Abandoned Sister: Backed by the Nation

Ever since Mom and Dad found me and brought me home, Melina Langston had treated me as a thorn in her side. She deliberately asked to meet me by the pool, gripped my hand tightly, and violently hurled herself backward.

I was scared out of my wits. Before I could process what was going on, I was shoved into the pool.

My older brother, Elio Langston, immediately jumped in and pulled Melina out of the water. Melina wept. "I didn't mean to upset you, Mae!"

Before I could even catch my breath, Elio roared, "You're going to stay in there tonight and reflect on your actions!"

The moment I broke the surface, he kicked me right back under and ordered the housekeeper, "Keep an eye on her. Don't you dare let her out!"

With that, he scooped Melina into his arms and hurried off.

Noticing the triumphant smirk playing on Melina's lips, I couldn't help but shudder.

"It wasn't me." I could only mutter the words under my breath.

However, Elio couldn't care less. So long as Melina was involved, I was always the one who was chastised. My family had never believed me.

No, that wasn't always the case. When I had just returned home, Elio cared about me quite a bit.

On the day of my welcome banquet, Melina, dressed to the nines, cried until she passed out in Mom and Dad's arms. She kept apologizing, saying she shouldn't have stayed.

When she packed her bags and tried to leave, Mom and Dad held onto her, refusing to let her go. Right then and there, Elio declared that Melina was his one and only sister.

From that moment on, everything changed.

Because Melina preferred some foreign cuisine, the whole family had to eat it too, and if I didn't, it meant I was intentionally going against her. When she wanted Mom to go to a show with her, Mom abandoned me to accompany her, completely forgetting my birthday.

To top it all off, even my boyfriend started siding with her.

Submerged in the freezing water, I shivered uncontrollably. The moment I tried to swim toward the edge, the housekeeper struck me with a pole. "You're not allowed to come up! Mr. Langston said you're to reflect on your actions here!"

Knocked backward into the deep end, my body began to fail me. When a gust of wind swept past, my lips turned blue from the cold. It felt as if something inside my body was slowly slipping away, and a sharp pain twisted through my lower abdomen.

My vision blurred, and I pleaded, "Let me up… Save me!"

"Drop the act! Everyone knows you're just playing the victim. You're just like that foster mother of yours—pretentious and petty!"

Waves of agonizing cramps twisted my stomach. I stared at the housekeeper on the pool deck. Her lips kept moving, but all that came out was pure venom.

I couldn't help but clutch my stomach. Looking down, I noticed the water around me was turning red. Was that… blood?

I looked around, and my legs gave out. Unable to hold on any longer, darkness swallowed me, and I fainted.

The next thing I knew, I was lying in a hospital bed. The pungent scent of rubbing alcohol brought me back to my senses.

Looking at me, the nurse let out a sigh. "You were soaking in cold water during your period. You really don't take your health seriously, do you? Don't do something so reckless again. You shouldn't touch cold water during that time of the month!

"Here, take your temperature. You've literally developed pneumonia from the fever!"

I touched my stomach and felt a dull, lingering ache. As I reached for the thermometer, I realized I was shivering violently from the chills. While the mercury in the thermometer rose rapidly, my head felt like it was about to split open.

"Could you please help me contact my family?" I rasped.

The nurse helped me dial Elio's number. The moment the call connected, he snapped, "I already told you, as long as she isn't dead, don't bother me! Let her know she's only being spared this time because of Melina's kindness. If she pulls this stunt again, she can get the hell out of our family for good!"

The nurse looked at me awkwardly. I was burning up and half-delirious, but after hearing his voice, I knew they wouldn't be coming.

"Your family's busy. I'll arrange a caregiver for you."

All I could do was nod.