Chapter 2

I stared at my phone, impassive.

In my previous life, it was this ridiculous sisterhood solidarity that made me pack my bags and head to Katie's place as soon as I finished my work and started my vacation.

After graduating from college, Katie never got a job. She just lived off our inheritance and enjoyed her life like some heiress.

Every day, she would go for walks in the covered walkways in her neighborhood or listen to gossip about who was getting married next.

To keep up her lifestyle, Katie never stocked up on food. She would never buy anything that was considered pre-prepared meals. She always said fresh ingredients were the only way to go, and that keeping supplies around was beneath her.

She liked the delicate, pure flavors you would find in Errodian-style cuisine, insisting that was how the rich were supposed to eat.

If it weren't for me shamelessly fighting the crowds for food back then, neither of us would've lasted even a week.

Most of her money went to pretty clothes and luxury skincare. She always said a woman's best investment was in herself… Turning herself into a delicate bloom.

Katie always thought she was above everyone else. She loved to laugh at me for working hard at my job, even though I had money. She said she would never want to squeeze onto the subway or fight for the elevator like those office workers.

However, because the wiring in the old apartment was quite outdated, she could only install the smallest and weakest of air conditioners. That weak breeze was almost useless against the terrifying heat.

"Sorry, Sis. Work's been crazy lately, so it's going to be hard for me to take any time off."

"I also saw the weather's supposed to get really hot, so just buy enough food for one meal at a time, okay? Otherwise, the food will spoil too easily."

"You can't eat anything that's gone bad with that delicate stomach of yours."

Now that my head was finally clearing up, I sent each message one by one with a sneer. Then, I casually applied for annual leave for myself.

After seeing that she had read my messages, I set my phone down on the couch, satisfied.

I picked up the limited-edition figurine I had left on the coffee table. I had waited in line for a long time to get it... It was the only thing Katie ever wanted that I refused to give her.

I smiled as I looked at it.

There are some shows that I couldn't bear to miss.

That afternoon, a local courier delivered the carefully packaged figurine to Katie.

"Sis, sorry I can't keep you company. I'll let my favorite figurine stay with you instead!"

It didn't take long before I saw her post a photo of it right in the center of her living room on her social feed.

At the same time, I opened my phone and pulled up the feed from the security camera. The view of her living room was crystal clear on my screen.

Of course... Since I couldn't watch her suffering from the incoming apocalyptic heatwave in person, I had hidden a camera inside the figurine.

Knowing Katie, she would definitely put it somewhere that was both prominent and safe. The little alcove with a display stand in her living room was the perfect spot.

"Tsk! At least you know your place. I asked you for this so many times, and you never gave it to me. You're so ungrateful.

"What a shame! I was planning to have you over for a few days as my free maid. It's just too hot lately... I don't even have the energy to cook, let alone go out to buy groceries.

"What a waste of a good laborer. Still, at least I have this cute figurine to keep me company."

Her voice came through loud and clear from the video. My hand turned white from how hard I was gripping my phone.

I treated you like a sister, but you saw me as nothing more than a maid!

"Thank you, my sweet little sister! Sis loves you the most! I really like the figurine!"

Right then, another message came in from Katie.