Chapter 2

When Sasha opened her eyes, she was in a hospital bed.

A nurse was swapping out her bandages. The second she noticed Sasha was awake, she let out a shaky breath. "You've been out for two days. Finally woke up. How're you feeling?

"Your sister passed out from the shock when she brought you in. Your parents and your sister's fiance are in the next room taking care of her. Want me to call them?"

Sasha blinked slowly. Then shook her head. "No. They don't wanna see me, and I don't wanna see them."

The nurse hesitated, eyes soft with pity, then slipped out of the room.

"Both girls are their daughters, but the younger one almost bled out and landed in the ICU. They haven't even stopped by. Been fussing over the older one like she's the only one who matters."

"I heard the older sister's engaged to the president of Scythe Corp. No wonder the parents ditched the younger one—she's not marrying into a fortune. But the fiance? He hasn't left his fiancee one's side—feeding her meds, soup, even brought in a retired therapist. Her room's practically buried in gifts."

The nurses' voices weren't loud, but every word landed sharp in Sasha's ears.

Her face didn't flicker.

She'd seen this all before.

That afternoon, the doctor called her in for a follow-up. No one came with her. So she dragged her weak body out of bed and walked there alone.

As she passed the next room, she caught a glimpse—her parents and Vincent gathered around the bed, fussing over Mira.

Donald gently tucked the blanket around her while Diana sat peeling grapes, popping them one by one into her mouth.

A soft, sugary smile bloomed on the older sister's face. Her voice was sweet and careful. "Dad, Mom, you've been taking care of me this whole time and haven't even checked on Sasha.

"I'm full now—why don't you bring her the rest of the fish soup? She's really hurt. She should have something nourishing."

Donald shut that down instantly. "Don't worry about her. That girl could survive anywhere. Your mother spent all night on that soup. Giving it to her would be a waste."

Diana nodded like that made perfect sense.

Vincent brushed the older sister's bangs back, eyes soft with concern. "The doctor said you fainted from worrying too much.

"Sasha's always been cold—never cared about being your sister. She even had the nerve to go after your fiancé. She's not worth it."

Sasha let out a low, bitter laugh. No heat—just hollow.

She'd been allergic to seafood forever. Couldn't touch anything from the ocean. But Mira? Obsessed with shrimp, crab, fish—so that's what was always on the table. Sasha survived on toast and boiled veggies, still got slammed for being "too picky."

In public, Mira played the sweet, worried sister. Behind closed doors? She mocked, shoved, slapped.

Then came the waterworks. Mira would cry, twist everything, whine about how she was the victim.

Donald and Diana didn't blink. They made Sasha kneel in the rain all night.

After that, Sasha stopped fighting. Gave Mira whatever she wanted and kept her head down.

In her last life, the only thing Sasha fought for was Vincent.

And look how that turned out.

This time? She was done. No more fights. No more proving anything. No more love. Just her, living for herself.

Sasha grabbed her meds solo, prescription in hand, and headed out. The pharmacy sat behind the hospital, just past a garden and fountain.

Right as she hit the path—blockade. Mira.

"Wow, already walking? Guess you weren't that messed up," Mira sneered. "Anyway, Mom and Dad are backing me. So even if you whine to Vincent about being THE ONE who stuck by him, it won't matter. Spare yourself the drama."

Sasha didn't flinch.

"Relax. I'm over Vincent. You can have it all."

Mira's grin stretched wider, drunk on the power.

"Have? Babe, I don't need you to give me anything. I take what I want. You? You live off my leftovers. You'll never win—not in this life."