Chapter 2

Devon's joy was unmistakable, radiating from him like sunlight.

"Sweetheart, your sister's here to see you," he announced, his attention swiftly shifting from me to Cleo, leaving my heart tangled in a web of bitterness and countless tiny aches.

Cleo was my mother’s adopted daughter. Years ago, Mom had visited an orphanage to adopt a child my age, fearing I’d grow up lonely. At first, we got along fine. But everything changed the day I caught Cleo tampering with Mom’s medication. When I confronted her, she stared me down without a flicker of fear.

"Even if you tell her, do you really think Mom would believe you?" she’d said.

Cleo had always been the picture-perfect daughter in Mom’s eyes. From that day on, she’d twisted every situation to make me look like the villain. Now, my husband and son had sided with her, willing to hurt and deceive me for her sake. Cleo’s visit had one purpose, and I knew exactly what it was.

"Sis, how did this happen to you? Mom waited for you so long on the day she passed," Cleo cooed as soon as she stepped into the hospital room, her voice dripping with fake concern. "We were all so worried."

I stayed silent, my cold glare fixed on her.

Ignoring me, Cleo turned to Devon. "Devon, could I have a moment alone with my sister? Mom had some things she wanted to say to her before she passed."

Devon, ever eager to please Cleo, didn’t hesitate. "Sure, you two catch up. Jake and I will grab some coffee."

As soon as the door clicked shut, Cleo let out a mocking laugh, clicking her tongue sharply. "The father and son really did a number on you. One call from me, and they turned against you."

She leaned in closer, her voice low and venomous. "Did you know, sis? Before Mom died, she kept calling your name. Want to know how she went? I showed her a video of you being rushed to the hospital. It pushed her over the edge."

My fists clenched beneath the sheets. "Cleo, can you honestly say this is fair to Mom?"

Her icy eyes brimmed with malice. "That old woman never saw me as family. Why else would she leave everything to you? She’s at peace now—or so she thinks."

With that, she let out a loud, cruel laugh. Tears welled in my eyes, but my injuries left me helpless. Cleo’s gaze swept over me, and then she pressed her hand directly onto my wound.

"I wonder how long you’ll stay confident, Evangeline. Oh, and by the way, I fed your mother’s ashes to the dogs. You’ll never see her again."

I bit back the pain, refusing to give her the satisfaction of hearing me cry. Unfazed, Cleo pulled a bracelet from her bag and dangled it in front of me.

I froze. "No, give it back to me..."

Before I could finish, she released it, and the bracelet shattered on the floor. A scream of despair tore from my throat. "No..."

Cleo chuckled, reveling in my anguish. But in the next instant, she dropped to her knees among the broken pieces, her hands covering her face as she feigned emotion. "Sister, I failed to care for Mom. Please don’t be mad. If hitting me makes you feel better, go ahead."

Before I could react, Devon and Jake burst through the door. Their faces paled at the scene. "Cleo, what happened?" "Aunt Cleo, are you okay?"

Devon quickly instructed Jake to help Cleo get checked out, their concern solely for her, oblivious to the blood seeping through my clothes. "Sister, I’m sorry. I won’t trouble you again," Cleo said, her eyes glinting with triumph.

Devon’s face darkened. "Cleo is Mom’s daughter too. She’s grieving just like you. How can you take your emotions out on her?" Jake shot me a look of disappointment. "Mom, it’s really disappointing to have a mother like you. Aunt Cleo is family too, you..."

He didn’t finish, but the judgment in his eyes was unmistakable. They left, ready to take Cleo for an examination. She glanced back at me, her eyes filled with victory.

As the door closed behind them, my heart sank into complete desolation.

I reached beneath the covers and pulled out my phone. The recording app was still running. I stopped it, then dialed the principal.

"Principal, I’d like to apply for a teaching position in the countryside..."