Chapter 2

I went back to my room to collect what I could. Right after I hung up, my mother pushed the door open.

"Where's that sapphire necklace your father left you before he died?"

I stayed silent.

My mother frowned with irritation. "What's with that attitude? Chloe just thinks it's pretty and wants to borrow it for a couple of days. Hand it over and stop being so stingy!"

Chloe clung to my mother's arm, wearing an innocent, dejected look. "Never mind, Mom. Serena has never seen me as her sister. If she doesn't want to, it's fine. I won't force her."

"She has no choice! That necklace belonged to my husband, and he was your father, too. I'm making the decision to give it to you today."

My mother wrapped an arm around Chloe and glared at me. "If you don't hand it over right now, I'll have someone tear your room apart to find it."

I looked at her, letting out a bitter laugh that felt worse than crying.

The mother who used to be so gentle and loving had turned into this cold, harsh stranger.

It didn't matter anymore. I was leaving this place for good.

There was no point in arguing with her.

I quietly pulled the velvet box from my drawer, took out the sapphire necklace, and handed it to her.

My mother smiled in satisfaction. "That's more like it. Chloe is your sister. As the older one, you should give her the nice things."

Once my mother walked away, Chloe clasped the necklace around her neck right in front of me.

"Serena, don't blame Mom for favoring me. To be honest, it looks way better on me anyway."

"Just like Raymond makes a much better boyfriend for me."

"What's meant to be mine will always be mine. No one can take it."

Looking at her smug, petty face, I didn't say a single word.

With people like her, the more you react, the more they feed on it.

I picked up my purse, ignored her, and walked toward the stairs.

"Ah! Serena, why are you pushing me—"

Chloe suddenly darted in front of me, staging a fall and tumbling backward toward the steps.

Even though I hated her, my instincts took over, and I reached out to grab her arm.

It was a flight of more than twenty stairs. A fall like that could kill someone.

"Serena, you psycho!"

Raymond violently shoved my arm away from Chloe.

The back of my hand slammed hard against the wooden railing with a sickening crack.

A sharp wave of pain shot up my arm, and cold sweat broke out across my forehead.

"Raymond, thank God you caught me, otherwise I would've..."

Chloe buried herself in Raymond's chest, sobbing like a terrified victim.

"Shh, don't be scared, I'm right here," Raymond murmured softly, stroking her hair. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

I looked down at my hand. The swelling was already turning deep purple, and I feared it was broken.

Then I looked at Chloe, who had barely been touched, held safe and sound in Raymond's arms.

How ironic.

The boy who had once promised to treat me like a princess for the rest of his life, the man who was supposed to marry me in three months...

How did he change into this monster?