4

Before that night, while Helena was watching her maids pack her things and she was telling them what to bring and what not, Ingrid appeared in her room with a serious expression.

Helena got a sight of her in the mirror, and she could vividly see the envy that sparkled in her eyes; the desperation was just too strong, and she could already see it coming.

“Come out for a while,” she said to the maids, who nodded and bowed before walking out.

Helena remained a poker face, trying to appear innocent in her sister’s eyes when she was already a sheep in a wolf’s clothing.

“What is it, Ingrid?” she asked.

“I am here to actually talk to you about the sudden burden our family has given to you,” she said worriedly, but Helena could see through her pretentious worry because she had already revealed her evilness to her when she was Alana. And she doesn’t want to be fooled by her anymore.

Ingrid held her hand and looked at her in the eyes worriedly as if she were the most concerned and overprotective older sister that she was.

“I know you’ve forgotten some of your memories, and you couldn’t recall how overprotective I am of you. I care so much for you because you are my baby sister, and your old self would really understand why I am so worried for you because I love you so much. And this plan, this goal of our parents, is hurting me,” she said sadly, her eyes turning weak as if she were almost going to cry.

This pretentious bitch. This is how she acted that made a fool out of me. I trusted her to the core, gave my full trust to her, and treated her like she was the only one I had, and yet she stabbed me in the back. She is the reason why I am in this position, and I would never get fooled by her. Not ever.

“I know that you are still shocked, and you are processing things. In marriage, an agreement is the last thing that should be offered to you because that is so stressful, to suddenly be paired with a man whom you don’t even know. And as your older sister, I only want what’s best for you,” she said languidly, like a lullaby that is trying to make a baby stop crying.

Helena wanted to laugh at how pretentious Ingrad was, hiding in her little facade, but she tried to nod, making the impression that she was listening and that she was being submissive just to buy her trust.

“Our parents won’t listen to me, but if…” she paused for a while, looking at her carefully, examining her sister’s expression like she was trying to memorize her face before she spoke again. “If you talk to them, beg and plead with them that you just want to rest for a while with no responsibility to take care of, for sure, our parents would immediately agree because they are willing to give you everything you want right now, Helena. Believe me. If you ask for the entire town, the world, they will immediately give it to you! Our father would do everything to give you everything you want. That’s how loved you are. And that’s how much I love you too.”

Lies.

But at the same time, Helena has seen the difference between her old life as Alana and now that she is Helena which she envied the most because her family failed to shelter and protect her. They abandoned her.

Her heart was breaking at the sudden realization that the second life that was given to her was actually a blessing in disguise because she was able to experience what a family should be. A family who cares for you, who would take care of you, and who would treasure you.

And it was actually the best thing she felt when she woke up as Helena. She couldn’t believe that someone would feel so relieved to see you coming back to life, to be hugged, and to receive so much love.

“We can go to our parents’ room right now, and for sure, they would respect your decision if it came from your mouth. Let’s go.” She urged and even dragged her out of the room.

Helena didn’t object as she let Ingrid bring her into their parents’ room. Ingrid smiled at her and gripped the doorknob as she was now opening it.

“Don’t be nervous, alright? I am with you. Just tell them what you want. And for sure, they would understand it. If not, I will stand by your side and do my best to help you out,” Ingrid said softly like a responsible sister helping her out.

They knocked first, and when their parents responded, Ingrid slowly opened it.

“Mom…Dad…” Ingrid started.

Their parents looked at them confusingly, with furrowed brows.

“Oh? What is it? Helena, darling. Are you done packing your things?” Their father asked.

Ingrid then looked at Helena.

“She has something important to say to you, Mom, Dad. And let’s listen to her first,” Ingrid stated and caressed Helena’s back, coaxing her to talk. “Go ahead, Helena…”

She wanted to smirk at Ingrid, and if only she could record her reaction to what she was about to say, she would because she knew that it would be so satisfying.

“Mom… Dad… It’s about the Montville,” Helena started.

Ingrid smiled, waiting for the words she had taught her to voice out as everyone stared at Helena. Their father looked serious but patiently waiting, and even their mother looked concerned too.

“Well, I was in a coma for five years, and I don’t know what happened to our family. I don’t know the struggles you’ve faced during those times, and… I don’t know how difficult it is for you to wait for your daughter to wake up while also taking care of our family,” Helena started.

Ingrid was still smiling despite how she was now impatient about why Helena was doing her monologue and just going straight to the point.

“And…I’ve decided…” Helena’s voice trailed off, looking at their parents, glancing at Ingrid as well.

Ingrid nodded as she smiled at her encouragingly.

“I am happy to help our family in this arrangement of the Montville, and I am willing to participate to at least get back to the sacrifices you made for me,” Helena blurted out wholeheartedly which slowly made Ingrid’s smile fade.

I bet she is now cursing at me… That was what Helena thought because of how unexpected it was for Ingrid, which was just too satisfying for her.

Their parents looked at each other, their worries lessened, and they smiled, proud at Helena for making a decision that could help their family, except for Ingrid, who just stood there, serious and frozen, like she just watched a drama she didn’t like the ending.

Helena held Ingrid’s hands like what Ingrid did to her earlier and looked at her in the eyes. Despite how Helena wanted to burst out laughing, she remained serious and looked at her with great respect.

“I know you are worried for me, and you are an overprotective big sister, because I know how much you love me, and despite not being able to remember my memories, I could feel it in my heart. But I just want you to see that I am a big girl now and I can already handle myself. You don’t have to worry about me anymore because I will let you see that you should be proud of me,” she said heartily.

Ingrid’s lips twisted as if she were trying to smile despite how she wanted to curse at her, to scream out of frustration and lash out, but she only laughed and looked at their parents who were looking at them with warm smiles, as if they were proud to see their daughters loving each other unconditionally.

“Oh, Helena,” Ingrid laughed tearfully, trying to appear soft and happy for what she said when it was the opposite.

“Don’t worry. I will be alright. I will call from time to time, and I will update you. I will assure you that I am okay and I can handle myself. It is now my time to make all of you proud, not just our parents, but also you, Ingrid.”

Ingrid stretched her lips more to smile at ease like she was so proud of her, but she wasn’t. And Helena, who was already too cunning in her mind, was now laughing her ass off at the back of her mind while pretending to even hug her sister who was just controlling her anger.

She was acing it; the innocent evil in her was just taking over, and she wanted her revenge to be sweet and unexpected. She wanted to make Ingrid feel what she felt when she was stabbed in the back… when she was abandoned and fooled, and worst of all when she was made a fool out of herself.

It was so satisfying for her, and she is enjoying it. She was more eager to play, to slowly bring Ingrid to hell, to drag her to the lowest, until Ingrid realized that she would never get away from her sin because she would serve her own justice.

As she watched how Ingrid stood with her parents as she was now leaving, she waved her hand and smiled, showing Ingrid that a devil could not just look ugly and hideous, but it could also look innocent and angelic.