Chapter 5

Later, my parents came to visit me.

My mother, Laura Sherman, started reprimanding me the moment she saw me. "What in God's name were you thinking? Do you have any idea that you scared Cynthia so badly that she's having a mental breakdown?"

My father, Daniel Sherman, spat at me with disgust. "How did I end up with a daughter like you? I regret ever bringing you into this world."

They had apparently forgotten how the original Maddison used to be adored and treasured like a princess. Ever since they adopted Cynthia, they had given her everything and treated her well instead.

I actually felt sorry for the original Maddison. Her own brothers and biological parents all favored an outsider over her.

I yanked out the IV cannula from my hand and smashed the flower vase on the table.

"Since you care so much about Cynthia, go and keep her company. Why are you even here?"

My parents froze in shock, staring at me with terrified eyes as if they were looking at a lunatic. They immediately left without saying another word.

Charlie and Lucas came in afterward.

Lucas looked at the mess on the floor and stared at me with disdain.

"Maddison, we might be blood-related, but you're not even half as sensible as Cynthia. You're a grown adult, yet all you do is threaten us with suicide. How pathetic."

'Pathetic' was the word the original Maddison had heard most often. That was why she was eventually driven to suicide.

Honestly, I thought she was pitiful. She initially had a happy, wealthy family, yet the author still wrote her ending as suicide.

After Lucas left, Charlie stared at me for a long time.

Then, he suddenly said, "When we were kids, you always picked on me, and I thought you were annoying. Now that I've grown up, I thought you'd become more sensible. I even foolishly hoped our sibling bond would move you, but you still won't listen and keep threatening us with suicide.

"If you really want to die, then go somewhere no one can find you. Why do you always make sure we're the ones who catch you?"

I laughed. "Fine. Next time, I'll make sure you don't find me."

That shut him up. After a long silence, he got up to leave. The last look he gave me was filled with disappointment.

When I was preparing to attempt suicide again, Ashton appeared.

He looked at me with teary eyes and asked, "Didn't you promise me you wouldn't die? Didn't we agree to go to college together?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I suddenly felt uncomfortable. However, I knew clearly that those were not my emotions.

I thought it had to be the original Maddison's feelings bleeding through.

I looked at Ashton and whispered, "Ashton, you're a great guy, and you have such a bright future ahead of you. You don't need to waste your time on me. I'm worthless, and I'll die sooner or later anyway."

"You're not worthless."

He shook his head, crying, then pulled out a pink envelope with the word 'Love Letter' written across it.

He choked up as he said to me, "I've liked you for a very, very long time. I'm giving you this love letter first, because I'm afraid that one day you'll leave me and I won't get the chance to give it to you."

Suddenly, my heart trembled violently. I slowly opened the envelope.

[Maddison, I've never believed in a God, but meeting you made me believe. You're my divine light, and every time I see you, I can't help but be captivated...]

After reading this letter, tears fell uncontrollably from my eyes.

He suddenly hugged me and mumbled, "Please, don't die."

For a moment, I almost wanted to agree. However, those were just the original Maddison's emotions.

If I did not die, would I ever get the chance to return home?

I fell into deep thought. People were inherently selfish, and I definitely had to consider myself first.

That night, while I was reading a book, my hand suddenly moved beyond my control and wrote a sentence on the page.

[Please kill yourself.]