Chapter 3

Officer Zane rubbed the bridge of his nose and said helplessly, “You should at least listen to Kara’s explanation. That kid’s always been quietly looking out for you behind your back.”

Mom's lips twitched slightly. Her expression was slightly stiff. “Wesley, I know you mean well, but whatever bond I had with her as mother and daughter is long gone. She caused her father’s death, and she’s been bullying Wendy all these years. She’s just born bad.”

I let out a self-mocking laugh.

Back then, after my aunt divorced, she died in a car accident. Hence, my parents took in my cousin. One day, my cousin and I ran into Dad while he was on a mission. I knew I had to pretend not to recognize him in public.

However, Wendy ignored everything I said and walked right up to him, smiling innocently yet chillingly. “Uncle Damian, are you catching bad guys?”

Her words exposed him, and Dad was killed by the criminals that day.

Wendy claimed it was me who had called out to him and exposed his undercover identity. Mom looked at my cousin’s tear-streaked face, then at my stunned silence, and believed her.

I was too young, too frightened to even process what had happened.

Mom simply went ahead and judged me guilty on her own.

Now, remembering the day she learned of Dad's death, Mom's eyes darkened with anger. “Wesley, Kara didn’t even cry once after Damian died. She refuses to go to the memorial with me every year on his death anniversary. She’s just a cold, ungrateful child!”

But she brought Wendy to his grave every year. I just did not want to mourn my father alongside the person I believed had caused his death.

Officer Zane shook his head. He did not agree with Mom. “You say she’s cold-hearted, but every year, Kara passes me a birthday gift to place on your desk. She was just a child back then.”

He paused for a moment and added, “Besides, you can’t just take your adopted daughter’s word for what happened back then.”

Mom clenched her hands tightly. Her chest rose and fell. “Wesley, you don’t need to defend Kara anymore. She came from my body. I know exactly what kind of person she is. From now on, Wendy is my only daughter.”

Officer Zane could only throw out a final remark when he saw how stubborn she was. “You’ve been up all night. Go home and rest. If anything comes up, I’ll call you back to the bureau.”

When the sulfuric acid burned through my mouth and white smoke rose from my lips, I wanted so badly to whisper one last thing—'Mom, take care of yourself.'

However, the pain was too overwhelming. I could not even form a full sentence.

All I could do was listen as her irritated and sharp voice came through the phone,

“Kara, can’t you be as well-behaved and sensible as Wendy? If you’re just going to run away from home, then don’t bother calling me!”

My breathing grew weaker. As I was tortured to death, I looked helplessly as the devil walked toward me with a knife.

Even in my final moments, I was still thinking about how I had not given Mom the birthday gift I had prepared for her this year.

…

The house was still warm, just like it had been when I was alive. To Mom, this was her home with Wendy. My existence would only disturb the life they shared.

Wendy thoughtfully poured my mother a glass of honey water. She gently massaged her shoulders. “Mom, is the case that hard? You’ve got dark circles already.”

Mom pinched her cheek affectionately. Her tone was warm and doting. “You’ve got sharp eyes. You really are an angel sent from heaven.”