Chapter 1

"Dad, Mom..." I tried to call out.

But I couldn't make a sound.

I forced my eyes open, struggling to see through my blurred vision.

My mother, Katherine Hart, clutched my sister, Lillian Hart. Fear filled Katherine's face.

"It's okay, Lillian. I'm here. No one is going to hurt you."

My father, Arthur Hart, stood beside them, glaring down at me.

"Chloe, how much longer are you going to lie there and pretend to be dead? It's Christmas. Who are you putting on this act for?"

I opened my mouth, but only blood bubbled from my lips.

No. I'm not pretending.

My neck is broken. I can't feel my arms or legs.

Please, just look at me. Just once. Call an ambulance.

Arthur tugged at his tie in annoyance. His eyes were full of disgust.

Just then, the front door opened.

Edward Blake, my fiance, stepped inside. He had once promised to protect me for the rest of my life.

He used to stay beside me when I was sick, set off fireworks for my birthday, draw silly pictures to make me smile, and drive across town at midnight just to buy me whatever food I was craving.

I once thought we'd be that happy forever. But everything changed when Lillian came home.

When Lillian was poisoned and went into shock, she accused me of doing it. Edward, who had once treasured me, looked at me with bitter disappointment and asked why I would hurt my own sister.

When Lillian fell down the stairs and broke her leg, she said I'd pushed her. No matter how much I protested, no one believed me.

I became the villain.

From then on, anything bad that happened to Lillian became my fault.

Edward looked around the chaotic living room and frowned.

He strode across the room without even looking at me.

He went straight to Lillian, his voice soft with concern. "What happened to Lillian? Did something scare her again?"

Lillian huddled in Katherine's arms, trembling.

She pointed to the faint red line on her wrist as tears streamed down her face.

"Edward, does Chloe hate me because I came back and took her place? She tried to kill me with the cake knife. I was so scared."

Edward's expression hardened.

His gaze finally fell on me.

The eyes that had once been full of love now held only disgust.

"Chloe, you're getting more vicious every day. Lillian suffered for three years out there. She's your sister. Instead of caring about her, you tried to kill her?"

I stared at him helplessly. Tears slipped down my cheeks and mixed with the blood beneath me.

Edward walked over and loomed above me.

He nudged my shoulder with his shoe.

"Stop pretending. Get up and apologize to Lillian. Do you think playing the victim will make us forgive you?"

My head rolled limply to the side.

Not one of them noticed that something was wrong.

Arthur snorted and beckoned to the bodyguards outside. "Drag Chloe down to the basement. Nobody is to bring her food or water without my permission. Keep her there until she's ready to admit she was wrong."

Two burly bodyguards stepped forward immediately.

They grabbed me by the arms and dragged me off the floor.

Their rough handling finished breaking my neck.

In the final second before everything went dark, I suddenly felt weightless.

I floated toward the ceiling and watched them drag my broken body away without mercy.

Edward pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his shoe, his face twisting with disgust.

"Replace the carpet immediately. Lillian shouldn't have to look at that mess."