Home / Never Again, Not Even as Siblings / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of Never Again, Not Even as Siblings: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

"You've really got to hurry, young lady. Cemetery plots are in high demand right now."The cemetery owner Terry Cole sighed, making it clear that talk was cheap and he wouldn't hold anything without cash in hand.I couldn't blame him.I had been out to look at the cemetery several times over the past year, but I hadn't booked a single plot because they were all way out of my budget. Whatever money I had left was barely scraping by for medication and treatment, forcing me to check back every now and then just hoping to score a cheaper spot.Every single time Mr. Cole asked me which one I wanted, I would just stammer awkwardly, "Never mind, I'll bring my family to look at it next time."This time, my voice was completely steady. "Don't worry, I'm actually buying it this time."After hanging up, my phone screen went back to the crowdfunding page.Amid a sea of well-wishes for a speedy recovery, my brother Dylan Mitchell’s message stood out like a sore thumb: [If you actually drop

Chapter 2

Three years ago, Summer had handed her university admission slot over to me, only to immediately turn around and run to Dylan with a lie that I had bribed the teacher to steal it from her.She had used her own future as a chip, betting that Dylan would fly off the handle.The only teacher who could back up my story had retired and traveled abroad, completely unreachable.Summer’s timing was absolute perfection, and her gamble paid off.Dylan had blown a gasket, refusing to listen to a single word of my explanation, and immediately pulled me out of school.I had broken down sobbing, screaming at the top of my lungs during a massive fight, only to be rewarded with a brutal slap across the face."Eleanor," he had roared, "Since you were little, when have I ever denied you anything? Did you really have to stoop to stealing?"Summer came from some backwater! Do you have any idea how much this spot means to her?"He ordered me to apologize to Summer. Naturally, I refused, sticking my

Chapter 3

"Boom!"My head felt like it had been blown wide open by a firework, leaving behind a terrifying, hollow blankness."Who did you say?" I choked out, "Dylan?""Yes. He provided proof of your relationship and filed a dispute claiming your medical records are fraudulent."The platform is currently reviewing the case, which means your previously raised funds are temporarily frozen and cannot be withdrawn."In disbelief, I felt like I was plunging headfirst into a frozen abyss."My medical records were issued by a major top-tier hospital! There’s no way they're fake!"He has a grudge against me. He literally wants me dead—""Please try to calm down, Miss Mitchell."The customer service agent cut me off, repeating in a flat tone, "We’re currently verifying everything. Rest assured, once it's confirmed legitimate, the funds will be transferred to your account immediately."My whole body was shaking like a leaf, but I knew arguing with a phone agent was useless.So, I hung up and di

Chapter 4

That night, I didn't sleep a wink.My lungs felt like they were being pierced by a million needles, sending a sharp, agonizing stab of pain through every single breath I took.My preion painkillers had run out ages ago, so I just curled up hugging Lucky and white-knuckled my way through the entire night.The second dawn finally broke, my phone rang with another call from the crowdfunding platform."Miss Mitchell, our platform requires you to undergo a complete set of re-examinations and submit a brand-new inspection report with a current date."I asked in a listless, exhausted voice, "And what if I don't?""For disputed fundraising cases like this, if you refuse to cooperate, all raised funds will be automatically refunded to the donors.""Then refund them. Thanks for your time."I flatly murmured those words and hung up the phone right then and there.I didn't have a single cent left to pay for medical checks anyway, so if those ten thousand dollars were out of reach, I was d

Chapter 5

I didn't say a word, just gave a quiet nod, and hauled my heavy bag of recyclables all the way back home.That same day, Lucky was leaving me too.A girl who didn't mind that it was missing a leg had driven two hours just to pick it up.Lucky had a new adopter, a new home.It should have been a happy thing.Yet as I handed Lucky over to the girl, I didn't know what had gotten into me that I suddenly started crying uncontrollably.Big, heavy tears splashed down onto the ground, completely freaking her out."Are you crying because you'll miss Lucky? Don't worry, I'll take really good care of it!"I wanted to tell her no, that wasn't it, that I was dying soon and Lucky needed a new home to survive.Instead, I was sobbing so hard I couldn't even catch my breath, completely unable to speak.The girl asked with deep concern, "You look terrible. Do you need to go to the hospital?"I shook my head.I didn't need a hospital.The only place I was heading was straight to hell.Grief

Chapter 6

When I stormed into the apartment, Dylan and Summer were at the dining table.Without a word, I raised the knife and aimed straight at Summer!She shrieked in terror and scrambled out of the way.My wrist was instantly caught in Dylan's iron grip, his face twisted in absolute, blinding fury."What the hell do you think you're doing?!"I whipped out my phone, shoved the photo right into his face, and ground out through clenched teeth."Your precious little angel ran over and crushed my cat to death! Look at the tire tracks, it was completely deliberate!"I didn't want to keep fighting over the past, but I drew the line at this!"Summer's eyes turned red and watery as her voice trembled."I—I wasn't trying to! I paid money for it, I'm so sorry, Eleanor...""An apology doesn't bring it back! Summer, haven't I suffered enough these past three years? Why couldn't you even spare a cat? Are you even human?!"I screamed at the top of my lungs, half out of my mind, wishing I could ju

Chapter 7

As I still had unresolved regrets, my soul didn't head straight to the underworld after I took my life. Instead, it drifted right back home.Passing straight through the living room wall, I found Dylan standing there, a deep furrow in his brow as he clutched my broken phone."What are you talking about? What cemetery?"Hearing a strange man's voice on the line, Mr. Cole assumed I was just having someone brush him off with fake excuses, and snapped impatiently."Whatever. I'm just calling to let you know, I've done all I could!"A heavy wave of guilt welled up inside my chest.Things had been so chaotic these past couple of days that I completely forgot all about it.Mr. Cole wasn't wrong. He really had gone above and beyond for me.At least he treated me better than my own flesh and blood ever did.The line went dead, and Dylan's expression darkened as his thumb instinctively hovered over the screen to call back.Before he could tap it, Summer lunged forward and grabbed his w

Chapter 8

Dylan froze.Meanwhile, Summer's face drained of all color, her fingers digging so hard into her palms they turned white.Ms. Sinclair’s friendly voice drifted through the speaker."I've been out of the country traveling since I retired, so I haven't been keeping up with things back home."By the way, didn't Summer give up her place at the university for you? How come I heard you’ve dropped out?""Give up?"Dylan’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he bit down out the words, his sharp gaze immediately fixing on Summer.Hearing a strange man's voice, Ms. Sinclair paused for a second. "You must be Eleanor's older brother, right? Where is she?""Please, repeat that." Dylan's voice dropped to a lethal whisper. "The admission spot three years ago—Summer gave it to Eleanor?""Yeah, exactly. Their scores were only a point apart, and Summer was crying her eyes out, saying Eleanor had been so good to her, so she wanted her to have it."Dylan’s face turned pitch black, his hands clenching i

Chapter 9

Dylan's fingertips turned white as he frantically scrolled upward through my chat history with the doctor.There wasn't actually all that much to read, mostly consisting of the doctor reminding me to keep up with my checkups and take my medication on time.[Eleanor, how come you missed your appointment again today?][Sorry, I just got laid off by my company and I'm dealing with the exit paperwork. I'll come in a couple of days.][But your lung cancer is already at stage four! If you don't nail down a treatment plan right now, it's going to be too late!][It's fine, it really doesn't hurt that bad. In a couple of days once I... Once I find a new job, I'll go.]…[It's been two months, you still haven't found a job? Eleanor, if you're strapped for cash, you can just tell me. I can lend you some money.][Thanks for the offer, but my brother taught me never to borrow money from strangers. I'll pass.][Alright, look. Have you ever heard of any crowdfunding platforms? Where the publ

Chapter 10

Dylan clutched my phone to his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.His legs gave way, and he crumpled to the floor, his face deathly pale. Now, finally, he understood just how monstrously wrong he had been.From the very beginning, I had always been his obedient, sensible little sister, and that had never once changed.It was him who had chosen to believe Summer and handed down a so-called lesson meant to break me.Yet an even heavier blow was waiting for him.The police called with devastating news. Someone had reported finding the mangled body of a young woman under the pedestrian overpass."Mr. Mitchell, we've ruled out homicide. Through fingerprint matching, we've confirmed the victim is your sister, Eleanor Mitchell.""Clatter!"The phone slipped right out of Dylan's limp palm.His mouth hung open, but he looked like a mute child, utterly incapable of uttering a single sound.The officer on the other end kept talking, but Dylan’s vision blurred, his focus fading completely

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP