Chapter 3

"You almost killed Mom just now, and now you're trying to steal food? Like a filthy little bitch like you even deserves to use anything in this house?"

I lowered my head and didn't dare talk back.

In this family, my sister was always the princess on a pedestal.

And me? Even breathing was a crime.

"I'm sorry. I know—it's my fault."

Alice let out a cold laugh and stepped closer, her voice dropping to a bone-chilling level.

"Since you know you're guilty, then you need to pay the price!"

My right eyelid twitched violently—and that's when I saw it. She was holding a gleaming fruit knife in her hand.

"It's because of those disgusting eyes of yours! Mom can't eat, can't sleep—you've tormented her until she's barely even human anymore!"

My face went pale. I stumbled backward in terror.

"If I just gouge them out, Mom will never have nightmares again!"

Alice's face twisted with madness as she raised the knife and lunged straight at my eyes.

"NO!"

Survival instinct took over—I threw my hands up to shield myself—

"AH—!"

A shriek tore through the night.

The knife clattered to the floor. Alice stumbled and crashed to the ground, a gash now slashed across her arm, blood pouring out instantly.

"What happened?! Alice!"

My mother's terrified voice rang out from the staircase.

When she saw my sister lying in a pool of blood, and me standing there frozen like an idiot, every last trace of color drained from her face.

"Iris! I'll kill you!"

My mother charged at me like a rabid lioness.

My father and the servants were roused by the commotion and came running.

"Mom! Iris said you think her eyes are disgusting, so she said if she gouged out my eyes, then you'd think mine were disgusting too, and we'd finally be the same! Mom, I'm so scared..."

Alice sobbed and threw herself into my mother's arms, tears streaming down her face like a perfect little victim.

I couldn't defend myself. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."

My mother wouldn't listen. She turned to my father and screamed, "Hurry! Save Alice! Use the best medicine—don't let it scar!"

She didn't spare me a single glance.

If she'd just looked at me one more time, she would have seen my swollen hand, my purple-and-blue bruised arm...

In that moment, a cold, suffocating despair completely swallowed me whole.

So it didn't matter how obedient I was, or how much pain I endured. In this house, I would always be the one who didn't belong.

The rush to the hospital was chaos. Everyone crowded around Alice, who'd lost too much blood.

I was left behind in the corner, forgotten like a ghost.

In the emergency room, the doctor worked frantically to stitch up my sister's wound.

"The cut is too deep. She's lost a lot of blood—we need to transfuse immediately. Family members, get ready!"

My mother was sobbing uncontrollably. My father paced the floor in agony.

I stood at the entrance of the ER, my gaze drifting—and landing on a scalpel lying nearby.

A mad thought took root in my mind.

What if... I didn't have these eyes anymore? Would everything finally be okay?

Mom would be happy. Alice would feel safe.

This family might finally return to the happiness it was supposed to have.

I stepped forward, one slow step at a time. I reached out and wrapped my hand around that scalpel.

The cold steel against my palm sent a chill straight to my heart—but somehow, it brought me a strange sense of calm.

I had made up my mind.

I raised the scalpel high and, with every ounce of strength I had, drove it straight into my right eye.

Then came the searing, unimaginable agony.

"AHHHH—!!!"

The scream tore from my throat—and no one could ignore it.