Chapter 2

I stayed up all night.

At dawn, I stuffed the two old sets of clothes that I had brought into a cloth bag.

Then I realized nothing in this warehouse-like room belonged to me anymore.

The Sharpe family gave me shelter for two years.

I was grateful without resentment.

My eighteenth birthday was approaching, and I knew it was time to live on my own.

Clutching the cloth bag, I prepared to slip away quietly.

But Emily appeared before me in pajamas, quite beyond my expectations.

I furrowed my brows and became alert.

She raised an eyebrow at my timid look. "What? Scared of me?"

I didn't respond to her.

She demanded bluntly, "Don't think leaving the Sharpe family gets you off the hook. I suggest you drop out of school today."

I shot back, "Do you really want to push me to the edge?"

She smirked coldly. "If I don't push you, I'll be the one forced to leave. Jocelyn, even though Brogan, Millicent, and Milo only acknowledge me as the true heiress now, your presence alone reminds everyone I'm adopted. Only your complete disappearance can put me at ease."

I gritted my teeth, clenched my fists tighter, and refused her directly. "I won't quit school."

She snorted coldly. "Fine. You are asking for it."

She suddenly took out a knife from behind her back.

The blade gleamed wickedly in the dim light.

I instinctively stepped back, only to see her slice her own hand with the knife.

Blood dripped onto the floor with rhythmic plopping sounds.

Then she gave me a sinister smile.

With that, she suddenly screamed in panic.

She said, "Help! Jocelyn is trying to kill me.

"Don't come closer! I didn't steal your life. I never...

"Dad, Mom, and Milo are so kind-hearted. You should reflect on why you can't win their affection."

Hurried footsteps echoed as lights blazed on instantaneously.

The entire Sharpe family immediately gathered around me.

Emily collapsed on the floor, immediately caught in Milo's arms.

Brogan and Millicent stared at the blood on the floor with their faces twisted in horror.

Even without Emily uttering another word, everyone had already pinned the blame on me.

They glared at me with crimson eyes full of hatred, as if wanting to swallow me whole.

I stood frozen in place, completely drained of any strength to resist.

I want them to go ahead and blame me. I didn't care anymore.

My life was always meant to be this way. I wouldn't get any care or love. From the start, I had nothing and no one.

Emily sobbed, "Don't blame Jocelyn. It's my fault for stealing your love.

"Though she stabbed me with that knife, I'm sure she didn't mean it.

"Milo, please don't blame her. No matter what, she's still your own sister."

Emily wept pitifully, her pale face innocent.

I kept silent, awaiting judgment from them. I already anticipated what tactics Emily would use next to pressure my parents into withdrawing me from school.

Milo shouted at me angrily, "Jocelyn, how long will you keep this up? Do I have to call the police to arrest you before you behave?"

Millicent joined the outcry. "What sin did I commit to deserve a monster like you?"

Brogan looked at me with bitter disappointment. "Those missing years of education made you lose all human decency."

Just then, Emily's voice reached my ears.

She sneered inwardly, "These big idiots dance like puppets whenever I tug their strings."

I froze, lifting my gaze to look at Emily.

Seeing her tear-stained and fragile, I thought I must be hallucinating.

I didn't notice that my parents and brother were staring at Emily in the same stunned silence.

There was a weird moment.

No one quite knew what was happening.

But then, I heard Emily say, "Jocelyn is such an idiot. When I framed her two years ago, she at least tried to defend herself. Now, she's turned mute, not even uttering a word. How boring.

"I prepared so many clever arguments, too. If Jocelyn keeps quiet, how can I claim moral superiority to condemn her?

"And Mom, you always knew how to cut Jocelyn deepest. Keep going! Use your vilest words to torment your own daughter. Break Jocelyn's heart completely. Make her want to kill herself.

"Poor Dad, why do you have to endure this poisonous old hag every day?

"And Milo is useless. He didn't inherit any of Dad's handsomeness."