Chapter 1

When I was a child, Mom told me that I made my sister Chloe deaf by hitting her. Because of that, she said they owed Chloe ninety-nine Favoritism Coupon.

On my birthday, Chloe wanted a mango cake. She whipped out one of the cards, and Mom immediately replaced my strawberry cake with mango, even though she knew I was severely allergic to mangoes.

When Chloe was caught smoking at school, she used another card. Mom forced me to take the blame for her.

The whole school rumored that I was a delinquent. For an entire year, nobody would talk to me.

From the time I was eight to eighteen, Chloe used ninety-six cards. And I endured ninety-six cold shoulders.

I used to think that once she used up the last three, I would finally get the same love from my parents.

Until today, while helping Mom clean the house, I stumbled upon a medical report from eighteen years ago.

It read: "Chloe, two-month-old newborn. Diagnosis: Congenital Bilateral Deafness."

A cold shiver ran down my spine, making me tremble uncontrollably.

Her deafness was never my fault. It was congenital. My parents' lack of love for me was the only real thing.

There was no point in hoping anymore.