He ordered the cake, booked the venue, selected flowers, bought expensive gifts–doing everything to make her day perfect.
When he was young, my father had been penniless, relying entirely on my mother and her parents‘ money to build his fortune.
Most of the company’s shares were still in their hands, and when my grandparents passed, half of their shares were transferred to me. Mom’s will left me her shares as well, making me the largest shareholder.
Until I turned 18, my father managed those shares on my behalf.
Every cent spent on Wendy came from my inheritance.
It was laughable how much they adored her when all she wanted was the family’s wealth.
1/3
Chapter 9
+25 BONUS
I could already see Wendy taking the inheritance meant for Ian, too. After all, she had the idiot wrapped around her finger.
Looking back, I felt foolish. I had treated her as a sister, blind to her ambition and greed.
Many times, I wondered: if I had the chance to start over, would I do anything differently?
Would I break free from my shameless father and brother?
Would I hold tightly to what Mom left for me?
It didn’t matter. I was already dead, and time only moved forward.
Soon, the day of Wendy’s birthday arrived.
The house was filled with guests, each surprise meticulously planned. Wendy’s eyes brimmed with tears of joy.
After the birthday song, she stepped onto the stage to make a speech, her voice trembling with faux emotion.
“Thank you, Dad and Ian. You’ve given me a family.
“I’ll always remember the day you brought me home. I lost my parents when I was young and was bullied by my relatives. Dad, you taught me what family means.
“Ian, thank you for protecting me and always being by my side. I’ll do my best to be a wonderful sister to you.
“And lastly…” She hesitated, her expression meek and sorrowful.
“Jennifer. I know you’re not here today, but I still want to apologize to you. I know you don’t want me as your sister, but you’ll always be mine. To me, you’re family.”
Her performance was sickening.
I watched calmly as Wendy finished her speech and was pulled into my father’s embrace.
“You’ll always be my family, Wendy,” he said warmly. “You’re Ian’s sister, too. I’m so glad to have you with us.”
Wendy smiled brightly, kissed his cheek, and buried herself in his chest. “I’ll always be with you, Dad.”
They didn’t even try to be subtle in front of the guests.
The whole spectacle was so absurd I couldn’t even muster anger. All I could think about was how my father would react when Wendy’s true intentions came to light.
I only wished I could be there to see it.
A long time after her birthday, my father finally asked about me and began searching again.
Chapter 9
+25 BONUS
He spent an enormous amount of money and resources, posting bounties and offering millions in rewards for leads on my whereabouts!
How generous.
It was ironic to see him spend so much when he had already seen me.
‘Why bother, Dad? You already found me, didn’t you?‘ I thought.
Over six months passed with no news. His temper grew worse, and his anger at home became more volatile.
One night, after returning from a client dinner reeking of alcohol, he found Wendy in the living room, tipsy from a party. Now 19, she was home after a party with friends.
Seeing my father, she stumbled and “accidentally” fell into his arms, her hand clutching his collar.
“I love you, Dad,” she murmured, her voice sultry.
“If only you weren’t my dad…”
Her flirtation was crude and blatant. How desperate she must have been to make her move before turning 20.
My father froze for a moment, stunned, but then quickly gave in without hesitation.
Ew… I turned away in disgust..
What a shameless pair.
Unable to stand it, I focused on a nearby bottle, lifting it in an attempt to throw it at them.
I had always passed through objects before.
To my utter surprise, this time, I felt the weight in my hand.
Before I realized what was happening, the bottle hit the ground with a loud crash.
“Ah!”
Today’s Bonus Offer
