“David... do you think my sister is mad at me? She hasn’t called.”

Laura leaned against David’s chest, faking a weary expression as she asked.

David gently stroked her hair and said reassuringly, “No way. She’s your sister. And with the wolfsbane in your system, this was your only shot. Eva’s not unreasonable. I’ll be nicer to her from now on, that’s all.”

Laura gave a nod, her eyes instantly regaining their shine. She grabbed his arm and joined Mom and Dad as they boarded the helicopter to enjoy an aerial view of the snowy mountains.

That flight, costing tens of thousands of dollars for a single experience, was more than I could earn in a year.

However, Laura could enjoy it without the slightest guilt.

After the trip, they treated themselves to a luxurious dinner. I floated behind them in silence as they checked in at Moonshadow Hotel, the most extravagant hotel in the werewolf pack.

Laura slipped into a revealing nightgown and climbed into bed next to David, reaching for his robe. However, he gently pushed her hand away.

He walked out to the balcony, staring at the snowy mountains in the distance as he drank in silence. His eyes were dark and troubled.

I turned and drifted into my parents’ room.

They were lying against the headboard in bed. Dad sighed, shaking his head, while Mom massaged her temples. Normally, they’d be fast asleep by now.

My mom pulled out her phone and tried calling me. However, all she got was a busy tone.

Their faces twisted in confusion, anxiety flickering in their eyes.

Whenever they wanted me to give something up, they’d slap me with one hand and offer candy with the other. It never failed to work.

All they had to do was take the first step and reach out, and I’d cave every time.

This time, no one was on the other end of the call, eagerly calling them “Mom” and “Dad.”

“Honey, Laura’s not exactly the sharpest at work, so why do you keep spoiling her? When we’re gone, she’ll burn through the family’s fortune in no time.

“I really thought we could count on Eva to take care of us when we’re old. But she didn’t answer just now. You don’t think she’s actually mad at us, do you?”

Mom looked at Dad with a worried expression.

He tossed his cigarette into the ashtray, scowling.

“For giving her life, she owes us everything. And Laura was dying. As her older sister, she should be happy to help. What right does she have to be upset? Honestly, we’ve been too soft on her lately. She’s forgetting her place!”

I hovered silently in the corner, my eyes burning.

At that moment, I was relieved I was dead.

They spent the next month laughing and traveling on their honeymoon before they returned home.

Laura strolled in wearing my nightgown.

She picked up my perfume and sprayed it casually over herself. Then she lifted the covers and curled up on my bed like she owned the place.

David walked through the house, as if searching for my presence.

After scanning everywhere, his face darkened. There was nothing, not even a trace of me.

He stood still for a long while, staring at the kitchen, where I had spent most of my time.

“David, I’m your mate now. We shouldn’t keep another woman’s stuff in our home, right?” Laura cooed, her arms wrapping around his neck from behind. She perched on the edge of the dining table I had set up so carefully.

“Since you got me so many new clothes, why don’t we turn that kitchen into a walk-in closet? We always eat out anyway.”

Her voice was sweet, and her warm breath against his skin made his heart race.

David pulled her arms away and stepped back, hesitating.

“Laura, Eva’s still my mate. I only held the ceremony to give you peace before… This kitchen, let’s just…”

“I don’t agree!” Laura cut him off sharply. With tears streaming down her face, she looked pitiful yet determined.

“We had a formal ceremony in front of everyone we know. I’m your true mate now! You shouldn’t be thinking about anyone else.”

In the end, David gave in. He agreed to convert my kitchen into Laura’s new walk-in closet.

“Put that over there!

“Get rid of this one.

“Toss these useless old things!”

Laura stood in the middle of my kitchen, hands on her hips, barking orders at the workers as they emptied the space.

One by one, my beloved kitchen tools were thrown out like trash.

David just stood there, watching in silence. He never once stopped them.

Even though I had told him again and again that my greatest dream in this life was to have a warm, sunlit kitchen where I could cook for the people I loved.

David knew my parents had always favored Laura and that I’d grown up in that house quietly swallowing every injustice. I had longed desperately for him to be the one who would stand by me unshakably.

Yet, instead, he was chasing some fantasy of being a valiant knight rescuing a poisoned princess, and erased me completely.

That kitchen had carried so many of my hopes and dreams. Every warm moment I had there still lived vividly in my memory.

Now, piece by piece, it was being dismantled.

Soon, it was gone entirely. In its place was a spacious walk-in closet.

Just like my life, Laura had overwritten and replaced it.

In the back corner of the former kitchen, a small photo frame had been left behind.

David quietly picked it up, slipped my photo out of it, and tucked it into his shirt pocket.

Back at the hotel, the sous-chef pulled David aside.

Apparently, I hadn’t shown up for work in a while. They had to bring in temp chefs to cover the banquet orders booked by clients who weren’t happy. There were lots of complaints about the food.

David’s face darkened. Without a word, he whipped out his phone and dialed my number.

Still, there was no answer.

His usual calm shattered. He spun around and overturned one of the banquet hall tables.

That day, he had formally terminated my employment, citing absenteeism. Then, he announced Laura, who had never studied cooking, as the new head pastry chef.

In the hotel suite, David finally gave in to Laura’s temptation.

He and Laura tumbled into bed together, their limbs tangled.

The passion didn’t stop there. They hooked up on the office desk, even in the storage closet, inseparable and insatiable, like teenagers drunk on new love.

I watched it all, my stomach twisting in knots. Instinctively, I cradled my slightly swollen belly.

How could I have been so blinded by love, believing his promises to me? I hated myself for it.

I was four weeks pregnant at the time and wanted to surprise David with the news at the ceremony. Now, the child and I had both been abandoned in the silver mine.

A few days passed before David remembered me again. He began texting nonstop, asking where I was.

Maybe the thrill of forbidden lust had started to wear off, because his tone grew softer. He humbled himself more with every word he messaged.

But I was already dead. There was no one left to reply.

“Darling, what are you thinking about?”

Laura walked up behind him, resting a hand on his shoulder. Her belly, too, had begun to swell.

Just several weeks after my death, she was pregnant.

Her cheeks were rosy, and her eyes sparkled with health. There was no trace of the supposed fatal poisoning she had used to manipulate everyone.

Yet, David didn’t seem to remember that was the entire reason for abandoning me and mate-bonding with Laura.

Startled by her voice, David quickly shoved his phone into his pocket like a cheating husband caught red-handed.

He turned around, trying to act natural, and reached out to hug her when he noticed the gemstone ring on her finger.

“Isn’t that Eva’s favorite ring? Why is it on your hand?”

“Huh? What a coincidence! I saw it at a boutique and thought it looked pretty, so I bought it.”

David frowned.

That ring wasn’t just any ring. He had bought it for me when we were both at Lycan Academy. It wasn’t expensive, but it had been our promise to each other.

It never left my finger.

Laura’s eyes flickered with guilt for a moment, then she quickly changed the subject.

“Sweetheart, today we’re celebrating the baby! My parents are cooking for once. They’re waiting for us at home!”

I watched them walk away, instinctively brushing the finger where my ring used to be.

The ring was taken off my finger by the thug who killed me. Now it was on Laura’s finger.

Could that really be just a coincidence?

Was my death not an accident, after all?

“Our Laura’s always been frail. To think she risked her life to carry this child. David, you must take care of them!”

“You can’t let Laura down.”

At home, Mom and Dad stared at Laura’s pale face, wiping tears from their eyes.

David smiled, patting his chest and swearing he would make Laura happy.

To keep Laura in high spirits, not a single family member brought up the fact that I had been missing for a long time.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

A flicker of light lit up David’s eyes. He immediately got up and walked quickly to the door.

He naively assumed that I had heard the news about my sister’s pregnancy, had let go of the past, and was back to celebrate with the family.

However, the moment he opened the door, his smile vanished.

Standing outside was someone he never expected to see.

It was my best friend, Lucy.

She stood there with her arms crossed, eyes sharp as she glared at David. She asked straight to the point, “Where’s Eva?”

Lucy and I had been friends for over a decade.

She had a tough life, too. After her mother remarried and abandoned her, she grew up under the care of her alcoholic father.

Forced by circumstances, she had become as tough as any boy, hot-tempered and explosive with most people.

Though with me, she was always gentle and caring.

No matter what injustice I faced, at home or outside, she would be the one to listen, protect, and fight for me.

“She’s not here. If you’re looking for her, ask someone else.”

Laura stepped out from behind David, about to slam the door. However, Lucy stuck out her foot.

She shoved the door open with force and barged inside, calling out as she went, “Eva! I’m here! Are you home?”

“Get out of here! That bitch isn’t here!” Laura shouted furiously, rushing forward to shove Lucy back out.

The two of them fought against each other, chaos erupting in every direction.

“Lucy, get a grip! Eva really isn’t here!”

David rushed to shield Laura, afraid she might get hurt, and pushed Lucy away forcefully.

Seeing David still protect Laura, Lucy lost it.

She raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face.

“Smack!”

The blow sent David’s head jerking sideways.

She had used all her strength. Wolf claws emerged from her fingertips, leaving five gashes across his cheek.

“You heartless bastard! How could you turn your back on her after making all those promises? Where’s your conscience?!

“Eva gave you everything, and you did something so disgusting! You two deserve each other, you cheating trash!

“And you! Both of you! You’re old enough to know better, yet you still bullied Eva like this? She’s your daughter, too! What kind of parents are you?! I hope all of you get what’s coming to you!”

Lucy’s whole body shook with fury, her voice hoarse as she screamed.

“If anything happens to Eva, I don’t care if it costs me my life! I will make sure every last one of you ends up in jail!”

The entire family froze, stunned by her rage. No one dared take a step forward.

They just stood there in silence until Lucy stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

That night, David did everything he could to calm Laura down and coax her to bed.

Once she was asleep, the rest of the family gathered in the living room.

David’s face was troubled when he finally spoke. “Mom, Dad, Eva’s been missing for days now. What if something really happened to her?”

My parents lowered their heads in silence.

They all knew they had gone too far.

However, they had already chosen this path. Now, they could only hope I would eventually come around and make it up to me when I returned.

Not once did they consider that they might not have a chance to make anything right.

My body was already rotting at the silver mine, the foul stench attracting a swarm of rats.

So, the residential staff had called in a professional exterminator to locate the source.

At dawn, David’s phone rang.

It was the police.

“Hello, is this Eva Corner’s family?”

“We’ve discovered a decomposing female body in the abandoned silver mine behind the villa. Initial identification confirms the victim is Eva. Please come to the station to identify the body.”