Mom took Ashley home first, leaving Dad to
stay with me.
Lying in the hospital bed, I took Dad’s hand.
“Dad, it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t tried to stop
her from smashing the frame, none of this
<
Dad patted my hand, reassuring me that it
had nothing to do with me.
Later that evening, Mom came to the hospital
with homemade dinner.
“Is Ashley’s face doing better?”
Hearing that I was hospitalized and she was
still worried about her cousin, Dad was
furious. He slammed the door and went
outside for a smoke.
After eating the food Mom brought, my
stomach started cramping within half an hour.
I was running to the bathroom every few
minutes.
Dad quickly called the doctor who examined.
<
me thoroughly and said I had food poisoning.
Dad blamed Mom, saying that she didn’t care
about me now that she had Ashley.
I had gotten sick from Mom’s food, and she
couldn’t deny it.
It was my fault for not guarding against.
Ashley.
I didn’t expect her to put laxatives in Mom’s
cooking.
After being observed for 24 hours and
showing no signs of a concussion, I was
allowed to go home.
On the way home, Dad made it clear to Mom
that if anything like this happened again, he’d
kick Ashley out.
Mom didn’t say anything. She was just a
stay–at–home mom, and the family’s finances
depended on Dad.
“Let Ashley stay in the study. Tiffany just got
out of the hospital. How can she sleep on
that small couch?”
Mom didn’t respond, but her silence meant
she agreed.
When we got home, Ashley ran to me and
took my hand.
She seemed to have learned to put on a show
after everything that happened.
She took my hand, and I wrapped my arm
around her shoulders.
“Tiffany just got out of the hospital. The bed
in her room is more comfortable. She should
sleep there. I’ll stay in the study!”
Ashley’s voice was soft and sweet, the kind
that tugged at your heartstrings.
Unfortunately, that trick only worked on Mom.
It didn’t faze Dad anymore.
“Look at how thoughtful Ashley is!”
Mom praised her as she took two pieces of
cake out of the fridge, instinctively giving the
bigger piece to Ashley and the smaller one to
- me.
Ashley flaunted the big piece of cake in front
Г
on the floor later.”
:
!
!
>
Hearing that, Ashley finally started eating her
cake.
We maintained this superficial peace until my
fifteenth birthday.
Over the years, Dad’s business grew, and the
family’s financial situation improved
significantly.
The year of my fifteenth birthday, Dad landed
a multi–million dollar project. He was so
happy that he wanted to throw me a lavish
birthday party.
Ashley was green with envy.
Because Ashley had caused me to be
<
because Asility lau causey The LU NE
hospitalized when she first came, Dad had
become prejudiced against her.
Every year on Ashley’s birthday, Dad would
make up excuses to avoid attending, and
secretly take me out for a fancy dinner.
Mom knew, but she turned a blind eye.
“Mom, I’m so jealous of Tiffany. She gets to
have such a lavish birthday party.”
The night before my birthday party, I
overheard Ashley talking to Mom in the
kitchen.
“Tiffany is so lucky. So many people love her.
Unlike me, whose parents left me so early…”
Ashley was pulling out her usual pity card.
<
Ashley was pulling out her usual pity card.
Mom was a sucker for it.
“Tiffany’s birthday party is your birthday
party. Dress up pretty tomorrow and blow out
the candles with Tiffany!”
Mom thought it was a great idea.
“Really? I can blow out the candles too?”
Seeing Mom nod, Ashley ran back to her
room, carefully preparing the dress she would
wear to the birthday party.
Let her prepare. The more lavishly she
prepared, the harder she would fall tomorrow!
The next morning, I took out the dress Dad
had bought me.
<
When I opened it, I found it had been cut to
shreds.
I knew it was Ashley.
I didn’t get angry. I put on jeans and a t–shirt
and went downstairs.
Ashley was already up, sitting at the table
eating breakfast.
When she saw me, she was expecting me to
be furious, but I was just as calm as usual.
I noticed that she had been staring at me
since I came down the stairs.
When I sat next to her, she was still looking
me over. I couldn’t help but say, “What? Are
just meeting me for the first time?
<
Ashley scoffed and lowered her head,
continuing to eat breakfast.
“Tiffany, how about letting Ashley blow out
the candles and cut the cake with you
tonight?”
Mom’s tone implied that it was a request.
I readily nodded.
Ashley widened her eyes in disbelief.
I had been fighting with her for so many
years. How could I agree so easily? She
immediately became alert. She was worried
that my agreement was a setup.
“Have you invited all your friends?”
Mom scooped up two bowls of bird’s nest soup. After all these years, she was still
biased, giving the bigger bowl to Ashley.
“Did you invite Ryan?”
Ashley deliberately brought up this person in
front of me.
“No, I’m not close to him. Why would I invite
him?”
Hearing that, Ashley immediately looked
gossipy. Seeing Ashley’s reaction, Mom knew
what was going on. “Students should act like
students. Focus on your studies. Don’t
overthink things!”
My grades had been dropping recently, and
Ashley kept mentioning to Mom that I might
く
Ashley was practically gloating as she
listened to Mom scolding me.
I didn’t argue. Saying anything would be seen
as a defense, so I kept quiet.
Seeing me finish eating and get up to leave, Ashley couldn’t help but ask, “Have you prepared your dress for the birthday party tonight?”
I looked at Ashley’s carefully calculating face
and couldn’t help but smile. “Don’t worry
about it. I’ll just pick it up at the store later.”
“The store? Didn’t you bring it back a few
days ago?”
