Chapter 3

My parents always said I bullied Clara and needed to make up for it, but I never imagined they would go so far as to hide the fact that she was still alive.

For the past three years, I haven't had a single night of proper sleep. I couldn't even go home. Every day I woke up to either work myself to exhaustion making money or combing through the woods searching for any sign of her.

Later, I got sick. But to save money, I didn't dare go to the hospital. I just kept putting it off, dragging my body through each day.

If Mom and Dad knew that what they did would lead me to fall seriously ill, maybe even die… would they feel even the slightest bit of regret?

"Ah! My lunch!" Clara's startled voice snapped me out of my thoughts. When I saw the food spilled all over the floor, I pushed away the ache in my chest and rushed to pick up the food container. If I didn't complete this delivery, I wouldn't get paid.

Mom frowned. "The food's already on the ground. It's dirty. Why are you still picking it up? Just throw it away."

Dad's expression darkened. "Adeline, don't tell me you're actually planning to give that dirty food to Clara? I thought you had matured over the years, but clearly I was wrong. How dare you try to bully her in front of us?"

I swallowed my frustration and tried to explain, "I'm not. This is my job. If there's an issue with the order, they'll dock all my pay. And if that happens, I won't be able to afford going to the hospital…"

Clara suddenly gasped and covered her mouth. "Wait... Are you saying you're sick again? You used to fake being sick all the time when we were little, just to get Mom and Dad's attention…"

She sniffled softly. "Adeline, you don't have to do this. I forgive you. Even if you purposely ruined the food to make me go hungry, I'll still mark the delivery as received. I won't fight you for Mom and Dad's love. I promise."

My mother took a deep breath, and her eyes filled with disappointment. "Is that little bit of money more important than Clara? Look how understanding she is. After all these years, why can't you just accept her?"

She brought up the past again, accusing me of how I used to mistreat Clara. Back then, I thought she had died. Even though I knew I was falsely accused, there was no way to clear my name. But now that she was back, I finally had the chance to ask her why she lied.

Just as I was about to speak, Clara burst into tears and said, "Adeline, I know you think I stole Mom and Dad's love from you. Perhaps that's why you've always treated me this way. But if leaving will make things better between you and them, I'll go. I'll stay far away and never come back."

Mom immediately pulled Clara into a hug, stroking her back gently. "You did nothing wrong. We're not letting you go anywhere. Don't be scared. With me here, Adeline won't be able to hurt you again."

My father's expression turned stormy as he snatched the food container from my hands and threw it into the trash. "That's enough, Adeline. I thought you had learned your lesson over the past three years. Your mother and I were even talking about bringing you home.

"But clearly, you're still just as stubborn, selfish, and disappointing as ever. Leave! Come back only when you have truly changed."

He then turned to Clara, and his tone immediately softened. "Clara, takeout isn't healthy. Don't worry about it. I'll take you out to eat. Remember that fancy restaurant you always wanted to try? Let's go tonight!"

Clara gasped, covering her mouth in surprise. "That place is so expensive! I've always wanted to try their steak, but it costs too much…"

He waved it off with a laugh. "That's not a problem! We'll go today. Eat as much as you want! You deserve the best!"

I felt my chest tighten. I had always wanted to eat there too, but whenever I asked, Dad would hesitate and say it was too expensive.

Before Clara came into our lives, he promised he would take me there for my birthday. But after she showed up, he never mentioned it again.