Chapter 2

Sophia gaped at Mary, her voice shaking. "Mrs. Jenkins, I know my sister's always loved taking credit for things she never did, but how could you go along with her lies?

"When Mom got sick, I was the one who started that livestream and begged everyone online for help. The money came from the viewers, so how did it suddenly become a charitable grant for Claire donating her organs?

"How could she just steal all my credit like that?"

My mom refused to believe I was gone, and without a second thought, she jumped on Sophia's side and started scolding me.

My mom snapped, "I knew it. That little brat's been a natural-born liar since day one, always taking credit for everything you do."

Listening to my mom's vicious words, I shook my head, a defensive reaction to the accusations.

No, that was not true. I never lied.

I glanced at Mary, silently pleading for her to reveal the truth.

But inside the car, Mary's son honked impatiently. "Mom, let's go. Why waste your breath on them?"

Mary listened to my mom and Sophia's insults getting nastier by the second.

Her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just let out a long sigh, started the engine, and pulled away.

I let my hands fall limply to my sides, feeling utterly defeated.

Of course, she wasn't one to stir up trouble or meddle in things.

Back then, I had to beg her for days just to get her to agree to pass on that money. Why would she stick her neck out for a dead girl like me and piss off my mom?

After Mary left, Sophia looked at my mom, her voice barely above a whisper. "So, what now, Mom? What if we really can't find her..."

My mom glanced at the hut in front of them, looking like it might cave in at any moment.

"Let's take a look inside. Even if she's hiding out, she's bound to leave some kind of clue," my mom said.

My mom just kicked the door right open.

My mom, who'd been living a good life for a decade, wrinkled her nose at the thick dust and cobwebs covering every inch of the rundown place.

Sophia choked on the dust that hit her in the face, coughing nonstop.

My mom muttered in disgust, "She's really grown bold, hasn't she? So lazy she can't even bother to tidy up her own place now that she's left me."

She absently flipped through the clutter on the battered old table, her face twisted with annoyance.

Suddenly, a yellow piece of paper slipped out from between the pages of a book and fluttered to the floor.

My mom picked it up, and as soon as she saw what was written on it, her face turned ashen.

It was a death certificate.

The date on it was exactly ten years ago, the day Mom recovered from her kidney illness and was released from the hospital.

Sophia immediately noticed our mom's face was pale. She leaned in to take a look, then pouted, looking all aggrieved.

Sophia said, "Mom, I just remembered something.

"The day you got out of the hospital, you bought me a big bag of candies. Claire was watching longingly, hoping for just one, but you didn't give her any.

"Do you think she felt so heartbroken over not even getting a single candy that she went so far as to fake a death certificate just to spite us?"

Thanks to Sophia's reminder, my mom's mind flashed back to that day.

I really was watching Sophia's candy with hungry eyes, unable to stop myself from swallowing hard.

My mom thought I looked so hopeless, as if I had never tasted candy.

My mom snapped, "That little brat's always got her mind on snacks.

"Just wait till I find her and make her cough up a kidney for you. I'll lock her up and starve her for ten days or half a month. Let's see if she's still drooling over snacks then."

Listening to all this, I couldn't help but let out a hollow, bitter laugh.

Every tasty treat in our house always went straight to Sophia. I never got a single bite.

All I ever got was rock-hard bread.

My mom never knew that when she was diagnosed with kidney disease, the doctor told me I was running out of time, too, all because I'd been starving for years.

That day, I'd already signed all the organ and body donation forms.

All I wanted before I died was just one candy, to finally find out what Sophia meant when she said it was so sweet it made her heart happy.

But in the end, even when I died, I never got to taste it.

Just then, Sophia suddenly clutched her side, letting out a low, pained groan.

My mom instantly tensed up and rushed to support her. "What's wrong, Sophia? Is your kidney hurting again?"

Sophia nodded weakly, sweat beading on her forehead.

Seeing Sophia doubled over in pain, my mom was so angry as memories of her own illness came rushing back. Her fists clenched, and her eyes burned with cold, ruthless determination.

"I know just how to force that little brat out of hiding," my mom spat.