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?"

I reached out to wipe away Kevin's tears, but his bony hand caught mine.

The grief surged uncontrollably. He sobbed even harder, like a river bursting its banks, impossible to hold back.

After I comforted Kevin, we returned to my ward, and he left for work shortly after.

I said goodbye to him with a mix of reluctance and resignation. I straightened his clothes, fixed his hair, and made sure he looked every bit the professional.

Over the years with the Sainsbury family, I had grown used to seeing their constant obsession with maintaining a spotless image.

But doing this for Kevin felt different—meaningful, even. I cherished the moment because winter's chill was creeping closer.

Back in bed, I picked up a book to pass the time.

That was when my phone rang again. To my surprise, it wasn't Kevin—it was Eden.

The last time we spoke, she backed off after I put her in her place. Why was she calling me now?

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Where are you, Cindy?" Eden's voice was heavy with emotion—part panic, part fury.

"What's wrong?" I asked, unease already bubbling beneath my calm tone.

"Can you come home? Craig's about to get beaten to death by Mom and Dad." Her voice cracked into a mix of urgency and tears.

"This is all your fault! Mom and Dad are blaming him for suggesting you needed a lesson back then. He's getting punished because of you."

"Why should I go back?" I asked, exasperated but also caught in a whirlwind of conflicting feelings.

"Why shouldn't you? You love Craig the most, don't you? Can you really stand by and watch him suffer?" Eden's tone wavered between accusation and desperation. She was trying to find that soft spot in me she could exploit.

She had some nerve.

I took a deep breath. My voice turned icy as I asked, "Are you begging me to come home?"

As I mentioned the word "beg", Eden suddenly fell silent.

I let out a bitter laugh and continued, "Ms. Sainsbury, I already left the family. You've always wanted to be the sole heiress, haven't you? So, why drag me back now?"

There was a hint of sarcasm in my tone. It was the very tactic she had used on me countless times before.

After a brief pause, I heard her reluctant sniffle.

"I'm not saving Craig," I said coolly. "Even if you beg me on your knees."

Without waiting for a response, I ended the call.

Looking at the screen, I finally made up my mind. I blocked every contact from the Sainsbury family. As I did, it felt like a weight I'd been carrying for years had finally lifted.

The sunlight poured through the curtains, spilling across the pages of my book. It was bright, but it couldn't chase away the darkness lingering in my heart.

The Sainsburys were nothing more than a past I had no desire to revisit. My life didn't need those people constantly ripping at my wounds.

…

I didn't expect Craig to show up at the hospital. That insufferable man always appeared out of nowhere and vanished just as suddenly, like a ghost haunting me.

I'd been sitting by the large windows in the lobby, enjoying the rare good weather.

"Cindy." That familiar yet grating voice made me look up.

Craig's figure emerged from the shadows as if he'd been part of them all along.

"Why didn't you tell the family you were sick?" His tone carried its usual detached coldness, along with that typical Craig-brand judgment.

His sudden appearance shattered the fragile peace I'd built around myself.

I had long since stopped interfering with the Sainsbury family, and Craig's questioning only stirred up frustration inside me.

"I don't have a family," I replied flatly.

Craig frowned, clearly displeased by my attitude. "No matter what's happened, you'll always be part of the family."

"Family?" I let out a laugh so sharp it hurt.

"Mr. Sainsbury, you people are ridiculous. Why do you keep forgetting that I cut ties with you? My last name is Larson. Yours is Sainsbury. What's there to talk about between us?"

My emotions boiled over, and my voice quickened with anger. The air grew heavy with tension, and even the scattered sunlight couldn't break through the oppressive atmosphere.

"It's not what you think," he said in a low voice. "Mom and Dad miss you. I came here to bring you home."

"Mr. Sainsbury, what punishment did they dish out to make you come crawling back to me?"

I figured that perhaps Paula's and Dale's guilty conscience must've tipped in my favor yesterday, and they had directed their resentment toward Craig.

But so what? Whenever Eden and I stood side by side, their eyes never left her.

Whatever guilt they felt now was just another layer of their carefully constructed hypocrisy.

"It's not that," Craig said quietly. "I lost you. It's my responsibility as your brother to bring you home."

I chuckled at those words. "Craig, can't you come up with something new? That line will only work on me once."

My heart ached. Four years ago, he had appeared before me with the same demeanor, saying the same words with a large sum of money as compensation.

All of this led me to make the most regretful decision of my life—to return to the Sainsbury family.

What kind of brother was he? Was I just a toy he could buy back when he wanted and discard when he didn't?

And now, he had the nerve to ask for my help?

I bit down hard on my lip, and my eyes burned with hatred.

Craig didn't respond. He just stared at me, his gaze heavy with something that felt like a silent sigh.

Realizing words were pointless, he sighed softly and turned to light a cigarette.

The smell hit me like a punch, making my chest tighten as I coughed uncontrollably. Cancer patients shouldn't be anywhere near this stuff.

Craig's face reddened slightly. He glanced at the cigarette and then back at me. "What are you diagnosed with?"

I pointed to the sign on the wall. "You're in oncology. What do you think it is? Indigestion?"

Craig finally dropped the act. His anger flared. "Cindy Larson, are you going to fake your death just to get sympathy from Mom and Dad?"