Chapter 5

The cold and pain faded as darkness crept into my vision.

Just when I thought I could finally let go, I woke up. I was floating above Mom's gravestone.

I glanced down. There I was. My own body, lying face down in front of Mom's grave.

After years of malnutrition and sickness, my body looked paper-thin.

When the wind blew, it felt like I could drift away with the dandelion seeds.

Honestly, I didn't feel sadness. All I felt was free.

But I didn't know why I was still there.

While I was still trying to figure it out, my vision flickered.

Then suddenly, I was sitting in Philip's car.

"Philip, don't be mad. Natalie didn't mean it. She's just jealous because you always spoil me," Dakota cooed.

At her words, the tension in Philip's brow eased.

He reached over and ruffled her hair.

"Don't blame yourself for everything, Dakota," he said. "Natalie was spoiled growing up. I figured if she got a taste of the real world, she'd finally grow up.

"But who knew she'd end up so resentful, taking it all out on Mom instead."

At the mention of Mom, pain flickered across Philip's face.

"I promised her I'd make Natalie into a proper heiress. I failed her," he said.

My heart skipped a beat.

A proper heiress?

So Mom really did leave everything to me.

Dakota noticed the bitter look on Philip's face and spoke up, her voice tentative. "Philip, maybe you should let Natalie come home?"

Philip shook his head. He didn't budge.

"No. Look at her. She clearly hasn't suffered enough," he said. "I want her to see just how good life used to be at home."

Yeah, right.

Sorry to disappoint you, Philip.

The dead don't feel pain anymore.

And besides, I really don't want to suffer anymore.

*****

I followed Philip all the way back to Moore Mansion.

Dakota playfully asked him to stay for dinner.

He brushed her off and headed straight to his study.

I followed him.

But when he sat down at his desk, I froze for a moment.

His desk was neat and understated.

But right in the middle sat something that didn't belong. A soft pink succulent.

It was tucked into a little bunny-shaped pot. It looked full of life.

It was clear someone had been taking good care of it.

I knew right away. That was a gift I gave him a long time ago.

He always pretended he didn't like it.

But he'd kept it close all along.

He ran his fingers over the leaves.

His eyes softened with warmth.

Then his phone rang.

He picked up.

Carl's voice came through. "Mr. Moore, all of Ms. Natalie Moore's videos have been blocked. There won't be any more leaks."

I watched calmly.

This was expected.

After all, a scandal like this would only hurt the Moore family's reputation.

Carl went on, "Mr. Moore, we found someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes, controlling how the videos spread.

"The person who filmed them has already fled overseas. We've got people tracking him down.

"And right before he left, his account received a large transfer."

Philip nodded. "Keep digging."

Then he said something that caught me off guard. "Anyone who dares hurt my sister won't get away with it."

It had been years since I heard him call me his sister.

It almost felt strange now.

It hit me.

He was actually protecting me.

This was what I had always wanted all these years.

But now, it didn't stir anything in me.

*****

The next day, the hospital contacted Philip.

Dakota needed to sign the paperwork for the donor heart.

After she pleaded with him in her usual sweet way, he finally put his work aside.

I sat quietly and watched his computer screen.

On it was an application to an overseas school.

It was the school I'd always wanted to attend.

Last night, Philip had thought it over for a long time.

In the end, he called Carl again.

"With all this going on, I'm worried Natalie will get hurt if she stays in the country," he said. "She wanted to study fashion design abroad, didn't she? Just send in an application for her. Right now.

"Get her back here. Let her finish school. Then she can make amends."

I looked at that application, the one I used to think was so easy to get.

I just smiled quietly to myself.

I couldn't figure it out. Why did everything I ever wanted start showing up one after another, only after I was gone?

*****

At the hospital, Dakota was signing the confirmation papers.

Someone nearby said with envy, "Ms. Moore, your brother really spoils you.

"You just mentioned you were having trouble breathing, and Mr. Moore went and got you a donor heart, just in case."

Dakota blushed and smiled sweetly.

I brushed my fingers over the confirmation papers.

It all just felt ridiculous.

So that was it. For something so trivial, my last chance at survival had been taken away.

Dakota wrapped her arms around Philip's arm.

"Philip, everyone's saying how amazing you are. You really are the best brother ever," she gushed.

She looked up at him, waiting for him to pat it. That familiar, doting gesture. The one he always gave.

But instead, he was staring intently at the desk, his eyes locked on something.