Chapter 2

I never imagined that Mom would wipe her tears and call me wasteful, while Dad took out his belt and beat me until I was covered in bruises. He even yelled that I was nothing but a parasite leeching off them.

After that, William grabbed me by the collar and shoved me straight out the door. As I tumbled down the villa's steps and landed in the muddy, filthy water on the ground, Selene walked over, surrounded by a protective circle of maids.

She pretended to help me up but leaned close to my ear and whispered a cruel truth, "Do you know why they won't let you study abroad? It was because I told them I was under so much stress from how outstanding you were that I broke out in acne.

"They felt sorry for me, so they insisted on keeping you tied down here."

At that moment, I finally understood the reality I should have stopped wishing for long ago.

Mom and Dad never loved me, and William had long become someone else's brother. Moreover, Selene never had to go through any of the so-called tests Mom and Dad kept talking about.

During the two days of the SATs, I completed all the procedures for studying abroad with Ms. Decker's help. Once everything was settled, there were still 15 days left before departure.

Ms. Decker said she had organized a trip to the amusement park for the whole class to relax. Having never been to an amusement park before, I excitedly accepte the invitation.

Just as I arrived at the park entrance, I received a call from William.

"Aster, come home quickly. Mom's headaches are acting up again."

Thinking this would be my last chance to fulfill my duty as a daughter in this life, I reluctantly turned down Ms. Decker and rushed home in a panic.

What greeted me, though, was a cream cake smashed right into my face. The hard cake topper sliced through my skin. Blood mixed with icing, completely blurring my vision and making me instinctively hop and rub my eyes, desperate to clear my sight.

The whole house erupted in roaring laughter, with Selene laughing the loudest of all.

"Mom, Dad, William, look at Aster! Doesn't she look just like a stray dog?"

If it were before, I would've definitely swallowed my pride and barked a few times like a dog, just to earn the tiniest scrap of parental affection. But this time, I truly no longer wanted to please anyone.

I silently wiped the mess from my face with my sleeve and turned to leave without saying a single word.

A second later, Selene began sobbing softly. "Aster, don't you like the surprise I prepared for you?"

Immediately after, a loud slap sent me tumbling to the ground. My mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood.

Dad pointed at me angrily and shouted, "Aster, get on your knees and apologize to Selene! Do you have any idea how much effort she put into planning this surprise party for after your SATs?"

William, his face full of pain, held Selene protectively in his arms. "Exactly! Do you know how much extra tip Selene paid the delivery person just to get this cake in such terrible weather?

"If you can't appreciate it, fine—but why do you have to come back and make the whole family suffer your bad mood?"

Mom, whom William had described as suffering from a splitting headache, spoke with full energy and volume.

"It's all my fault for letting her come back, all for the sake of so-called blood ties. If I had known that she'd turn out to be such an ingrate, I would've just left her to rot in those mountain hovels."

Mom's words cut me deep.

I wiped the blood from my face and stood, my gaze sweeping past each of them without a trace of emotion.

This was the family I had once tried so hard to make things right with.

Even though I hadn't said a single word, I had become a villainess beyond redemption, all because I didn't play long with their beloved Selene's humiliation act.

Fine. Maybe it was better this way. At least now, I wouldn't have to feel guilty about leaving.

"I'm sorry, Selene. I really did like the cake," I said sincerely and earnestly. "William said Mom's headache was acting up, so I was a little anxious." I paused, then turned to Mom. "Mom, is your head still hurting?"