"Great," Shane said, his tone flat as if stating the most ordinary fact. "Only by suffering will Lily understand that money isn't so easy to earn.
"As a reward, I'll make sure your family's business gets extra attention. But Lily mustn't know this yet. After the New Year, when our parents return, I'll tell them myself."
My breath caught. My heart nearly stopped.
A waiter came by to take my order. I couldn't speak—I only trembled, pointing randomly at the menu. Then I signaled him to leave quickly, hoping my brother wouldn't notice me.
Charlene's voice came from the other side, soft and attentive.
"Shane, you told Lily you were testing haunted houses, but you were sneaking home every day. Aren't you tired? Why didn't you just go abroad with your parents back then?"
My chest heaved. A tidal wave of realization crashed over me.
So the haunted-house story my brother told me—it was a lie. He had been coming home the whole time, while I suffered alone. For five years, had I been the only one enduring hardship?
My brother sighed.
"Lily is my little sister. I couldn't leave her alone in the country. Besides, the company may have moved abroad, but it will return eventually."
He shook his head, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "The five-year punishment we planned has flown by. Time passes so quickly."
Quickly? I let out a bitter laugh in my mind. For me, every single day of those five years had been torture.
Playing a corpse wasn't easy. Under Charlene's instructions, I was always placed in the most grueling, dirtiest scenes.
Wind, rain—it didn't matter. I couldn't move. Over time, my body grew weak. My periods came irregularly or dragged on endlessly. And in their eyes, it was just a punishment.
Ridiculous…
"Charlene, you've worked hard these five years too. Consider this a gift," Shane said as the conversation continued across the table.
He handed Charlene a delicate gift box.
She opened it and gasped, "What a beautiful diamond necklace!"
My heart sank into a pit of despair.
That necklace—the one I had pouted to my parents for five years ago. Back then, they didn't buy it for me. Too expensive, they said.
I had let it go, thinking it wasn't essential.
Now, it seemed that necklace had sparked my five years of punishment.
But why? Our family was so rich—why would wanting a necklace earn me five years of suffering?
And Charlene, whose family was less wealthy, could effortlessly get whatever she wanted?
Had I been disobedient? Naughty?
I'd been obedient all my life, never defying them. So why was I the one being punished like this?
Emotions overflowed. I couldn't contain myself any longer. I slammed my hand on the table with a loud bang and stood up abruptly.
All the diners turned to look.
Shane spun around, his face instantly pale.
"Lily… what are you doing here?"
