Chapter 1
My soul hovered above, quietly observing the engagement ceremony that was supposed to be mine.
During the engagement ceremony, everyone's eyes were glued to the center of the stage.
My sister Juliet, wearing the engagement ring that should have belonged to me, was reciting those touching vows with my fiancé, Curtis.
Down below, my parents' eyes were red as they kept murmuring, "Our Juliet is finally happy."
Amid the crowd's cheers, the newly engaged couple wore sweet smiles, sharing what they claimed were their blissful moments.
They talked about their romantic encounter and deep feelings. But in their story, it was as if I had been erased, like I never even existed in this world.
The engagement ring that used to squeeze my finger now fit perfectly in Juliet's hand, like it was custom-made for her.
I drifted through the air, feeling the cold seeping deeper into my soul.
Guess I was never supposed to be the one standing next to Curtis today, not from the start.
No wonder Curtis always seemed so absent-minded when we were planning the engagement. He had constantly focused on his phone, grinning at himself like an idiot.
But I couldn't wrap my head around it. If they loved Juliet so much, why did I have to be the one they threw under the bus?
Not long ago, I died in that tiny, stifling basement at home.
For some reason I still can't figure out, my parents brought me there, bound my hands, and left me lying helpless on the freezing ground.
That was when someone forced the heavy basement door open from outside, and a masked guy stormed in.
I, pregnant and scared out of my mind, got caught up in this nightmare and was killed.
Knife in hand, he slowly cut into my wrist, and my blood kept pouring out, little by little.
I struggled with every ounce of strength, but not a single sound came out. In that dark, suffocating basement, my life ended.
My parents, afraid I'd cry out for help, sealed my mouth with tape before they left.
Ever since we were little, my parents always had a soft spot for Juliet.
Back when we were kids, if there was a toy we both wanted, I never stood a chance. That dress I kept wishing for? Juliet always got to wear it.
When we grew up and there wasn't enough money for both of us to go to college, they handed it all to Juliet without a second thought, leaving me to scrape by on my own.
But I never could have imagined that when I told them I had cancer and didn't have much time left, they'd be so heartless as to force me to step aside and let Juliet have my fiancé.
What shattered me even more was that Curtis, who had been by my side since middle school, turned his back on me too.
I watched this circus-like engagement ceremony come to a close without a hitch, feeling nothing.
As they packed up for their romantic getaway, I drifted after them, unseen and unheard.
On the streets of Sliverbrook, Curtis and Juliet walked hand in hand through picturesque alleys with an exotic vibe.
A breeze drifted in from the alleyway, playing with their hair. Curtis stopped, turned around, and pulled Juliet into a tight hug.
Juliet instinctively hooked her arms around Curtis's neck, and they started kissing passionately. People passing by couldn't help but look on with envy, and some even started clapping and cheering for them.
Even my parents, who had always been pretty old-fashioned, were right there on the sidelines, grinning from ear to ear and joining in the cheers.
Did any of them ever think about me, left to rot in that dark basement, even for a second?
Did anyone even care if any of this was fair to me?
"Curtis. Do you think Harley is mad at me because she hasn't called yet?" Juliet asked.
Juliet nestled against Curtis, playing up her frailty.
"Of course not. She's your sister, and you're really sick right now. This is the only thing you want. She's not the kind to hold a grudge. If anything, we can always make it up to her later," Curtis murmured.