LOGINMy sister came home three years after she went missing. But every time she saw me, she lost control and tried to kill herself. She blamed me for failing to protect her. My parents begged me with tears in their eyes. "Move down to the basement. We owe her this much. Don't hold it against her. Once she gets better, you can move back upstairs, okay?" I agreed. Seven years passed, and I slowly became invisible in my own home. Then, this Christmas, Mom finally invited me to celebrate with the family. I had barely picked up the knife to cut the cake when my sister suddenly screamed. I jumped up, but before I could react, my sister snatched the cake knife and slashed her own wrist. Mom lunged at me and grabbed my arm. "Who told you to pick up the cake knife? Don't you know she can't stand the sight of knives? Are you trying to kill her?" Her yank sent me tumbling down the stairs. Mom and Dad were too busy comforting my sister to hear my neck snap. As they crowded around her, I finally realized the truth. No one in this family cared if I lived or died.
View MoreOne year later, on Christmas night, I drifted above the cemetery and watched Edward come stumbling toward my grave.He was little more than skin and bone. His clothes were torn and filthy, and he smelled awful.He clutched the cufflinks and the diamond bracelet in one hand.Edward reached my headstone and fell to his knees.He wiped the dust from the stone with slow, careful strokes."Merry Christmas, Chloe. I've come to spend Christmas with you again."He pulled a crushed cake from inside his coat and carefully set it in front of the headstone."I'm sorry. I couldn't afford a good cake. I found this on the street today. It's sweet. Will you try some?"He kept talking as tears fell onto the stone.Without warning, he pulled out a rusty dagger.Then he drove it into his thigh."Chloe, this is the first wound I owe you. When I kicked you, it must have hurt so much."He yanked the dagger free and drove it into his arm."This is the second, for being too blind to see that monster for what
Three months later, the case that had shocked the city went to trial.I hovered above the courtroom and looked down at the three defendants.Arthur received 15 years for criminally negligent homicide.As soon as the sentence was announced, he began convulsing and suffered a stroke.The stroke left one side of his face drooping and robbed him of the ability to speak clearly.He would spend the rest of his life in a prison infirmary, unable to care for himself.Lillian was convicted of multiple counts of fraud, assault, and criminal solicitation.She received a life sentence.When she heard the verdict, she broke down.Lillian dropped to her knees at the defense table and begged, "Your Honor, I was wrong! I know that now! I'm still young. I don't want to be locked up for life! Arrest Edward! He helped them! He had Chloe locked in that basement!"Hoping for a lighter sentence, she began blaming everyone else.Edward shot to his feet in the spectator gallery.Thick gauze covered his wrist,
The scandal quickly took over the news."Parents Abuse Daughter to Death as Sister Fakes Illness and Drains Her Blood."Every headline pushed Hart Group closer to ruin.The company's stock plunged day after day until no one would lend it money.Within three days, Hart Group filed for bankruptcy.My funeral was small, with only a handful of people showing up.The chapel was tucked away in a quiet corner of the funeral home.Arthur seemed to age ten years overnight, his hair completely white.He sat hunched over before my memorial portrait, staring blankly at it."Chloe, I was wrong. I never should have believed that monster. I never should have treated you that way." He slapped himself again and again as he spoke.He hit himself so hard that his face quickly began to swell.A caregiver wheeled Katherine into the chapel.The shock had completely broken her. She had lost her mind.She clutched an old sweater I had worn as a child and hummed an off-key nursery rhyme."Be good, Chloe. Mommy
The look on Edward's face frightened Lillian, and she instinctively backed away."Edward, what's wrong? You're scaring me..."Edward grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the stair rail."You vicious monster! How many lies have you told us? You faked your sickness and took her blood. You framed her over and over. You drove her to her death!"His grip tightened, and Lillian's face turned red.She clawed at his hand as tears poured down her cheeks."I didn't... I don't know what you're talking about... Edward, let go! You're hurting me..."Officers rushed forward and pulled Edward away.Edward struggled wildly against them."Let me go! I'm going to kill this bitch! She killed Chloe! She did it!"Lillian collapsed onto the stairs, clutching her throat and coughing hard.Panic flashed across her face when she saw the journal in the officer's hand.But she quickly recovered, pointed at Edward, and sobbed, "Don't frame me! Chloe fell by accident. What does that have to do with me






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