I died.

In a damp, dark alley.

My soul gradually floated away from my mangled body, curiously gazing at myself lying there, motionless.

The pain and fear from earlier seemed to linger in the body.

I floated closer, curious, and glanced at the phone with a cracked screen.

A barrage of insults filled the screen. I habitually scrolled down, and my eyes stopped at the name Jessica Jenning.

[You’re probably in that dark alley, helpless, right? Hahaha, serves you right.]

[I didn’t want anyone to bother you at first, but why did Wally even mention you? You must’ve used some cheap tricks to seduce him! Stay in that alley where you belong, you bitch!]

[...]

Her words, just like her, made me feel deeply uncomfortable.

But now, I no longer felt those emotions.

The phone’s battery was down to 5%, about to die, yet the calls kept coming.

Just as I wanted to take one last look at my corpse, a strange force pulled me to another place.

A home I knew well.

Or rather, I should say, Jessica’s home.

"Samantha Jenning, where on earth are you? Why is your phone unreachable?"

A tall man frowned, the cold expression on his face showing a rare glimpse of worry because of me.

This was my brother, Nigel Jenning.

He had always doted on Jessica, so seeing him worry about me now was unexpected.

As if on cue, the familiar voice of complaint followed.

"She’s probably throwing a tantrum because Jes is marrying Wally." The well-dressed lady sat in a comfortable chair, her face filled with disdain. "We raised her for so long, and yet she turned out to be such an ungrateful wretch! It breaks my heart."

That was my mother.

I remembered she wasn’t always like this. I don’t know when it started, but the way she looked at me became filled with disdain.

Nigel’s eyes reflected the same annoyance. "She’s likely ignoring our calls on purpose, refusing to bless Jes’s wedding. So young and already so vicious—I wonder where she learned it."

At that moment, it felt like my heart had been struck hard.

"Enough." The usually silent man finally spoke, though his words lacked any concern for me. "If she wants to throw a tantrum, let her. Have someone drag her back here if need be!"

My father, too, was completely focused on the daughter he had raised for over a decade, never once considering my feelings.

The room fell silent, Nigel still dialing.

None of them wanted to involve Jessica in this.

"I’ll go find her."

After yet another ‘no answer,’ Nigel finally lost his patience. He stood up and put on his coat.

"Do you know where she is?" Mrs. Jenning frowned, her worried gaze on her son. "Don’t end up missing Jes’s wedding."

She didn’t care what might have happened to me. All that mattered was whether her beloved daughter would be upset.

If searching for me caused Nigel to miss Jessica’s wedding, their dislike for me would surely grow even stronger.

"I know where she might be." He responded calmly. "If I can’t find her, I’ll come back. Don’t worry."

After all, he wouldn’t dare miss his beloved sister’s wedding.

I followed him into the car, quietly sharing the space with him for the first time in ages.

In the beginning, my relationship with my family wasn’t this bad. It could even be described as good.

Nigel wasn’t always so cold toward me.

Back then, he was the best brother in the world, admired by everyone—the kind of brother others envied.

When Jessica’s biological mother swapped us, they all wanted to make up for it at first.

Even Mrs. Jenning used to spoil me.

I still remember how she would cautiously ask what food I liked and remind Nigel to take care of me, his little sister.

Mr. Jenning wasn’t so strict either. He would even smile at me occasionally.

But that didn’t last long.

Though Jessica wasn’t their child, they had raised her for over a decade.

Compared to their quiet biological daughter, they naturally favored the sweet, affectionate girl they had raised.

And then came the accusations.

That I was jealous of their love for her and tried to push her into the pool.

That I stole her necklace, or that I hung out with troublemakers at school.

She always positioned herself as the innocent, virtuous one, while tarnishing my reputation, and no one believed my side.

They didn’t care about my thoughts. Every time Jessica pretended to forgive me, they would come to me and say:

"Jes is kind. She doesn’t want to hold a grudge, but as her older sister, you should set a good example."

"How did I not realize you were so vile? It disgusts me."

"Samantha, you’ve really let me down..."

Every word, filled with disappointment and disgust, pierced my heart like needles.

I never wanted to take anything from her. I only wanted what was rightfully mine, but no one was willing to give me that.

Jessica wasn’t going to let me be.

As long as I stayed in that house, I would be a constant reminder that I was the real child of that family.

So, she took everything from me.

Including everyone I would meet thereafter.

I glanced at Nigel’s serious profile as he drove, and a cruel thought crossed my mind.

What would my dear family think if they discovered that the little sister they adored was the one responsible for their real daughter’s death?

But they probably wouldn’t believe it.

I turned away, laughing at myself.

Back in school, Jessica and her minions had bullied me for three long years.

I had gone to my family for help, but no one believed me.

When I told them that Jessica was behind it all, they looked at me with reproachful eyes.

They refused to believe that their sweet, obedient Jessica could be that kind of person, and they certainly wouldn’t believe their disgraced second daughter.

They always trusted their own judgment.

So instead of getting help, I was scolded.

When I returned to school, the bullying only grew worse.

I still remember the feel of Jessica’s expensive shoes pressing down on my head, and her smug words.

“Have you given up yet?” she laughed freely. “They’re my parents and brother. Your mistake was coming back and disrupting my life. You belong in the gutter, like the insect you are. Don’t blame me for stepping on you.”

In the end, all I felt was despair, a quiet, hollow resignation.

I knew she was right, and that’s why I was so hopeless.

But none of it matters now.

Because I’m already dead.

Nigel stopped the car, got out, and walked toward a building that looked familiar.

I couldn’t help but take a second glance, and then I recognized it—it was my apartment.

What was he doing here? Did he really plan on dragging me back?

The thought almost made me laugh.

Too bad, no one’s here to be found.

I glanced at the alley nearby, feeling no emotion.

To them, my death was probably for the best.

Now, no one would cause trouble for Jessica, and their peaceful lives would remain undisturbed.