Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Ivy stood stiffly on the corridor floor. Her breathing felt heavy, coming in ragged gasps inside her chest as though it were being squeezed tightly. Her eyes stared sharply at the pile of her personal belongings scattered outside the room, treated as if they were nothing more than junk.

Fourteen years. That room had belonged to her. Now, in just one month since Sarah Sechan's arrival, her existence in this house had been completely erased as though she had never existed at all.

Before Ivy could pick up any of her belongings, the sound of footsteps in high heels clicking against the floor caught her attention. From the end of the staircase corridor, Sarah Sechan appeared wearing a pink silk dress that fit her body perfectly. The girl's face looked fresh, showing no trace whatsoever of someone who had fainted weakly a few hours earlier and had to be carried by Arthur.

Sarah walked gracefully toward Ivy, stopping directly in front of the scattered belongings. The corner of her lips lifted into a faint, mocking smirk, completely different from the pitiful expression she usually displayed in front of her family.

"That room is far too good for an adopted child like you, Sis Ivy," Sarah whispered softly, deliberately lowering her voice so that only the two of them could hear. She leaned her face closer, staring at Ivy with a nauseatingly triumphant gaze. "All the facilities, all the affection, and everything someone like you has enjoyed for so long... I will slowly take them away from you one by one. Until you truly have nothing left in this house."

Ivy clenched both hands until her fingernails dug into her palms. The pain in her chest suddenly transformed into a cold anger that spread throughout her body. She stared straight into Sarah's eyes without the slightest fear.

"Take everything if you want," Ivy replied in a low yet sharp, trembling voice. "But don't think I don't know what's behind your pathetic act. You were never sick, Sarah. You were only pretending to be sick so that my entire family would shower you with all their attention and throw me away!"

Instead of feeling frightened or offended, Sarah let out a small giggle. The cynical smile on her face widened even further, revealing just how cunning the girl before her truly was.

However, amid that smirk, Sarah suddenly caught sight of someone who had just climbed the stairs from the lower floor—Arthur. In an instant, Sarah's expression changed drastically. Her previously mocking face immediately turned pale, her eyes became glassy with tears, and she raised her voice several octaves so that it could clearly be heard by the person who had just arrived.

"Sis Ivy... hic... please don't say that," Sarah cried hysterically, deliberately slamming her own hand against the corridor wall as though she were suffering. "I never asked for your room to become mine! If you hate me that much, just hit me! Don't torture me like this!"

Ivy was startled by the sudden change in Sarah's act. "What are you talking about, Sarah? Don't be crazy!"

"What's going on here?!"

A deep, familiar shout echoed from the end of the stairs. Arthur stood there with his eyes widened in anger, seeing Sarah deliberately slap her own cheek twice in succession until conspicuous red marks appeared, before collapsing onto the floor and bursting into sobs.

"Brother Arthur..." Sarah whimpered tremulously, looking at Arthur with a falsely frightened expression. "Sis Ivy... she slapped me..."