Chapter 1

Two years after reuniting with my wealthy family, I "accidentally" fell from a balcony and ended up in a vegetative state.

Everyone called Olivia, who wasn't even related to me by blood, a caring sister.

They praised her compassion, her sleepless nights at my bedside, and her tender care.

No one knew the truth—I couldn't move, but I felt everything. I heard everything.

One day, Olivia leaned close and whispered a secret meant for us alone.

She said, "Emily, just let go. I live in your house, run your company, and even sleep beside your fiancé every night.

"I spent a whole year planning your fall."

I gathered every last fragment of will I had and opened my eyes. And the room froze as I stared back at them.

I kept my eyes blank and my mouth slightly open, pretending to look completely out of it, like my brain just wasn't there.

"Emily." My mom rushed to my side, tears flowing down her face. "You're finally awake. I thought I'd lost you forever."

My dad stood at the bedside, shaking with emotion. "Emily, I'm right here. Can you hear me?"

Olivia Sutton flung herself toward me, bawling like she would never stop. "Emily, you scared me."

She squeezed my hand so hard that her nails dug into my skin, and leaned close to my ear so only I could hear her. "Emily, why are you still alive?"

A stabbing pain shot through my palm.

Andrew Grant walked over, his gaze complicated as he looked at me, then helped Olivia to her feet.

"Olivia, stop crying. Emily's awake now—nothing else matters," he said gently.

The doctor shook his head. "Emily's mind hasn't fully come back yet. It will probably be a long road to recovery."

My mom started sobbing even harder. "When do you think Emily will fully recover?"

The doctor hesitated. "It's really hard to say. It could take months, or maybe—"

My dad clenched his jaw. "Doesn't matter how long it takes. We just want her to get better."

Olivia wiped her eyes, her voice cracking. "Please, let me keep looking after Emily. I promise I'll stay by her side every single day."

That night, I was brought back home and lay in the bedroom I used to know so well.

From the next room, I could hear the soft murmurs—Olivia and Andrew, deep in conversation.

"Did she really lose her mind?" Andrew asked, doubt lingering in his tone.

"Very likely. The doctor said her brain's basically fried," Olivia replied, her excitement barely contained. "Honestly, it's perfect. Now she won't be poking her nose into our business ever again."

"And what about the shares she has?" Andrew said.

"Relax, I've already talked to a lawyer. Given her condition, it will be easy to get legal guardianship and transfer everything to me," Olivia said, smug and confident.

"Are you sure she can't hear us?" Andrew whispered, glancing toward the door.

"So what if she does? Who would believe anything a fool like her says?" Olivia scoffed.

Olivia came in to give me the medication early the next morning.

She sat beside my bed, putting on that gentle act as she propped up my head and brought the spoon to my lips.

"Open your mouth, Emily. Take your medicine, and you'll get better soon," Olivia said.

I parted my lips, letting the bitter liquid dribble down my chin and soak into my pajamas.

Olivia frowned and wiped my mouth with a tissue, rough and careless.

"You damn fool," Olivia grumbled, leaning close to my ear. "Emily, you know what? Andrew held me in his arms last night and said I was so much smarter and more thoughtful than you."

I didn't react at all.

Olivia gave an annoyed little pout, then went on. "Oh, and get this—Mom and Dad only love me now. You're just a hopeless idiot, destined to be tossed aside."

Just then, I heard footsteps outside. Olivia's expression flipped in a heartbeat—tears in her eyes as she strode out the door, instantly turning herself into the perfect victim.

She said, "Mom, Emily still refuses to take her medicine. I'm really worried about her."

My mom pulled her into a hug, sounding completely exhausted. "Thanks for everything, Olivia. If you weren't here, I honestly wouldn't know what to do."

Hearing them talk, I felt a chill running down my spine.

Andrew came to see me in the afternoon.

He sat by my bedside, took my hand, and put on a look of deep affection.

"Emily, you have to get better soon. I'm here for you," he said, his voice full of fake concern.

I knew he had just been downstairs, kissing Olivia.

As the night wore on, I could hear stifled moans drifting from Olivia's room. It was her and Andrew, having secret sex.