Chapter 1
I grew up in a funeral home. My dad was the funeral director, and my mom was a professional mourner.
From a young age, I had already mastered the ropes of my parents' careers. I could shed tears on cue with such authenticity that no one could hold a candle to me.
While other girls were performing song-and-dance gigs on stages, I was in charge of weeping at various funerals. In between tears, I could tell at a glance who the truly filial descendants were.
When other girls were grieving for their departed ones, I was laughing all the way to the bank due to the big bonus I received from the bereaved family.
I had yet to encounter any occasion that I had to truly cry my lungs out until I turned 16. That was when my biological parents showed up in their gleaming Bentley.
The attractive, stylish mother held me and wept piteously, but her other arm was still wrapped around that frail-looking impostor daughter.
"Yvy, this is your younger sister, Lili. She has a delicate constitution, so you have to be more accommodating toward her, alright?" said the stylish mother.
That very night at the dinner table, this sister suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed squarely on the bowl of soup I was about to hand to her.
As the whole family screamed in shock and panic, I fell on my knees and wailed so loudly that my cries drowned out the sirens of the ambulance.
"Oh, Liliane! Why did you leave us so soon? It's all my fault! I shouldn't have returned to this home. I must have jinxed you!" As I wept, I took out three white candles and set them up with practiced ease.
"Dad, Mom, don't just stand there. Pick a burial plot quickly. Liliane passed away so suddenly. We need to give her a grand send-off!"
*****
I dug out a little notebook and pen from my canvas bag and continued with urgency, "The most important thing right now is to sort out the funeral arrangements. Liliane left us so suddenly. We have to make her final journey a grand affair!
"The burial plot should be a south-facing location near a hill for plenty of sunshine and weather protection. Only then will it be warm in winter and cool in summer. And for her burial clothes, we should go for the most luxurious silk gown she owns. Liliane always loved looking her best, so she deserves nothing less!"
I then turned to my ashen-faced older brother. "Yule! Quick, call the funeral home. Tell them this is a request from the LeBeau family's daughter. See if they can give us a discount on the full package with VIP treatment! We must ensure Liliane goes in style!"
My biological mom finally recovered from her shock.
"Yvona! What nonsense are you spouting? Lili fainted, that's all!" she yelled.
I blinked back tears as I looked at her. "Mom, you don't have to hide your grief. I understand how you feel.
"You are going for a 'Celebration of Life' ceremony. You want to give Liliane a joyful send-off!
"She knew she had usurped my spot in this family and felt very bad about it. That's why she's giving up he life to make space for me!
"My poor sister, you're so pure-hearted!"
Still sprawled on the floor, Liliane's body suddenly convulsed violently. It looked like she choked on something and almost went to meet her maker.
My older brother, Yule, dashed up in a flash, his face contorted with rage. "Enough! You lunatic!"
He yanked me to my feet, his eyes burning with undisguised disgust and resentment. "It's your fault that Lili has ended up like that. How dare you still put on such a sickening act!
"How did someone like you end up in our family? You have brought us misfortune!"
Misfortune was just biding its time until the right opportunity arose.
I wiped away my non-existent tears and gazed at him piteously. "Yule, how could you say that? Liliane had just barely shuffled off this mortal coil!
"We should be sticking together right now, figuring out the funeral arrangements!
"So, should we go with the classic funeral dirge or play Liliane's favorite piano piece? What should we put on the epitaph? Do we need to run an obituary in the paper?
"And the guest list! We have to get it done fast, or there won't be time to send out the notifications..."
"Shut up!" Yule finally exploded, unable to take it anymore.
He carried Liliane up, who was seemingly fighting for her breath, and rushed out of the hall. "Hurry! Get the car! We need to rush to the hospital!"
My biological parents, Pierretta and Didier Souchon, rushed after Yule in a panic. As Pierretta passed by me, she glared at me viciously. "You'd better pray that Lili is okay, or I won't let you off!"
I hurried after them. "Hey, don't go yet! The funeral arrangements haven't been finalized. Where are you bringing Liliane to?"
Sadly, they disappeared so fast it seemed like the Devil was after them…
I wasn't bothered. I blew out the candles and leisurely packed them away.
On my first day back at the Souchon family, round one was a complete victory!
Liliane "stayed in a coma" at the hospital for two whole days.
My biological parents and conniving brother never left her side.
Meanwhile, I, the long-lost biological daughter who had just been located, was left all alone in the cold, empty villa. No one even bothered to call and check on me.
However, that suited me just fine.
I gave instructions to the butler to prepare the perfect "funeral setup." "Sebastian, have that wall painted white."
"Why?" The butler looked very puzzled.
"So we can hang up the funeral epitaph," I replied.
The butler widened his eyes in horror…