and you deserve only the best!"

In the past, hearing my only brother say such words would have shattered me. I would cry and make everyone miserable. But now, I only gave a slight smirk.

"Fine. Then, from now on, let her have this entire family."

My indifferent tone seemed to catch Douglas off guard. Just as he was about to say something, Mr. Woodrow called to confirm my departure time.

"Sure. I'll see you in three days then." I kept my voice low and quickly ended the call.

When I looked up again, Douglas and Marcel stood right before me, blocking my path.

"Who was that? Where are you going in three days?"

Douglas' tone was stiff, carrying both an older brother's authority and a hint of nervousness he didn't even realize himself.

"Since when do you have a male friend? Why don't I know about this?" Marcel's eyes were full of jealousy. He had always disliked other men getting close to me.

"It was just a colleague discussing work matters." I brushed it off casually.

The two visibly relaxed when they heard this.

"If you're tired of working, you can just quit. I can take care of you." Douglas affectionately ruffled my hair.

"Exactly. Isn't being with us more fun than dealing with outsiders?" Marcel chimed in, already discussing plans with Douglas to take me on an outing.

When she saw that the two had walked away, Mona dropped her fragile act and smirked tauntingly. "Jolene, you don't actually think such a petty trick would get their attention, do you? Who do you think they'll believe if I get hurt right now? You or me?"

Before I could react, Mona raised her hand and slapped herself hard across the face several times.

"Jolene, I won't try to steal Douglas and Marcel from you again. Please, spare me!" she cried loudly while hitting herself.

Douglas and Marcel rushed back only to be met with the sight of Mona's face covered in red handprint marks. She looked downright pitiful, to say the least.

A second later, Marcel shoved me to the ground. My barely healed forehead split open again, and blood began to trickle down.

"Jolene, Mona has been orphaned and has struggled for years while you've had everything handed to you since you were young. So why must you bully her?"

Douglas also ignored my injury, his expression dark as he called me by my full name for the first time. "Jolene Greer, you're getting more and more ridiculous!

"The Woodrow family is already preparing for the wedding. Can't you at least let Mona have these final few days? How did I end up with such a cruel sister like you?"

With that, the two flanked Mona protectively and took her to the hospital.

I touched the wound on my head and let out a wretched laugh. The Woodrows were indeed preparing for a wedding, except the bride-to-be wasn't Mona. It was me.

The next day, Douglas and Marcel acted as if nothing had happened and insisted on taking us all out for an outing. I gave a noncommittal response and continued packing my luggage.

Mona's reflection in the window showed her gripping the steering wheel. She drove recklessly, swerving and crashing until the car was wrecked beyond recognition.

Wait—wasn't that the last gift my parents left me before they died?

"Stop! Stop right now!" I rushed out madly, trying to stop Mona. But the car accelerated and slammed into me.

The impact sent me flying several feet. I coughed up blood, feeling as if my organs had been shattered.

In my dazed state, I saw Mona step out of the car, smiling. "Sorry, Jolene. I'm just learning to drive, and I mistook the gas for the brake."

A moment later, I blacked out.

In my haze, I heard Marcel anxiously asking the doctor when I would wake up. Douglas clutched my hand tightly and kept wiping the cold sweat from my brow as if we had returned to the past.

I was unconscious for a full 24 hours. But when I finally managed to open my eyes, all I heard was them unanimously making excuses for Mona.

"Jolene, the doctor said the pain is temporary. Just put up with it for a little longer. Mona didn't mean to run into you."

"Jolene, it's my fault for not teaching Mona properly. If you want to blame anyone, blame me."

So there really wasn't going back to the past. The brother who used to take medicine with me just to comfort me and the childhood sweetheart who would stay by my side around the clock whenever I was sick—they were no longer the people they once were.

"Jolene, why are you crying?"

Douglas felt a pang in his chest and instinctively reached to wipe my tears, but a nurse walked in.

"The young lady outside just fainted from distress. Someone should tend to her."

Hearing that Mona had passed out, the two hurried out, leaving me alone again.

My phone kept buzzing with messages from Mona.

"Jolene, you're the one who's more injured, so why is everyone fussing over me instead?

"You probably don't know yet, but Marcel has already proposed to me. He said that ever since he met me, he had finally understood what love at first sight really means.

"And Douglas has secretly sold the family's estate behind your back. He said that even if it cost him everything, he would do whatever it took to break off my engagement because he would never let me leave his side.

"To put my mind at ease, he even bought me an expensive good luck charm from a world-renowned tarot reader so that I could have a better future."

…

Strangely, I felt nothing after reading all this.

The following days, I stayed in the hospital alone.

On the first day, Mona sent a video of Douglas letting her ride on his back like a horse. I called some gardeners to uproot the tulips he had planted for me.

On the second day, she sent me a recording of Marcel confessing his love to her by the river. I returned the heirloom he had given me at 17 years old back to his family.

On the third and final day, the Woodrow family sent someone to fetch me.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Greer. Mr. Woodrow sent me to escort you to Kingston."

I nodded. Then, I picked up my luggage and got into the car.

Just then, Douglas suddenly called me, asking, "Jolene, why is your name on the Woodrow family's wedding invitation? What nonsense are you up to again this time?"