Craig remained silent. The wig he held in his hand felt like a scorching piece of iron, leaving him unsure of what to do.

Seeing the situation, Eden stepped forward and snatched the wig from his hand. As she tossed it into my arms, her eyes were filled with unrelenting hostility.

I calmly put the wig on. After all, a frail woman wandering the streets with a shaved head would definitely stand out.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Eden, you really don't have to be so scared. I won't be returning to the Sainsbury family."

I smiled as I spoke, but my tone was firm. "Not in this life, and certainly not in the next."

"I-I'm not scared! Mom, Dad, and Craig only love me." Eden's voice was tinged with panic. Though she screamed forcefully, I could hear the unease beneath it.

"Is that so?"

Noticing her internal unease, I smiled faintly at her. All the lingering obsession I once had dissipated at that moment.

In those four years, I came to the clearest realization—I didn't belong to the Sainsbury family.

At that moment, I didn't feel angry, nor did I feel sadness. Instead, I walked out of the café with the confidence of a winner.

I had spent 17 years with my adoptive parents. Before I was lost, I was the apple of the Sainsbury family's eye. Even after I came here, I remained as the Larson family's precious daughter.

The Larsons had treated me as their own, and I had spent my childhood in peace. That was where love and warmth truly resided.

Four years ago, Craig found me, and the Larson family thought that being in the Sainsbury family would give me a better life, so they agreed to let him bring me back.

Two years ago, my adoptive father, Peter Larson, passed away. A year ago, Lila passed away, leaving me an orphan with parents.

Since then, I'd never returned to the small, humble house.

This life was too painful. In the next life, I only wanted the life I had before I turned 17.

…

"Never thought I'd run into you here."

I sat on the couch in the cemetery management center. Across from me was a handsome young man.

He turned out to be Kevin Graham, a neighbor from Lila's hometown. I used to call him "Kev" when we were younger. Now, he was actually a cemetery sales advisor here.

Once a person knew the time of their death, it was inevitable that they would start making arrangements for what came after.

I had come to choose my plot, right next to where Peter and Lila were buried. I wanted to be their real daughter in the next life.

"We haven't seen each other since you left four years ago. What are you…?" Kevin seemed a little nervous, fiddling with his fingers. I was the first client he'd ever served here.

"Brain cancer. It's terminal. I want to be buried next to Lila," I said bluntly. Only numbness could shield me from the deep pain in my heart.

During my childhood, I was a spoiled little princess, always calling for Kev and riding on his back like he was a horse.

The good old days felt like they were long gone. How tragic that my once-beautiful self would now be seen by my childhood friend in such a decayed form.

He had seen me at my best, and now, he would see me at my worst.

"Cindy, I-I'm really sorry." Kevin's voice was low and full of sadness.

"It's alright. Everything will pass," I said with a forced smile. My gaze returned to the boy I had once relied on so much.

Kevin didn't say anything else, nor did he try to comfort me. He probably had seen enough death to be numb to it by now.

The shock, perhaps, was only because it was the first time he had encountered someone buying the plot for themselves.

"This urn's quality is good, and the price is reasonable." Kevin was very serious as he explained the details. He even picked out a practical, affordable urn for me.

"Thank you. I'll go with your arrangements." I thanked him. It was oddly comforting to meet an old friend at the end of my life.

"Could you come with me to see... my parents?" I asked.

"Sure." Kevin hesitated for a moment, then suddenly grasped my cold hand tightly in his. He seemed both nervous and pained, as if some emotion was about to spill over.

But a person on the brink of death shouldn't burden anyone else. I struggled, pulling my hand away from his.

We suddenly felt the refreshing air, just like the times when we used to run through the fields while laughing in the warm breeze of sunset.

Back then, I was carefree. But now, it seemed like that person had long been buried in some forgotten corner of the world.

As we walked toward Peter and Lila's grave, I whispered their names, "Dad, Mom..." Tears welled up in my eyes.

Their tombstone was stained with blood.

The sight before me struck so hard that everything went black.

The once simple and humble tombstone was now defiled with disgusting, bloody graffiti. I rushed toward the grave.

The blood-stained words read, "Cindy Larson is a shameless woman, and the parents who raised her are animals!"

What kind of hatred or grudge could make someone deface Peter and Lila's grave with such vicious words?

My vision went black. I collapsed to my knees, desperately trying to wipe the words off.

"Dad, Mom, I'm sorry. I've failed you. You can't even rest in peace. It's my fault. How could this happen? I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry!"

Peter and Lila had never wronged anyone and never made enemies. Everything had its cause and effect. It could only be my actions.

The rage and sorrow surged within me. My mind was a blur, and my body involuntarily shrank back. I felt like I could see the whole world mocking my helplessness.

"Cindy, be careful!"

Kevin's voice snapped me out of my shock. He rushed over and caught me just before I collapsed.

"Water… I need water... Why?" My voice trembled as I spoke. I struggled to keep my sanity.

Kevin quickly turned around and ran back to the office to fetch a water bucket and cloth. He then helped me clean the bloodstains.

My hands were scratched, and my pale clothes were stained red.

The rain fell heavier, soaking me through. Kevin desperately tried to carry me down the hill.

A cup of fragrant jasmine tea was placed in front of me, but I was still lost in thought.

I kept wondering what I did wrong. Not only did I end up hollowed out, but I also dragged my adoptive parents into this mess.

I was the real heiress of the Sainsbury family. But when I returned at 17, they already had another "daughter" my age, Eden.

Eden Sainsbury—what a lovely name. The Sainsbury family was just like a paradise for her.

Before I got lost, my name was Amy Sainsbury. I was the beloved of my parents.

But after four years of being back, no one seemed to remember to change my name back to Sainsbury. I had kept the name Peter and Lila gave me—Cindy Larson.

Peter and Lila were so good to me. They couldn't have children, so when they found me, they thought it was a gift from heaven. They promised they would always cherish me like their treasure.

But when I donated blood at school, my DNA was submitted online and was found by Craig after 13 years of separation.

Peter and Lila had me go back. They thought I would have better access to educational resources with the Sainsbury family, and at least I wouldn't have to work my way through school anymore.

But now, just four years after coming back, I was dying. I had been diagnosed with late-stage brain cancer.

Peter and Lila probably never imagined this. Their intention was for me to live a life of success. Instead, my life had turned chaotic, and I had even dragged them into this humiliation.

There was no greater suffering in life than this. I felt as if my insides were being ruthlessly squeezed and twisted in someone's hand.

I sat by the window, looking at the soft rain tapping on the glass, as if trying to awaken my frozen thoughts.

The jasmine tea had long gone cold, but I still didn't feel like touching it.

The indescribable sadness inside me was like rain in the air, impossible to shake off.

Just then, the door was gently pushed open. Kevin stepped in cautiously, holding a bowl of steaming soup.

He carefully placed the bowl in front of me before saying softly, "You need to eat something, Cindy. Your body can't handle it if you don't."

I looked up at him, but my eyes were empty.

He was the only person I could talk to now, the only friend who hadn't abandoned me during this time.

Kevin's care brought a little warmth, but the pain in my chest still couldn't be soothed.

"Kev." My voice was hoarse. "Sometimes, I really don't know if all this is worth it. If I hadn't been found back then, maybe everything would've been better."

Kevin frowned slightly, then sighed softly as he sat across from me. "It's not your fault, Cindy. Those people will get what they deserve, and all you need to do is stay strong and live."

"But how much longer can I live?" I laughed bitterly, reaching up to touch my forehead.

"Your doctor wouldn't want you to think like that." Kevin took my hand, as if trying to give me strength by sharing his warmth.

"No matter how little time you have left, I'll be with you. Also, the Sainsbury family should know about your condition."

I understood what Kevin meant. He wanted the Sainsbury family to pay for my treatment.

But their money would only be another set of chains, leaving me nowhere to escape.

The Sainsburys kept performing their perfect, ugly little drama in front of me, and I was just an unnecessary bystander.

Even if I die, I wouldn't beg them for help.

Kevin seemed to sense the shift in my mood and gently patted my hand. "Let's visit your parents' graves again once you're feeling better, okay?"

I nodded softly, replying, "Okay."

The room fell silent again, with only the sound of rain softly filling the air, accompanied by blurry memories and that indelible past.

…

In the middle of the night, I was jolted awake by the vibration of my phone. It was a call from Eden.

I had been planning to block her number for a long time, but every time, I'd hesitate just before doing so.

I was always curious how she could switch between a sweet young lady and a scheming woman so flawlessly.

Like a master of disguise, she never showed a flaw. Her actions only widened the gap between me and the Sainsburys until it became an insurmountable divide.

After a moment of hesitation, I answered the call.

"You're so despicable, Cindy Larson. Why did you get someone to hurt Craig?" Eden was panting, clearly furious.

I was a little confused, but I could guess the reason behind it.

"Do you love him?" I asked suddenly, in the midst of her storm of insults.

There was silence on the other end of the line.

I continued, "If you don't want Craig to see your true colors, come to my adoptive parent's graves and wipe away the graffiti. I don't want any trace left."

With that, I hung up. As expected, she didn't call back.

It was probably the most direct retaliation I'd ever given, and it felt a little satisfying.

The next morning, I went to find Kevin. I noticed a bruise on his brow and the corner of his mouth.

"Where did you go yesterday?" I gently turned his face to get a better look.

"Nowhere. The rain made the roads slippery," he said.

I knew Kevin was lying. He'd probably gone to find Craig and had a confrontation.

I remembered when Craig came to pick me up, Kevin had found out and had chased the car on his bike. He had shouted desperately, and his eyes were bloodshot and filled with hatred.

It was Craig who had taken the girl he loved.

"Let's go visit your parents again," Kevin said.

I didn't call him out on the lie, but we went together to visit Peter and Lila's grave.

The site was clean and tidy, perhaps because we had wiped it down, or maybe due to the heavy rain from the night before, or perhaps Eden had come, filled with guilt, to clean up the mess.

It didn't matter. I didn't want to see Peter and Lila, the parents who loved me, being disrespected at the end of my life.

It was better this way.

"Cindy, are you really the lost daughter of the Sainsbury family?"

Kevin's question caught me off guard. I didn't even know how to answer it.

My memories of Dale and Paula from when I was a child were vague. I only remembered that Craig, who was five years older than me, once took me to an amusement park.

He told me to wait at the fountain square while he went to buy me some ice cream.

I waited from morning till evening, but Craig never came back. In the end, it was the janitor at the amusement park, Lila, who found me and took me home.

That was all I recalled. When Craig found me with the DNA test result, I was filled with curiosity.

From him, I learned that my parents were rich, and I began to look forward to a bright future.

I was 17 at the time and already knew a thing or two about the rules of the world. I wasn't some naive kid anymore, and I wanted to become part of the Sainsbury family.

On the first day I returned to the Sainsbury residence, Eden cried and said to me, "I don't want anything. I know I've taken Cindy's place all these years, but now I just want to be with all of you. Please, Cindy, don't make me leave."

At that moment, I felt a small sense of superiority. Eden was conceding, and I felt the bloodline advantage I had.

What happened next, though, was something I'd never forget.

Craig, the older brother who lost me and then found me, pushed me aside and pulled Eden into a hug.

"No one will ever make you leave, Eden. No one would dare. You're my sister. My only sister," he said, glaring at me as if I were some kind of villain trying to tear their family apart.

Paula's eyes were red as she looked at Eden and choked out to me, "Cindy, I went crazy after you went missing, so your dad brought Eden back. Eden was the one who stayed with me through all those nights without you."

When I turned to look at Eden, she smirked at me in a provocative way. "Mom, let's not talk about this now. Let Cindy stay in my room. The guest room isn't ready."

She emphasized the word "guest room".

"No, Eden, you're picky about your bed. You won't sleep well if you switch rooms," Paula rushed to say, but then she seemed to remember I was still there, and she quickly stopped.

For the next four years, I lived in the guest room next to the maid's room on the first floor, and I never moved again.

I should stop thinking about them. They didn't love me, and I didn't want to love them anymore.

I just wanted to live for myself in the last moments of my life.

"Mom, Dad, I'm going for chemotherapy tomorrow. I won't be able to visit you for a while."

I lovingly caressed their tombstones. Perhaps the biggest mistake I made in this life was going back to the Sainsbury family.

Standing beside me, Kevin was stunned by my words and felt a pang of sympathy. He placed his hand on my shoulder. "I'll… go with you."

I looked up at Kevin. He had sharp eyebrows and deep-set eyes. What a hot guy.

A few months ago, I might have been a match for him, but now, I didn't want to drag him down. Yet I couldn't bring myself to refuse.

I remembered how painful the radiation was. The pain made cold sweat cling to my face, and they dripped down drop by drop.

It was excruciating. When Tyree asked if I had any family with me, I didn't answer.

If Kevin could be there with me, I would feel thankful. At least I wasn't alone.

It was hard not to be selfish at the end of life. Being alone was unbearable, and I needed someone with me.

I didn't know when my life would end. At least for this last stretch, I needed someone to help me be laid to rest.

"And what about your wife and kids?"

Kevin was 20 when I left, and now he was 24. In the countryside, people at this age were already getting married and having kids.

He smiled, showing two small dimples on his face.

He had a dignified look, his eyes bright yet tinged with sadness. His straight nose, defined lips, and strong features gave him the charm of a man.

"I'm still single. Free as a bird," he said.

I smiled slightly. As I looked down at the ground, I saw an ant crawling past. I quickly lifted my foot and let it go. Maybe there was always a ray of sunlight when life's challenges hit.

The radiation made my hair fall out, and the chemotherapy killed my appetite. I couldn't eat anything, only gagging every day. Even when Kevin brought me simple, light meals, I still couldn't get anything down.

"Eat a bit more, or when you're reduced to ashes, there won't be enough to fill the urn. It's not worth the cost," Kevin joked.

His joke made me laugh. With him around, there was a glimmer of light in my life again.

After every meal, Kevin would take me for a walk in the hospital garden downstairs. Winter was settling in, and the weather had turned chilly.

He gently took my hand. His grip was soft but firm, as though afraid I might disappear at any moment.

Looking at the gray sky, I asked Kevin, "Why couldn't I reach you when I first returned to the Sainsbury family?"

Kevin's eyes reddened, and he didn't respond right away.

Once the question left my mouth, I was surprised by myself. After all these years, I thought I'd let it go, but some things never fade. They left permanent marks in my heart.

At 17 or 18, first love might have been naive, but it carried a purity that was both simple and profound.

I thought every woman would have someone from those days tucked away in their heart—a memory too cherished to let go and too delicate to revisit.

"I did try to contact you." Kevin paused before saying softly, "When you were taken by the Sainsbury family, I didn't make it in time when I came back from school. After that, I felt like I wasn't worthy, so..."

He sighed, and his eyes turned red-rimmed.

"Cindy, I know this isn't fair to you, but remember this. No matter what happens, I'll always be here for you. Whenever you need me."

After he said this, I noticed that tears were falling down his face, big drops of them.

When he cried, my heart started racing. Did I say something wrong?

"What's wrong, Kevin?"