Chapter 1

After my rich parents took me back, they still treated the fake heiress like a treasure.

Every third sentence was the same: "Dorothy Fox's health is fragile. Can't you give in to her?"

Even when I was searching for a rope to hang myself, decided I wanted to die, my mother tore the phone out of my hand.

"Can't you see Dorothy's so upset she wants to hang herself? Can't you give in to her?"

I looked at them and laughed at myself.

So I had to give in even on dying?

Ironically, the shopping app didn't push a single product at me. Instead, a gentle little window popped up.

"This world isn't perfect, but there's always someone looking out for you."

In that moment, something in me came into focus.

Even a shopping app knew you were supposed to love yourself.

And here I was, on track for an Ivy League university, ready to live or die for two people I'd never even met, tied to me by nothing but a pitiful thread of blood.

This rich-family heiress role? I quit.

...

The next time Dorothy threw a fit because I'd taken the first sip of milk in the morning, I watched her, cold and unmoved.

"Mom, I know I'm not your biological daughter. But is that why even the milk I love most has to go to my sister?"

The second Dorothy started sniffling, Wanda Harding slapped the milk out of my hand and pulled Dorothy into her arms.

"Crystal Fox, you did that on purpose, didn't you? I've told you, Dorothy isn't well. Can't you give in to her?"

I said nothing, just stared at the milk spilled across the floor.

Was it that I needed to give in to her, or that I simply wasn't worthy of a glass of milk?

I let out a cold laugh and stepped back. "Sure. So what? Isn't this my home? Is there a problem with me choosing to take the first sip of milk?"

"You!" Wanda choked, lost for words. "I've told you, you're the older one, you have to give in to your sister!"

"Really? Aren't I your only daughter? Isn't Dorothy the child of the human traffickers? I have to give in on this too?"

Four questions in a row, and Wanda's face went iron-gray.

Just then Norman Fox crawled out of the bedroom, reeking of last night's liquor. He heard me and looked at me like I was something that would bring bad luck, sighing in disgust.

"Is that any way to talk to your mother? Does she owe you something?"

I picked up a piece of egg with my chopsticks and stared straight at Wanda. "Doesn't she?"

Wanda was so angry she could barely breathe. "Crystal Fox, what is wrong with you today? Do you want to die?"

I shook my head. "Yesterday I did want to die. Today, actually, I don't. But, Mom, once this bite of egg goes down, I really can die again."

And then I laughed, dark and low.

Watching how eerie I looked, Wanda's face lost some of its color.

I held the egg up in front of her and Dorothy.

"Dorothy loves eggs, doesn't she?"

"But Mom, I'm allergic to eggs. One small bite and I end up in the ICU. Didn't you know that? Aren't you going to make Dorothy give in to me?"

"Or did you cook them just for me on purpose, hoping I'd die?"

Wanda looked like something had lodged in her throat. She couldn't get a word out.

Dorothy, meanwhile, tugged at Wanda's sleeve.

"Mom, I know I don't deserve to eat eggs. Please don't fight over me, you and my sister. Otherwise I'd be better off dead."

Norman and Wanda heard that and panicked, terrified Dorothy might actually do something.

I let out a cold snort and tilted my head at her.

"That's quite an act."

"So how are you going to die? Our house is a mansion, jumping wouldn't kill you, so I'd suggest slitting your wrists."

Dorothy's face froze. She'd never expected words like that to come out of my mouth.

"I... I..."

I smiled at her sweetly. "What's wrong? Do you need my help?"

With that I got up, went to the kitchen, and came back with a fruit knife. "See if this is sharp enough. If not, we can switch to a cleaver."

"Crystal Fox, are you trying to kill someone?" Dorothy shrieked in fright.

I shook my head. "You're the one set on dying. I'm only giving you what you asked for."

"What, changed your mind about dying? Then next time drop this whole life-or-death routine and pick a new one. This one's gotten old."

With that, I gave a cold laugh, stood up, and went back to my room.