Chapter 1

I was the only biological sister of Ryan, the CEO of Sterling Corporation, yet I was also the person he despised the most.

He had cursed me countless times in front of everyone, "She's a menace! She doesn't deserve to live! If she wants my forgiveness, she'd better go to hell and apologize to Lily!"

I quietly listened to his venomous words, never uttering a sound.

Only this time, my soul floated in the air, silently nodding.

Okay, brother.

As you wish.

The day I died was a dreary, rainy day.

Ms. Brenda, who had raised me, knelt by my bed, her face streaked with tears.

"Anya, don't be scared. I've already called Ryan. He's coming, I promise."

I shook my head, my lips parting as I tried to speak. But before I could form a complete sentence, my body seemed to be liberated in that instant. My consciousness gradually faded, yet my lingering soul, before it could even touch the eaves, drifted gently back into the room.

I watched Ms. Brenda sobbing hysterically over me, watched her frantically trying to open the door and rush out.

But two bodyguards stood outside, holding her shoulders firmly, refusing to let her leave.

"Ms. Vivian Hayes ordered that Mr. Sterling is very busy right now. No matter how big or small the matter, he is not to be disturbed."

Vivian Hayes, Lily’s distant cousin. Someone who had no relation whatsoever to the Sterling family, yet she effortlessly managed to keep me trapped within our own home.

"I can't hold on! Please, let me go find Ryan. Any later, and it might be too late…"

Ms. Brenda collapsed onto the ground. She was over fifty, her hair streaked with gray. She mechanically kept bowing her head, her forehead nearly bleeding.

I rushed over, wanting to stop the bodyguards, but I could only watch helplessly as they knocked her unconscious and moved her to another guest room.

The tears I’d held back for so long finally broke free. I wiped my eyes. So, even when you’re dead, you can still cry…

I turned back to look at the bedroom, which hadn't seen sunlight in ages.

On the cold, damp bed lay my emaciated corpse, covered in bruises. Bright red liquid stained my old clothes, my face was gaunt, and I looked utterly miserable.

See? How unsightly I died. If Ryan saw this, would he finally be satisfied?

…

Ryan, the sole heir to Sterling Corporation, had everything handed to him since childhood. He displayed impressive business acumen at a young age, and within less than three years of taking over Blackwood Corp., he doubled its scale.

But Ryan, despite his talent, good looks, and amiable demeanor, held an extreme aversion for his only sister—me.

The outside world constantly speculated about our relationship, but it wasn't always like this.

When we were very young, we lost our parents. Sterling Corporation was seized by distant relatives, and we became unwanted baggage, almost kicked out of our own home.

It was then that Lily, who had grown up as Ryan’s childhood sweetheart, convinced her father to adopt us.

"Just stay at my place. One day, I’ll help you reclaim Sterling Corporation."

She said it, and she did it. Mr. Blackwood used his family’s influence to pressure our relatives, and Ryan worked tirelessly, getting into the country's top university.

He and Lily promised to get married as soon as they graduated.

But when Ryan traveled abroad for a competition, taking Lily and me with him, an accident happened.

Lily and I went out for dinner and got into an argument with customers at the next table. I was young and stubborn then, completely disregarding that we were on their turf.

The other party, taking us by surprise, grabbed a glass bottle and aimed it at me. Seeing this, Lily quickly stepped in front of me, but she was struck. She collapsed instantly.

Red liquid flowed from the back of her head. The scene erupted into chaos, and the culprits managed to escape…

Ryan had just won his championship title. They had planned to get engaged once they returned home, but all he saw now was Lily’s lifeless body.

Their beautiful dreams and future shattered in an instant.

When Ryan arrived, he went berserk, clutching Lily’s body and refusing to let go. The police officers eventually had to forcefully pull him away.

We returned home. The Blackwood family insisted on burying Lily in their family plot, but Ryan refused. His eyes bloodshot, he roared, "Lily is mine! Even in death, she must be laid to rest in my Sterling family cemetery!"

But the Sterling family was not yet under his control. I cried, begging him to let Lily be laid to rest first.

But he shoved me away, glaring at me with utter hatred.

"If you hadn't gotten into an argument with someone, how could Lily have died?"

"Anya, you should have died with Lily!"