Chapter 2

I barely got a word out before Grandma smacked me right across the face.

She shot me a death glare, like she was ready to tear me apart on the spot.

I choked back my tears and turned to Dad, my voice urgent. "Dad, Lauren insisted on playing in the grass, and now she's been bitten by a snake. We need to get her to the hospital, now!"

Grandma and Dad were horrified.

Grandma grabbed my ear and yanked hard. "You useless brat! Your sister got bitten by a snake and you didn't say anything right away? Are you trying to get Lauren killed?"

My hair was yanked and left a mess as I bit my lip hard. "I did call out! You only ever listen to Lauren!"

I looked up, huge tears brimming in my eyes.

Grandma and Dad both froze, and for once, they didn't yell at me.

There were two tiny puncture wounds on Lauren's leg, oozing blood.

"Looks like the snake was venomous," Dad said.

Grandma panicked. "Quick, quick! Suck the venom out with your mouth, that'll fix it!"

Grandma helped Lauren sit down, her voice all gentle and loving. "Come on, Lauren, sit here."

I stood off to the side, fists clenched, watching as Grandma, who'd just been so sweet to Lauren, suddenly turned to me.

"What are you standing there for? Go suck the venom out of your sister's leg!" she snapped.

I just stood there, frozen.

It was the same in my last life. First, they forced me to suck the venom out of Lauren's filthy, thick, dark leg.

I knew if I did that, I'd get poisoned myself, so I fought tooth and nail to refuse.

Then Grandma made Dad do it instead. I tried desperately to stop him, but I still ended up dying a horrible death because of it.

My face was tense with worry as I insisted, "Dad, Grandma, you can't suck out the venom! We need to get Lauren to the hospital right now."

Grandma slapped me hard again. "If you don't do it, I'll keep hitting you until you do!"

I held it in for a bit, then switched gears and squatted down next to Lauren's leg.

Playing dumb, I asked, "How do I even do that?"

Suddenly, Lauren let out a blood-curdling scream.

Lauren shrieked, "No, no! She's trying to hurt me!"

As soon as Lauren started bawling, Grandma shoved me aside, my hand landing on a clump of dirt that jabbed painfully into my palm.

"Get out of the way! Who knows, you might just get Lauren killed!" Grandma snapped.

"Son, hurry up and suck the venom out of Lauren's leg! Don't stop until the blood's clean!" she ordered.

Dad nodded quickly, leaned down, and started sucking at the bite on Lauren's leg.

I got to my feet, my expression turning ice-cold.

In my last life, it was always the same. Lauren was their precious gem, and I was invisible. No matter what I said, they never believed me, but even if Lauren cursed, they'd act like it was music to their ears.

All I ever wanted was the best for Lauren, but they always thought I was out to hurt her.

She was eight years old. Was that really so little? At this age, I had to fend for myself, while Lauren just ate, played, and enjoyed life.

Fine. If they thought I was always out to hurt her, then I wouldn't bother anymore.

Go ahead, suck it. Since they loved her so much, then died together.

Dad sucked out mouthful after mouthful of that dark, poisoned blood, only stopping when it finally ran clear.

He wiped the black stains from his lips, while Grandma fussed over Lauren, grinning from ear to ear.

They were a real family, and I was just the extra, never really part of it.

Dad rinsed his mouth and got right back to work.

Lauren was running wild along the edge of the field.

Grandma kept glancing up at her, beaming with pride, and then I overheard her talking to Dad about me. "That brat's up to no good, I just know it. Look at how happy Lauren is. Son, don't waste your time on her. What's the point of her studying?

"She just uses whatever she learns to mess with Lauren. She's going to get married sooner or later anyway. Better make her work hard now and earn some money for Lauren's dowry, so we can all live comfortably."

Dad looked over at me, hesitating for a moment like he was thinking it over.

I stared at him, my eyes pleading, hoping he'd say something for me.

Maybe he pitied me for a second, because he finally answered, his voice cold as ice. "Just let her finish this semester. We'll see after that."

I hung my head, feeling crushed.

As evening fell, I headed home.

Mom was making dinner in the kitchen, so I went in to help out.

"Why are you being so eager today? Scared I'll yell at you or something?" Mom said.

She was slicing up pork strips, giving me a cold side-eye.

I muttered, my voice low, "No."

Because it didn't matter what happened. She'd always go off on me, never caring about the truth.

She dropped the pork strips into the pan, and for a moment, the rising steam masked the look of disgust in her eyes.

"How come Lauren got bitten by a snake and you didn't? Where were you even looking?" Mom snapped.

I kept my head down, washing the vegetables, and mumbled, "I told Lauren not to go into the grass, but she wouldn't listen."

"Then why didn't you go with her? If you'd been there, you could've stopped her if you'd seen the snake," Mom shot back.

I shot to my feet, my heart turning to ice.

"Lauren never listens to me anyway. Or is it that you wish it was me who got bitten instead?" I snapped.