Chapter 2

My mother wiped her tears and took out a cupcake from her bag.

The cream on top was smashed, and it smelled a little rancid.

“Ask them to come over and pick her up today.

“I will send her a cupcake, and it’ll be the last loving act I have for her as her mother.”

I felt a tightness in my chest. Then, I saw my mother mixing a bag of powder into the cream.

After some hesitation, she walked toward me with the cupcake.

I subconsciously blocked myself before her.

It was the first time I did not look forward to returning to my own body.

“Mommy, no! Please don’t go in! Please don’t send me away!”

However, she walked through my translucent body expressionlessly.

I stood there dumbfoundedly.

In the past, whenever I came out from my body, I could hold the corner of my mother’s clothes.

Why was I not able to do that this time?

Before I could think about it, my father looked reluctant. “Must we rush this? Maybe… We should wait for a couple more days.”

My mother stopped in her tracks. When she turned around, her cheeks were covered in tears.

“I know you don’t want her to leave. Do you think I feel good about it?

“But we can’t afford medical bills for two children! If we marry Ruby to the countryside, someone will at least take care of her forever!”

My father gulped, yet he did not say anything in the end.

His expression reminded me of that afternoon that I had my last check-up.

On the way home, my parents had asked me tentatively.

“Ruby, are you willing to live in another place?

“You’ll have endless candies there, and Jolie won’t snatch them from you.”

I already overheard them purchasing theme park tickets.

I thought I could finally tag along on a fun trip with them.

However, when I looked up, I saw a hint of hatred flashed in my mother’s eyes.

“Is Jolie also going?” I asked timidly.

“Why are you always asking about Jolie? Do you always have to compare yourself to her?”

My mother frowned and flung my hand away when I tried to hold her hand.

“You should have your own life when you grow up. You can’t stay home and leech off on us forever!”

Initially, I wanted to say that Jolie was the same age as I was.

However, I did not say anything. Instead, I nodded dumbfoundedly.

From that day onward, I only dared to eat very little food.

I did not make a sound even when I was hungry at night.

I thought as long as I ate less and less, my mother would allow me to stay at home.

However, I did not expect the outcome to be the same regardless of how much I ate.

Tears kept streaming down my cheeks.

So, that was how it felt to not need to always put on a smile.

What a shame, none of them saw it.

My mother wiped her face before opening the bedroom door.

“Ruby, are you coming out? You win again this year. Quick, come over and have your cake.”

She forced a casual tone, yet it was obvious that she had been sobbing earlier.

In the past, I would have already rushed out before she turned on the lights.

However, the light lit up, yet the corner of my dress was still stuck in between the closet door.

The bedroom was extremely quiet. There was not a single sound.

My mother looked impatient as she raised her voice and yelled, “Ruby, stop hiding. Don’t you want your present?”

I floated in behind her as I glared at the spiked cake.

Was my present an exile from my family?

If that was the case, I had already received the gift.

When I did not respond for a really long time, my mother finally sensed that something was wrong.

Her hands trembled slightly as her voice became strained.

“Ruby? Ruby, why aren’t you responding? Don’t scare me!”