Chapter 2
The excruciating pain from my recurring gastric cancer plunged me into unconsciousness again.
When I opened my eyes, Stephanie’s face was hovering over me!
“Catherine, you’re awake~”
Her voice made my hair stand on end. With a smile, she gently stroked my hair,
“We had such wonderful times together at school!”
“You know, watching you repent before me these in the past three years has been truly touching~”
Gritting through the agony, I lifted
my head,
“I never provoked you or tried to take your place. Why are you doing this?”
Stephanie shrugged carelessly:
“Who told you to be the Johnson heiress?
If Mom, Dad, and Mark ever learned I bullied you, I’d lose everything!”
“So Catherine, blame your own rotten luck for not being fit to enjoy the fortune of the Johnson family!”
Her smile chilled me to the bone.
Suddenly, Stephanie slammed her head against the wall-thud!-blood instantly streaming down her face!
“Ahhh!”
Stephanie shrieked. I froze, stunned.
Just then, Mom and Mark burst into the room. Taking in the scene,
Mom stormed over and slapped me hard across the face. My ears rang, and a warm liquid
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trickled down.
“Stephanie ended your torment and came to visit you, yet you pushed her!
How could you be so vile!”
I tried to say I hadn’t, but Mark dragged me off the bed, slamming me onto the floor until stars danced in my vision.
His icy voice cut through the haze:
“Catherine, it seems I’ve been too lenient with you!
Get back to the storage room and reflect on your mistakes. Don’t come out until you’ve learned your lesson!”
They cradled Stephanie as they left, ignoring me completely. Before exiting, she winked at me, smiling.
I was shoved back into the storage room, and the door slammed shut behind me again.
Blood gushed up from my stomach, more violently than ever before.
My vision darkened, consciousness slipping away once more.
I awoke to a chilling coldness after an unknown time.
Mark was applying ointment to my forehead. Seeing me conscious, he sighed:
“Catherine, I know you suffered for years in the countryside. I know you resent it. But is Stephanie any less innocent?”
“Those villagers were gamblers and abusers! Sending her back would’ve been a death
sentence!”
I stared silently at the ceiling with utter despair.
So Mark, was I just meant to die in the countryside instead?
My silence angered him. He slammed the medicine bottle down.
“Catherine, cut it out. You’re the daughter of the Johnson family. So is Stephanie!
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Drop the attitude. We’ll legally change your name soon-learn to get along with her!”
Mark stood up.
“Stephanie heard you were unwell and made soup for you. Don’t make this hard for her!”
He yanked me up and pushed me out. Just outside, Stephanie stood holding a steaming bowl.
“Sister. I made this soup just for you! Hurry and drink it!”
She wore a gentle smile as if yesterday’s ferocious expression wasn’t hers,
yet I still saw malice and provocation in her eyes.
I stepped back several paces when Stephanie suddenly rushed toward me, scalding soup pouring over me!
Instinctively closing my eyes to dodge, I heard Stephanie scream before shattering sounds erupted.
When I opened my eyes, Stephanie was clutching her hand tightly, tearfully staring at me.
I froze. The next second, Stephanie thudded to her knees, tears streaming down her face:
“Catherine, I know you resent me taking over your life and our testing you,”
“Please don’t send me away, okay?
I truly don’t want domestic violence or to be sold off!”
“If you send me away, I’d rather die!”
Stephanie stood to leap from the second-floor staircase, but Dad, Mom, and Mark all stopped
her
Chaos erupted before I could speak.
Dad shoved me hard with anger. Unprepared, I tumbled down the stairs!
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