Chapter 4

The next day, I spent my time notarizing documents and running errands. I also squeezed in a quick meeting with Gianna.

She walked up to me and slapped me across the face, then pulled me into a hug, crying uncontrollably.

"Is there really no other way? I can ask my Papa. We have plenty of antidotes at home."

I shook my head. "This is the only way."

"When we were kids, I always told you that Rita wasn't a good person! She's always pretending to be the victim, making everyone think you're bullying her. Because of that, your friends and family started drifting away from you…"

"Gianna, it's all in the past. I don't have much time left. I need you to help me with something."

Gianna wiped her tears away. "Va bene, how much time do you have left?"

"I have—"

Before I could finish, my phone suddenly rang.

Mamma's voice came on the other end. "Elisa, come home tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

Upon hearing my confused tone, Gianna suddenly perked up and silently mouthed to me, "It's your birthday tomorrow!"

Birthday?

All these years, with Rita's constant acting, Mamma and Papa barely paid attention to me.

Had they finally regretted it? Did they finally remember that I was their daughter?

I felt a surge of joy. "Okay, I'll definitely—"

Before I could finish, Mamma interrupted me. "Rita said the hospital environment isn't good, so she wants to rest at home. She loves the soup you make, so get the ingredients ready and start cooking."

So, she had completely forgotten about my birthday.

I didn't mind anymore.

Maybe I'd be gone after I made them one last meal.

…

In the final hour of my life, the meal I had prepared was already set out on the table.

Rita sat in the center, with Mamma, Papa, and Enrico sitting around her, as if they were the real family.

I sat quietly in the corner, eating my last meal.

"Elisa, you're so thin. Eat more," Rita suddenly said, placing a piece of roast meat in my bowl.

Maybe because I knew I was dying, I didn't feel like humoring her fake concern, so I simply tossed the roast meat aside.

Mamma was about to get angry, but Rita quickly grabbed her arm. "Mamma, don't get mad. Elisa's been bullying me for so many years. I'm used to it."

I ignored them completely. I just wanted to finish my last meal in peace.

But Rita wouldn't leave me alone.

Everything was going smoothly, but she suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Mamma grabbed her hand in a panic. "What's going on? The doctor said your toxins were cleared! Why are you suddenly spitting up blood?"

Rita kept coughing. "I don't know. This is the only meal I've had since leaving the hospital…"

"This meal…" Enrico suddenly turned to look at me in disbelief.

His lips trembled, but he didn't say anything.

I clenched my fist.

Rita cast a secret glance at Enrico. Her gaze suddenly went cold, and then tears started streaming down her face.

"Mamma, didn't you say Elisa specially cooked this meal for me? Did she poison it?"

She cried as she looked at me. "Elisa, I'm your sister! Why do you want to kill me?"

Papa immediately walked over and slapped me hard across the face. "Elisa Neri! I can't believe you're so evil! You actually tried to poison your sister?"

I was knocked to the ground. A wave of dizziness hit me.

I weakly tried to explain, "I didn't…"

Papa's hand, strong from years of wielding a gun, struck with such force that my ears rang. All I could hear was a jumble of voices.

"I regret ever having you!"

"Elisa, the person I loved isn't like this…"

"Mamma! I'm so disappointed in you!"

I didn't… I really didn't poison her…

I wanted to explain, but my body had reached its limit. I tried to speak, but no one listened.

They hurriedly rushed Rita out of the house.

I lay on the floor, no longer able to get up. I only managed to dial Gianna's number.

After some time, Gianna arrived with a doctor.

"Elisa! Hang in there!" Her face was soaked with tears. "I'm here to save you!"

But I was so tired.

I was so, so tired.

I could feel the doctor working desperately to revive me, but the effects of the drug were wearing off, and the pain inside my body was growing stronger.

My eyelids grew heavier.

In the end, the last sound I heard was the steady beeping of the monitor as my heart stopped.

Elisa Neri died at 29.