My Sister Schemed to Put Me in an Older Man's Bed

She coveted everything about me.

My possessions, my experiences, and even my men.

So one night, my mother pushed me into an older man's bedroom.

The next day, she asked with a smug smile, "Nina, how was your night with the older guy?"

I rubbed my sore waist, recalling his broad shoulders, long legs, and trim waist from the night before.

I smiled as I answered her.

"That fiancé of mine is all yours now. Just remember—I’ll be your Aunt-in-law in the future.”

The person behind me suddenly wrapped an arm around my waist, his body heat burning against my skin.

"Be good now," he whispered, his voice husky.

Rising temperature, heated skin, and irregular breathing mingled together.

My legs gradually wrapped around his waist, my voice changing from resistance to seduction.

I opened my eyes in the morning light without even glancing at the man beside me.

Silently, I dressed and left the room.

When I got home, my mother looked up from brewing tea, her eyes filled with expectation.

"Mom," I said, my voice raw, "I'll break off my engagement with Alex Channing and marry Lucas Channing instead."

Seeing her satisfied nod, I gave a bitter smile, then asked, ”Mom, what exactly did you put in that coffee yesterday?"

Panic flashed across her eyes for just a moment before she composed herself. "It was just a cup of coffee! What—you think I'd poison my own daughter?

"So ungrateful! Don't expect me to make you anything ever again!"

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes briefly. "Fine."

Under her stream of insults, I dragged myself back to my room.

A cramped 7-square-meter space, no windows, just a ventilation opening—originally a storage closet.

When I had to return to this house at age 7 for school, they converted it into my "bedroom."

Though they'd sealed the pipe opening, on rainy days, a musty smell still seeped through the cracks.

For 18 years, footsteps from upstairs had woken me every night.

But today, when I buried myself under my thin blanket, I had the deepest, most peaceful sleep of my life.

Because that cup of coffee had killed the last bit of warmth I felt for this family.

From now on, I would expect nothing from them.

Once your heart dies, you stop being afraid of anything.