Confusion clouded Cielle’s mind, unable to make sense of what was happening.

But then, her father’s words hit her like a thunderclap. "Margaret! My dear daughter!

Thanks to all our efforts, your illness has finally been cured!"

Dear daughter?

The woman lying in the hospital bed... could it be?

Her mother, tears streaming down her face, added, "We’ve missed you so much, thought about you every day while you’ve been abroad all these years."

Cielle instinctively covered her mouth, more in bewilderment than anything else.

The Beckett Family had another daughter. Why had they kept this secret from her?

In that instant, the fragile girl in the bed broke the silence with a soft, trembling voice. "Did you truly miss me? Then why did you and Dad have another daughter?"

Magnus, who had remained silent until now, seemed to lose control. He rushed to explain, "There’s a reason for this! Margaret, we love you more than anyone!"

"Really?" The girl’s voice was filled with doubt, her head hanging low as tears fell.

But Laurent, ever gentle, reached out to stroke her hair, his voice soft but steady, "The one who holds our hearts above all others is you. Don’t you remember our childhood promise?"

The girl’s cry shattered the moment. "Then why did Cielle appear?"

"Because Cielle is your blood donor," Laurent said quietly. "For all these years, you’ve needed blood replacement. She was brought into existence to treat your illness."

In that instant, it was as though the world exploded in Cielle’s mind, her eyes widening in shock.

So, her entire existence had been nothing more than a vessel for someone else’s survival?

All those years, the kindness and love shown to her had been nothing but a facade, a cover for the fact that she was merely a walking blood bank…

No wonder, every year, when she went in for a routine check-up and blood transfusion, a wave of drowsiness would sweep over her and the next day, her parents would be "off on a business trip" abroad.

No wonder, every time she scraped her skin, no matter how small the injury, their panic was palpable, rushing her to the hospital over a mere cut.

No wonder her brother and childhood friend were always so protective, feeding her supplements, urging her to take medicine and guarding her like fragile glass.

It had all been for the sake of a lost sister, using her as nothing more than a mobile blood donor…

Outside the room, Cielle stumbled to a halt, unable to bear the weight of the revelation. The shock hit her with the force of a freight train and she collapsed onto the cold floor.

It felt as though her heart had been torn apart, each beat sending waves of pain through her body, suffocating her.

Suddenly, a deafening roar split the air and a torrential downpour unleashed, the sky itself weeping with her in a storm of thunder and lightning.

As the room fell silent, all eyes turned toward the window in shock. Without a word, Cielle bolted, her heart torn, her cries echoing into the storm.

The rain drenched her dress as she ran down the empty street, her emotions a hurricane of fury and sorrow, her voice carrying the weight of years of hurt.

It wasn’t until she collapsed, unable to rise that the storm inside her finally began to subside. There, on the cold pavement, memories once so sweet now felt like shards of glass, cutting into her heart.

The very next day, still in the clothes soaked with the previous night's anguish, she walked into the memory loss clinic, desperate for release. She opted for the quickest solution, electroshock therapy, ready to erase it all, no matter the cost.

One week later, Cielle was leaving the city behind. She had decided: she would forget everyone here, never to return. The city that had once been home would be nothing more than a distant echo.

When Cielle returned home, the door creaked open to reveal everyone gathered around Margaret, doting on her, serving coffee and showering her with attention.

The moment Cielle stepped through the door, every eye turned toward her. For a fleeting second, she saw the surprise flicker across their faces.

Had they forgotten about her now that Margaret was here? Or were they simply shocked to see her return?

Cielle couldn't make sense of it, nor did she want to. She stood frozen in the doorway, lost in confusion.

The atmosphere grew tense, the silence hanging thick in the air.

"Is it Cielle?" Margaret asked, her smile warm and kind as she looked toward the doorway.

Zayn, her father, quickly called her over, urging her to meet her sister.

Cielle hesitated, her mind struggling to process the surreal reality before her. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, she stumbled into the room, panic flooding her.

The life she once knew now felt so alien and she could barely find her footing. She retreated to a corner, her tears falling in waves.

Then, there was a soft knock on the door.

It was Margaret, stepping in quietly.

She was thin, almost to the point of fragility, her pale face a stark contrast to the warmth of the room.

"Thank you, Cielle," Margaret said, her brow arched in mild surprise. Her tone was warm, almost grateful. "If it weren’t for you, I might still be abroad, undergoing treatment."

"And thank you for taking care of our parents all these years, as well as my brother and Laurent."

At that moment, Cielle felt something shift within her. The sister she had imagined wasn't quite what she had expected.

Just as she began to feel a pang of shame for her earlier impoliteness, Margaret’s next words struck her like a lightning bolt.

"But this home will always be mine, including them. They can only belong to me!"

Margaret’s friendly smile melted away, replaced by a fierce, almost predatory glare.

Cielle froze, stepping back, her heart racing. But then, gathering every ounce of courage, she squared her shoulders. "No! This is my home too! They are my family!"

"Really?" Margaret’s smile returned, but it was different, sly, calculating. A gleam of mischief flickered in her eyes.

A cold, heavy feeling settled in Cielle’s chest. Something wasn’t right.

The sharp sound of a slap shattered the tension, followed by a scream as Margaret crumpled to the floor.

"Ah—"

Cielle’s thoughts seemed to freeze at that moment, her mind blank with shock.

Before she could even process what had happened, the door was flung open.

"Margaret!"

"Margaret!"

Magnus and Laurent rushed forward, their panic evident as they bent to help the fallen Margaret.

Tears poured from Margaret’s eyes and her voice cracked with despair. "Sister, I’ve been gone for over twenty years and this is my home! Why can’t I come back?"

Her heartbroken sobs filled the room, making the air heavy with grief.

Magnus and Laurent’s faces twisted with fury, their gaze locking onto Cielle, who stood frozen, a mixture of fear and confusion on her face.

Cielle quickly waved her hand, desperate to explain, but just as the words were on the tip of her tongue, her brother’s harsh words stopped her cold.

"Cielle! Why are you so jealous? Why can’t Margaret come home?"

Her brother had never spoken to her like that before. Even in moments of frustration, he would retreat into himself, silently grappling with his emotions.

Now, those words hit her like a slap. Her throat tightened with a wave of helpless grief, especially since she had done nothing wrong.

Cielle’s eyes stung as they filled with tears and she trembled, her finger pointing toward herself. "Me? Jealous?"

But instead of an explanation, her brother’s next words pierced her even deeper.

"I think she’s just a jealous woman!"

Her heart clenched painfully as if something sharp had lodged in her chest. The ache spread through her body, a slow burn that left her feeling weak.

Cielle slowly turned to Laurent, who stood silently by the side, his gaze cold. His indifference shattered her, stripping her of any remaining strength.

Margaret, rubbing her swollen cheek, feigned innocence as she spoke, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Don’t blame her! She didn’t mean it. Anyone would be upset if their parents and family were taken away."

"Taken away?"

"Margaret! You are the true young lady of the family! No one can take what’s rightfully yours."

Laurent gently scooped Margaret into his arms, lifting her effortlessly in a protective embrace. His voice was soft, almost tender, as he spoke.

He didn’t even spare a glance at Cielle, who stood trembling beside them, consumed by the weight of her own pain.

Before leaving, Laurent and Margaret shared a few words with Cielle. "Margaret is your older sister. She’s been frail since childhood, so you must be considerate of her, alright?"

Cielle could barely process their words and before she could respond, they were gone, vanishing from her sight.

She stood there, rooted to the spot, as the realization slowly sank in. Her weak sister was nothing more than a master of manipulation, a schemer who had woven a web of lies.

Cielle didn’t blame Margaret for playing the pity card, but as she thought about how carefully Magnus and Laurent had always looked after her, a bitter smile tugged at her lips.

A few sorrowful tears escaped, slipping down her cheeks in silence.

For twenty years, their kindness to Cielle had always been tied to her usefulness.

But now that Margaret was well again, she was nothing more than a shadow in their lives.

So, Cielle made up her mind to stop engaging, to stop holding on to the pain that had tormented her.

The next day, at lunch, Cielle sat quietly across from them, her gaze falling on the sight of them laughing and enjoying each other's company. Magnus carefully served more food to Margaret while Laurent poured her coffee with a gentle smile.

Margaret’s face was a picture of contentment. Her eyes flicked toward Cielle and with a feigned warmth, she asked, "Sister, will you come with me to the hospital for a check-up this afternoon?"

Cielle hesitated, then offered a polite smile and replied, "I have other plans for this afternoon."

At that moment, their mother’s face tightened, her features sharpening with displeasure. She placed her bowl and utensils down with a deliberate clink, her gaze hardening as it locked onto Cielle. With a touch of anger in her voice, she said, "Your sister has been abroad for years and she’s unfamiliar with everything here. As her younger sister, it’s only right, both in reason and in affection, for you to accompany her to the check-up. Haven’t I taught you better than this all these years?"

Her father shifted uncomfortably, casting a brief, unsure glance at Cielle before offering a strained smile. "Cielle, just go with her."

No one had asked for her thoughts and there was no space left for refusal.

With a bitter smile that didn’t reach her eyes, she reluctantly agreed.

After the meal, Magnus and Laurent stayed close to Margaret and as they got into the car, the door slammed shut. It was only then that they realized Cielle had been left behind.

Magnus gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity, his brows drawn tight with irritation. "Hurry up. Margaret’s health can’t afford to be delayed."

The words hit Cielle like a blow, her hands trembling at her sides. A heavy weight seemed to press down on her chest, suffocating her, making every breath a struggle.

Margaret, leaning against the car window, waved at her with a gleam of smugness in her eyes.

"Sister, hurry up and get in!" she called.

Behind her, Laurent gently draped his coat over Cielle’s shoulders, his touch tender, yet the sight of them together made her stomach twist. They looked so effortlessly intimate, so content.

As the car moved forward, Cielle rested her forehead against the cold window, the wind ruffling her hair, yet it did nothing to ease the sharp ache in her heart.

Without warning, Magnus slammed on the brakes.

The screech of metal on metal filled the air as the cars collided, the force of the impact sending a shower of debris into the air. The vehicle jerked violently, flipping backward.

As Cielle’s vision began to fade, she forced her eyes open, her blurred gaze falling upon Magnus and Laurent, both frantically trying to pry open the car’s back door. Their hands were stained with blood, their faces twisted in panic, their voices barely a whisper as they muttered, "Margaret, Margaret, wake up!"

Summoning every ounce of strength, Cielle lifted a trembling hand, her lips parting as she weakly called out, "Laurent, Brother..."

She repeated it, over and over, until her body betrayed her and the strength drained from her, leaving her with nothing.

Tears of hopelessness spilled down her face, blurring her vision as she fixed her gaze on the sight of the three of them. Magnus held Margaret in his arms, his desperate grip only pulling her further away. They disappeared from her view, growing smaller and smaller until they were nothing but a distant memory.