Chapter 2

Watching this scene unfold, my spirit trembled uncontrollably. Had Rosie's disability been fake? Then why had I spent all these years atoning for it?

Mom quickly comforted Rosie. "Honey, if you hadn't pretended to be disabled, she wouldn't have willingly served you. The fortune teller said that only by making the jinx suffer and having her serve you, the lucky one, would our family continue to prosper."

Dad chimed in as well. "Exactly. After all, the three of us worked together to deceive her back then. You can't let the truth slip now."

So even the kidnapping that had haunted me for my entire life had been a scheme the three of them planned together.

I floated in midair, and my eyes were wide with fury.

"Come on, Rosie. Forget about that buzzkill."

Dad poured another glass of juice for Rosie and raised it with a smile. "Here's to Christmas Day! I wish you good health and happiness every day! As long as you're here, our family will always be complete!"

"Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom!" Rosie smiled sweetly and clinked her glass against theirs.

Floating in midair, my spirit felt like it was being torn apart over and over again.

The three of them had deceived me for twenty whole years!

For twenty years, I'd kneeled on the floor every day to massage her legs. Sometimes, it was for an entire hour at a time. Even the joints in my fingers became deformed.

I carried her up and down the stairs. Even after developing a herniated disc and suffering so much pain that I could barely stand upright, I never once dared to let her feet touch the ground.

To pay for her treatment, I gave up my chance to attend college, went to construction sites to haul bricks, and washed dishes at restaurants.

In the end, I'd spent my entire life trapped in a lie.

I could only watch as the three of them finished their family reunion dinner.

Later, Dad called the waiter over to pay the bill. "Sir, your total is 328 bucks."

The waiter handed him the bill.

Dad casually retrieved his wallet and prepared to pay with his credit card.

Right then, Rosie, who hadn't said a word until then, spoke up. "Didn't Rosie receive her paycheck for the month already?"

She blinked and spoke in such a matter-of-fact tone that it chilled me to the bone.

Hearing that, Dad smiled. "Thanks for reminding me!"

He immediately typed rapidly.

[Hey, brat. Transfer 500 bucks over right now! Your sister needs to pay for her medicine!]

The message was sent successfully.

I had always replied to his messages within seconds, but for the first time, there was no response.

Dad stared at his phone screen. His expression grew darker by the second. The veins on his forehead began to bulge.

"How dare she? Does she actually have the nerve to ignore my message?"

He slammed his hand against the table, making the dishes and fork rattle.

"She always sends money the moment we ask for it. What's wrong with her today? Is she deliberately trying to defy us?" he added.

Mom fanned the flames next to him. "We've spoiled her rotten! Just wait until we get home. I'll teach her a lesson she'll never forget!"

Rosie sat beside them with a pitiful expression. She spoke in a choked voice. "Dad, Mom, don't get worked up. Rosie must still be upset with me."

"She wouldn't dare!" Dad roared. His eyes turned bloodshot. "We brought her to this world! She should serve you for the rest of her life!

"As long as I'm alive, she'll be your slave for the rest of her life! Come on! Let's go home!"

Dad stood up furiously and reluctantly paid for the meal with his credit card.

"I'd like to see if that brat really has gotten bold enough to defy me!"

I watched them storm out furiously.

Floating in midair, I felt a grief I'd never experienced before.

'Dad. Mom. I won't make you upset anymore. I'm dead. Your jinx is gone. Are you satisfied now?'