第3章

I could feel the thread between my spirit and my body growing thinner by the moment. It wouldn't be long before I was truly gone.

The thread snapped just as Ezra was carefully fastening a necklace around Seraphina's neck.

"This set is so beautiful. Ezra, when did you have it made?"

Ezra blinked, his gaze shifting for just a second.

"I don't remember. What matters is that you like it."

Martin, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up.

"Mr. Thorne placed the order at our shop last year. He said it was a gift for his wife, for their fifth wedding anniversary."

I stared at Martin in surprise and mouthed a silent thank-you.

I had been a regular at the shop, and Martin and I had always gotten along. I had even promoted his store for free.

But I never expected him to risk offending Ezra just to speak up for me.

Hearing the shop owner's words, Seraphina's eyes glistened with tears as she turned to Ezra.

"Ezra, this was the anniversary gift you had made for my sister. If I take it, won't she be mad at me?"

Ezra shot Martin an unreadable look, then stared at the necklace around Seraphina's neck for a long moment.

"Keep it if you like it. I'll get her something else."

"Besides, even if she gets mad, there's nothing she can do to you. I've got your back. Don't worry."

Seraphina gazed at him, touched.

"But what if she gets upset and takes it out on you?"

Ezra laughed and tapped her nose playfully.

"She wouldn't dare."

"I don't have the patience to coax her the way I coax you."

"And even if she did throw a fit, all I'd have to do is ignore her for a few days and she'd get over it on her own."

It was true. I rarely argued with Ezra and had almost never lost my temper with him.

I knew how hard he worked, and I didn't want him coming home to more stress.

But I had never imagined my thoughtfulness would become another reason for him to look down on me.

After buying the jewelry, Ezra left with Seraphina.

As she got in, he put a protective hand over her head so she wouldn't bump it on the door frame.

If they hadn't been my husband and my sister, I might have called them a match made in heaven.

Once in the car, Ezra called my parents.

"Mom, have you finished writing that post?"

"It's done. Elowen's father and I went over it several times."

"Even if we didn't pay much attention to her growing up, a daughter still owes her parents once she's an adult."

"Does that sound right? We also found an old photo of Elowen as a child in worn-out hand-me-downs, standing beside Seraphina, plus a screenshot of the money she sent us."

The two images were sent to Ezra's phone.

One was a childhood photo of me with my sister. The other was a screenshot of a money transfer I had sent my parents.

In the photo, I stood beside Seraphina in her princess dress, looking like a shabby little maid next to her.

The photo had been taken shortly after my parents brought me from a farm in the countryside to the city.

Because of malnutrition, I looked even smaller and thinner than my sister, who was two years younger than me.

To save money, my parents kept me in Seraphina's hand-me-downs until a growth spurt in my teens finally gave me my first brand-new outfit.

Later, I stumbled into the entertainment industry and started making good money. Every month, I wired my parents a generous amount for living expenses.

I had always craved their love.

Even though they favored Seraphina, I still felt indebted to them for bringing me into the world and raising me. I believed supporting them was my duty, and I kept hoping they would finally see my worth.

But I never imagined every sacrifice I had made would become a blade turned against me.

Ezra stared at the childhood photo for a long time, one finger absently tapping the image of my worn clothes.

"Ezra? Is something wrong? Did we write it badly?"

Ezra blinked, and his expression cooled again.

"No, it's fine. Go ahead and post it. I'll have people share it."

Within minutes, stories claiming Elowen's public persona was a lie flooded social media.

I closed my eyes. I didn't want to see any more.