Chapter 2

My chest tightened with bitterness, and my eyes reddened before I could stop myself.

"Okay. I'll give them back to Serena."

Only then did Seth look satisfied. He believed I had truly changed, that I was no longer the arrogant girl I used to be.

He became more convinced than ever that sending me to the countryside for five years had been the right decision.

"Sylvie, you really have improved. Hardship has made you sensible, just like your sister."

Then, he opened the car door for me.

Just as I was about to get in, Serena suddenly covered her nose and shrank back.

Her brows knit tightly. Her face was pale as though she might suffocate.

"Sylvie, how long has it been since you showered? You smell awful. I feel like I'm going to be sick."

The moment he heard that, Seth's expression changed. He grabbed my arm and yanked me violently out of the way.

"Serena, are you feeling unwell in any other way?

"If you can't stand her smell, then she won't ride with us. It's not far. She can walk back by herself."

My frail, dying body slammed hard against the ground. Pain exploded through me, as though my organs had shifted out of place.

My knee struck a rock. My vision went black, and for a long time, I could not get back up.

However, Seth never looked at me again.

After pulling me away, he opened the car window to air it out, then quickly closed it and turned on the heater for Serena.

He was afraid that she would feel cold and get sick.

Meanwhile, I stood there in nothing but a thin layer of clothing, yet he acted as though I did not exist, not sparing me a single word of concern.

Eventually, I forced myself to my feet and began walking toward the Jones residence, dragging my heavy body forward.

Five days.

I only had five days left.

Soon, I would finally be free.

I would never have to endure my brother's cruelty again.

'Seth, you hate me, right?

'I'll disappear from your life forever very soon. Will that make you happy?'

The next night, I arrived at the gates of the Jones residence.

It was almost a thousand miles from the mountain village. There was no way I could have walked that far.

Fortunately, kind strangers had given me rides along the way.

It had passed the midnight. Neither my brother nor Serena was home.

The guard took pity on me and let me inside when he saw me standing alone outside.

"Miss Sylvie, your old room now belongs to Miss Serena. Mr. Jones has arranged another room for you."

He casually led me to the maids' quarters.

The room was small and dark, without even a window. It was more like a storage closet than a bedroom.

I held my only piece of luggage and stood blankly in the doorway, silent, not stepping inside.

Serena would not even allow me to have this room.

Sure enough, after the guard left, Serena suddenly appeared before me, sobbing.

"Sylvie, I'll give your old room back to you, okay? I'll do anything you want as long as you don't take my new room!"

Seth hurried after her and pulled her into his arms.

"Serena, don't cry. What's yours is yours. Sylvie won't take it from you."

Then he glared at me furiously.

"Sylvie, you haven't changed at all. You're still the same spoiled, arrogant brat!"

Seth shot me a furious glare.

He was about to say he regretted bringing me back, that I deserved to suffer in the countryside for a few more years or never come back at all!

However, when he turned his head, he saw that a thin layer of frost had formed on my hair as I stood silently in the bitter cold wind some time.

He hesitated for a moment,

"Sylvie… You…"

I stood perfectly still, my back straight, and my expression indifferent.

"I'll behave. I won't take anything from Serena."

He was stunned into silence, at a loss for words.

Serena bit her lip. Her expression twisted for just a moment before she forced a smile.

"I misunderstood you. Sylvie, can you please forgive me?"

She spoke as she stepped closer, as though wanting to take my arm and beg for forgiveness.

Beneath the cover of her sleeve, her long nails dug viciously into my flesh.

The pain made it hard to breathe.

Serena expected me to react as I had five years ago, to hit her back the moment she pinched me.

However, she had it wrong.

During those five years in the countryside, I endured beatings and scoldings every single day.

I was pinched, kicked, and had my hair pulled. I had grown used to it, even numb.

I gave her a faint smile and gently pulled her hand away.

"You didn't do anything wrong. There's nothing to forgive. Everything I have belongs to you."

Her face stiffened. Then she asked through clenched teeth, "What about Nathan? Will you give him to me, too?"

I nodded.

"Yes."

Everything.

The room, my brother, and the Jones family.

Also, my childhood sweetheart and fiancé, whom I had known since we were three and loved since I was eight.

All of it.

It would be hers.

Serena remained quiet for what felt like an eternity. When she finally came back to her senses, she put on a show of concern.

"You don't like Nathan anymore?"

I paused for a moment and secretly let out a bitter laugh.

Of course I did.

Nathan and I met at three. We confessed to each other at eighteen. But in fact, I had loved him for more than a decade.

He loved racing. I trained desperately to keep up with him until a crash left me hospitalized for three months.

He liked girls who could dance. Hence, I began learning at eight years old, just to show him my best self.

I loved him with everything I had, believing my sincerity would move him.

However, when my brother sent me away five years ago, I went to him in tears, begging him to help me.

Back then, I had devoted most of my youth to the boy I loved, yet he closed the door on me without a glance.

"My heart belongs to Mr. Jones' sister, not to some cast-off of the Jones family."