Chapter 4

"That little bitch actually peed and pooped inside! She's out of her mind!"

"Is she trying to provoke me?! Huh?!"

Holding a spatula, Mom's face was flushed red with rage, her chest heaving violently.

"I lock her up for just one night, and she pulls a disgusting stunt like this! Imagine what she'll do when she grows up!"

Mom, Lily didn't do that! I know you don't like dirty kids. Lily would never do that.

I felt so wronged.

When I was first forced to live with Bella, I was covered in dirt. I could only copy Bella and try to lick myself clean, but I could never get the dirt off.

Mom had grabbed me and thrown me out into the snow.

"You're filthy! Go wash yourself in the snow! If you can't get clean, don't bother coming back inside!"

Then, she slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

The snow was so, so cold. The moment I touched it, tears and snot poured down my face. But I didn't dare waste time. Shivering violently, I rubbed the snow all over my body to scrub the dirt off, until my skin turned raw red and then deep purple.

I didn't want Mom to kick me out. I loved her so much.

Even though... Mom didn't seem to love me anymore.

But that was okay. As long as I loved Mom, it was enough.

Ever since that day, I always made sure to keep myself very clean!

I anxiously tried to explain to Mom:

"Mom, Lily didn't make a mess! Lily is very clean."

"Please don't hate Lily..."

But my voice faded into nothingness, just like before.

Now, Dad's face darkened too.

"Lily, you've really gone too far this time. Stop making your mother angry. Come out and apologize right now!"

Dad, you both got it wrong. I really didn't...

And Lily has already apologized so many times. But you can't hear me. I don't know what to do.

I felt so sad.

Mom threw her spatula aside and stormed onto the balcony, grabbing my favorite stuffed rabbit.

She took a pair of scissors and violently shredded it to pieces.

"This is what you get for being disobedient! Disobedient!"

"You hate us for making you crawl on all fours for the livestreams, don't you?! You ungrateful brat! If we just work hard for a few years, we'll have more money than we can ever spend!"

Mom cried as she hacked away with the big scissors.

Mom, please don't! That's Lily's favorite toy.

And... my only toy.

Seeing Mom so sad made my heart break into tiny pieces, just like my stuffed rabbit.

I wanted to wipe the tears from Mom's face, but my hands just kept passing through her body, over and over again.

If shredding my toy could make Mom feel better...

Then okay.

Lily can't play with toys anymore anyway.

Please don't cry, Mom.

Dad wrapped his arms around Mom, comforting her.

"Lily is still young. She's just throwing a tantrum. She'll understand in a few days. Everything we do is for our children."

"The doctor said you shouldn't get too emotional. Why don't we take Leo out to get some fresh air?"

At the mention of my brother's name, Mom wiped her tears away and finally managed a smile.

"Honey, let's take Leo to the zoo. He loves animals."

The zoo! My eyes lit up. I had begged Mom to take me there so many times, but she had always said no.

I pouted slightly.

But then I realized—I could go with them now!

I became happy again.

The zoo was so, so big.

Luckily, I was a ghost now, so no one could see me.

Otherwise, crawling on all fours like I always did would have made everyone point and whisper.

I hated that feeling.

But Mom had always said that was how we got "views."

I didn't understand what "views" meant, but I knew it made Mom happy.

But now, it was fine! No one would laugh at Lily anymore.

Following them around, I saw so many animals I had only seen on TV.

Mom and Dad really loved my brother. Even though he could already walk, they kept carrying him in their arms.

I couldn't help but try to remember what it felt like to be held by Mom.

But it had been so long. I couldn't remember it at all.

I let out a heavy, grown-up sigh. Sigh...

Feeling a bit grumpy, I made a silly face at my brother.

Leo looked back at me with his big, innocent eyes and babbled happily,

"S-Sister..."

Whoa! My brother could see me!

I started dancing with joy, making funny faces to keep him entertained.

But Mom instantly slapped her hand over Leo's mouth.

"Don't call that ungrateful brat your sister! Come on, Mom is taking you to that new restaurant down the street."

Hearing Mom's promise of food, Leo immediately forgot about me and happily toddled after her.

I didn't know how long we stayed out, but it was late when they finally returned.

The moment we reached our apartment, a shocking scene was waiting for us at the door!