Chapter 2

From what Rebecca could remember, her life started falling apart the moment her father’s family, especially his parents, began pressuring him to have a son.

Her mother, Helena, had been in poor health ever since giving birth to Rebecca, making it impossible for her to have another child.

Rebecca’s grandparents, however, refused to accept that. They insisted that Kevin needed a son to inherit the family property, barely acknowledging that they already had a granddaughter. No matter how many times Kevin tried to convince them that Rebecca was enough, they refused to listen.

In the end, Helena caved in to the pressure and adopted a young boy in order to please her in-laws.

That was where everything began to fall apart.

Helena named the boy Cole, and from the moment he entered the family, it was as though a switch had been flipped.

Kevin’s side of the family welcomed Cole with open arms, constantly talking about how adorable and well-mannered he was despite his young age. They spoiled him with gifts, praised him for practically everything he did, and encouraged him no matter how poorly he performed in school.

To them, Cole could do no wrong.

The only people who treated him somewhat normally were Kevin and Helena.

Helena remained caring, but there was always a certain distance between them, as though she were looking after someone else’s child instead of her own.

Kevin, however, struggled. Although he tried to accept Cole, he couldn’t shake the feeling that everything around him had changed. His family’s growing obsession with the adopted boy only worsened over time, and the home that he once loved slowly stopped feeling like his own.

Every visit from his parents revolved around Cole, every conversation became about him, and he and Helena were constantly burdened with the expectation of raising Cole to become a successful man in the future.

Little by little, he changed. The gentle father that Rebecca remembered became quieter with each passing month. He smiled less, spoke less, and spent more time staring blankly into space.

In the end, the pressure became too much.

He was the first to leave.

About a year after Cole was adopted, Kevin filed for a divorce. Rebecca had only been thirteen years old.

A few months later, she learned that her father had remarried. His new wife was already pregnant, and before long, everyone learned that they were expecting a son. Rebecca’s grandparents celebrated the news like it was the greatest thing that had ever happened to the family.

Ironically though, things didn’t go the way they wanted.

Not long afterwards, Kevin left the country with his new family, cutting ties with the relatives who had pressured him for years.

Meanwhile, despite her fragile health, Helena accepted a job overseas so she could support herself, Rebecca, and Cole. Although the court ordered Kevin to pay child support, Helena wanted to earn enough money to secure both children’s futures and hopefully save for their college education.

Rebecca had begged her not to go. She cried, argued, and pleaded for her to stay, but Helena had already made up her mind.

Rebecca later understood why, but that didn’t make the pain and loneliness any easier.

Not only had her father left, but her mother had left too. Her happy family life had completely fallen apart.

Because Helena would be working overseas, Rebecca couldn’t stay by herself. She was still a minor, so arrangements were made for her to live with Kevin’s older sister, Karen, along with her husband, Ben.

And, of course, Cole.

Rebecca had never liked Aunt Karen.

She talked endlessly, always had something to criticize, and openly held favoritism towards Cole. At first, Rebecca thought that Karen’s harsh words were simply a part of her personality.

But then came the first slap.

“Tell your mother or anyone else about this, and I’ll make your life more hell than it already is,” Karen threatened.

Whenever Helena managed to video call from overseas, Rebecca was forced to smile at her mother and hide the bruises beneath her sleeves, telling her that she was doing fine.

Uncle Ben wasn’t any better. He never raised a hand against Rebecca, but he never stopped his wife either. Whenever Karen screamed at her or hit her, he simply watched TV or walked away as though none of it concerned him.

Cole, on the other hand, quickly learned that he could do whatever he wanted without any consequences whatsoever.

The two of them had never been close, but after moving into Karen’s house, things only got worse. He insulted Rebecca whenever he pleased, ordered her around like a servant, and treated her with complete disrespect.

Karen even encouraged it, praising him while criticizing Rebecca for the smallest mistakes.

This was her life now.

Rebecca let out a quiet sigh as she pushed those memories aside and returned the broom to the storage closet.

There was no point dwelling on the past. Time machines didn't exist. The only thing she could do now was accept reality and try to survive one day at a time.

“What’re you moving so slowly for?! Go already or you’ll be late for school!” Aunt Karen’s shrill voice instantly broke her out of her thoughts. “I don’t want another call from your teacher asking why you’re always late! You’re always causing trouble for this household. Why can’t you just behave, keep quiet, and stay out of everyone’s way like a ghost? Honestly, you’re getting on my—”

Rebecca automatically tuned out the rest. She had heard the same lecture countless times before.

Once Karen finally stopped to catch her breath, Rebecca quietly replied, “I’m sorry.”

She then went to her room, picked up her worn school bag, and left the house without another word.

The warm morning light shone on her face as she took out her old earphones which she had bought a year earlier with money she had saved herself.

If it weren’t for music, she often wondered whether she would’ve completely lost herself by now.

Ever since Cole entered the family and everything began falling apart, music had become the one place where she could breathe. It asked nothing of her. It didn't judge her, insult her, or demand anything from her.

For a few precious minutes, she could simply listen, lose herself in the melodies, and imagine a happier life waiting somewhere beyond the one she was trapped in.

School wasn't exactly the best place on earth, but it was still the best part of her day. For a few hours, she could at least escape that house and pretend she was just another ordinary student. She could forget everything else while she was there. It was the only sanctuary Aunt Karen couldn’t trespass upon.

But she also couldn’t forget that once the final school bell rang, she’d have to return to that dreaded house, where she’d be back in hell once more.