Chapter 2

Despite being my fiance, Oliver took the wedding gifts meant for me to bolster another woman's position, claiming that it was for my own good.

Nevertheless, I couldn't care less about that now. If they wanted to let Annie have it, then so be it.

I swallowed my last mouthful of food before lifting my head to look at Oliver.

"Sure. Let's just go with your suggestion," I replied.

Oliver beamed, picking up his phone eagerly to share this good news with Annie. Meanwhile, I picked up my glass of water and downed it.

"This meager wedding gift won't cut it. How about transferring ownership of the house and car you bought for me to Annie too?" I suggested.

Upon hearing my words, Oliver took me by the hand excitedly.

"Lorelei, don't worry. I will work hard to earn more money and treat you way better in the future. I really am blessed to be able to marry such an understanding and caring wife like you!"

I pulled my hand away without showing any change in my emotions. Then, I used needing the washroom as an excuse to step away.

Hunched over the toilet, I threw up everything that I had just ingested. Instantly, a sourish stench filled the confined space.

The moment I heard the sound of footsteps at the door, I pressed the flush button hurriedly.

Water swirled out of the toilet bowl, as if it were flushing away my pain and misery along with it.

By the time I emerged from the washroom, Oliver had left, leaving only a note on the table. It read, "Lorelei, Annie is experiencing a power cut at her place. She's afraid of being alone since her fiance isn't at home. I'm going over to keep her company."

I let out a mocking chuckle and picked my bag up to head home. However, a service staff member stopped me at the door.

"Hold on, ma'am. You haven't paid the bill yet."

My face flushed red under the strange stares of the other patrons. I whipped my phone out to settle the bill before scurrying away.

I got into the car and stared at Annie's latest post on Facebook. She wrote, "Thank you for sacrificing your own happiness just to be by my side."

Attached to it was an image of Oliver from behind as he lit some candles.

That night, I cried myself to sleep.

Mom pulled me out of bed the first thing the next morning. "Lorelei, get out of bed quickly and have your breakfast. I made your favorite acai bowl."

The last time I had an acai bowl was on my tenth birthday. Ever since Annie moved in to live with my family, all the dishes at home were to her preference.

Once I sat down at the dining table, Dad, who was reading the newspaper, spoke up suddenly. "Yesterday, Oliver told me that you wanted to give Ann your car and the house in the city as her wedding gift. You really have matured."

Mom poured me a glass of milk with a smile on her face.

She remarked, "I'm having a hard time getting used to it, now that you've become so well-behaved all of a sudden.

"Frankly speaking, Ann has always been very fond of you, Lorelei. In mine and your father's eyes, you're both like biological sisters. When we're no longer around, you and Ann will still be able to rely on one another."

Suddenly, the acai in my mouth tasted bitter.

As it turned out, my parents were only nice to me when I was nice to Annie.

I wondered if Mom and Dad would still think the same on the day they found out Annie's true colors?

I lowered my spoon and studied them with a serious gaze. "If I passed away from my illness because I didn't get to take the wonder drug, will you both regret it?"

Mom stroked my head. "Don't overthink it. Didn't your father tell you that he will soon be able to develop a cure for you?"

Dad echoed, "That's right. Your condition hasn't progressed to that severe an extent. There just haven't been any previous case studies available for research.

"However, yesterday morning, the general hospital notified me that a late-stage patient had agreed to donate their body after death."

That was because Annie switched my medical records. My condition had worsened a long time ago.

I couldn't help but say, "That donor patient is actually—"

"Aunt Jenny, Uncle Mike, I'm here," Annie interrupted as she pushed the door open and entered the living room.

She threw her arms around my mother, smiling from ear to ear.

Meanwhile, her eyes filled with glee when she looked at me. "Lorelei, thank you for being willing to give your wedding gift, house, and car to me. You have always been like my very own younger sister.

"Feel free to come to me if you face any troubles in the future."

"I feel at ease, seeing you both getting along well," Mom said with a smile while handing Annie an acai bowl.

"Ann, you messaged me yesterday saying that you were craving acai, so I prepared it for you early in the morning. Come and have a taste."

Then, she continued, "Oh, right. What were you about to say earlier, Lorelei?"

So, these acai bowls were prepared specially for Annie.

I lifted the corners of my lips slightly. "It's nothing important."

After finishing breakfast, my parents urged me to head out and complete the ownership transfer procedures for Annie.

Right as we arrived at the office, I realized that I forgot to bring my ID along.

Mom looked at me with utter disappointment on her face. "I knew it. You were just paying lip service. You weren't actually sincere about wanting to give your house and car to Ann."

Dad, on the other hand, let out a heavy sigh. "Lorelei, no one's forcing you if you're not willing to do so. Is it fun for you to play everyone like this?

"I thought you finally learned to behave yourself, but I guess we were wrong. You haven't changed a single bit!"