Chapter 2

It was Dad's voice.

I instinctively looked up and saw him with a heavy look on his face.

They had no idea that my sight had already come back; my voice just hadn't fully recovered yet, and I didn't want them to know so soon.

Mom hesitated. "Sierra just can't recognize people right now. What if she recovers and finds out we left her in a nursing home and stripped her of her identity? She won't be able to handle it."

She was wracked with guilt.

She was the one who made sure I was sent off to that place for reform.

It all started when Maggie and I were fighting for the lead violinist spot. Everyone knew Maggie wasn't as skilled as I. There was no way I'd lose.

But Maggie acted all selfless, saying that as the elder sister, she should give up the spot for me. She told the whole family she wouldn't compete with me.

Everyone was touched by how generous she pretended to be, and I was so pissed. I argued with her for a bit, and out of nowhere, she fell down the stairs, broke her right hand, and couldn't compete.

Suddenly, I was branded the villain who pushed her. Mom and Dad slapped me one after another, and even Leroy told me to get lost.

I tried to explain myself, but all it got me was being dumped in some remote place where one'd be lucky to get a phone signal.

They found an old lady to watch over me and told everyone I was her granddaughter, sent back because I was a troublemaker who couldn't behave outside.

To keep me under control, the very first day, the old lady rounded up a bunch of other grannies to rough me up. They made sure I was black and blue from head to toe.

By the third day, I was out in the fields working. I'd never even seen farm tools before, but I had to pick them up in half a day, or I wouldn't even get a piece of bread to eat.

When they finally brought me back, I was five feet four inches tall and weighed less than 77 pounds.

"The doctor said she's never going to recover," Dad said.

He was determined to put Mom's worries to rest.

Before Mom could say anything, Maggie's voice came from the doorway, choked with tears. "Aunt Jenny, please don't be upset because of me. I won't take Sierra's place. I know where I stand."

Leroy followed right behind her. Seeing Maggie cry, he rushed to comfort her. "Maggie, you're just like Sierra. You're both part of this family."

Maggie shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. "It's not the same. Ever since I was a kid, every student said I was just an outsider.

"Even Sierra led the others at school in calling me that. My past has always been something to be ashamed of. I just wish I could have a real family."

Maggie was crying her heart out, tears streaming down her face, and everyone there couldn't help but feel moved. Mom hurried over and wrapped Maggie in a tight embrace.

"Maggie, from now on, you're my own daughter. No one will ever lay a finger on you. In a month, you'll be engaged to Shawn, as Sierra Paterson," Mom declared.

In the end, she agreed.

Maggie hugged Mom with pure joy, her face lighting up as she called out sweetly, "Mom."

Mom replied, gently stroking Maggie's hair, her eyes filled with motherly affection.

That scene stung my eyes, cutting me to the core.

Maybe it was because I kept staring at them that Leroy finally noticed me and walked over. When he got close and saw my blank, vacant look, he didn't look quite as disgusted anymore.

"Looks like karma finally caught up with you," Leroy said coldly. "If you hadn't been so jealous of Maggie and had shown a little more generosity, you wouldn't be in this mess.

"Not that you'd understand anyway. Just stay at the nursing home and recover. You're still part of the Paterson family. We'll take care of you for the rest of your life."

I sneered to myself.

They were the ones who dumped me in that godforsaken place and left me to rot.

They were the ones who wrecked me, left me half-dead, not even human anymore.

And now, they just shrugged off everything they did to me with one word, karma.

I couldn't afford to show mercy.

Later that night, the house suddenly caught fire.

The fire broke out in the kitchen and spread so fast it swallowed up the junk room next door. Soon, the whole first floor was a sea of flames. There was no way out.

Mom and Dad woke up, coughing from the smoke. The fire was already out of control. Barefoot, they rushed to Leroy and Maggie's rooms, frantically waking them up.