Chapter 2

Ryan’s words were like venomous insects gnawing at my flesh, threatening to devour me whole. I stood frozen, staring blankly at his grief-stricken face, only able to mumble, "I'm sorry."

But no amount of regret, apology, or guilt could bring Lily back from the underworld.

Ryan locked me in my room. It wasn’t until a month later that I learned he had bought a double plot. He decided to hold a symbolic wedding, welcoming Lily into our home as his wife…

I was finally released after all the ceremonies were complete.

That was also the first time I met Lily’s distant cousin, Vivian Hayes. She only bore a slight resemblance to Lily, but her eyes and demeanor were uncannily similar.

I wasn’t sure why Ryan brought her home. Perhaps he intended to use her as a constant reminder of my mistake.

Every time I slightly defied him, or if my behavior was in any way improper,

He would say in that familiar tone, "Anya, when will you be as obedient as Vivian?"

"Stop causing me trouble. Look at Vivian."

Days turned into weeks, then months. Ryan finally took full control of Sterling Corporation, and with each scolding, I became more and more like Vivian.

But no matter how hard I tried, I still only ever received Ryan’s reprimands.

It wasn't until my graduation ceremony with Vivian that I realized Ryan had always wished I would die.

Now, this wicked person—me—had finally disappeared from this world four years later, just as he wished.

He must be satisfied now, I thought.

Time ticked by, second by second, with no one discovering my lifeless body.

The gloomy rain outside the window finally stopped, though the air remained damp and cold.

I watched Ms. Brenda, trapped in the guest room, crying hysterically, and a wave of sorrow welled up inside me.

Ever since returning to the Sterling residence, Ryan had hired many people to work, but everyone knew he didn't care for me. So, aside from Ms. Brenda, neither the bodyguards nor the maids paid any attention to me.

Vivian Hayes, on the other hand, was different. Because she was Lily’s cousin, and because she bore a slight resemblance to Lily, Ryan lavished her with affection. She was seen everywhere, at every event.

Many even rumored that Ryan might marry her. Because of this, everyone in the Sterling household, besides obeying Ryan, only listened to Vivian Hayes.

She deliberately assigned me to the darkest, dampest room in the entire mansion. Aside from Ms. Brenda, no one else was allowed to interact with me.

Those bodyguards dared not lay a hand on Ms. Brenda, but if they didn't let her out, who would ever discover my body and announce my death?

Perhaps this was my retribution. I suddenly remembered when Lily died, Ryan had held her body, weeping uncontrollably. He told me over and over again that I would die a terrible death and come to no good end.

When Lily died, everyone grieved for her, but I could only gasp my last breath alone in a cold, dark bedroom.

I watched the last remaining leaf on a bare tree outside the window drift down, and my heart inexplicably ached.

My soul and body were slowly separating, and our connection grew weaker.

I could finally leave the room, wandering freely within the mansion grounds, though I still couldn't leave entirely.

…

I floated into the yard, where several housekeepers were trimming branches.

It was deep autumn, yet a few flower species in the garden were still visible, vying for beauty as if unaffected by the season.

"Mr. Sterling is just too good to Ms. Vivian Hayes," I heard one of the housekeepers remark.

"Yes, Ms. Vivian Hayes only mentioned wanting to see flowers, and Mr. Sterling had people specially cultivate flowers that aren't affected by the season."

"Sounds like it must have cost a fortune, right?"

"Definitely. Worth millions, and they only bloom for two seasons. Mr. Sterling is so generous!"

The gardener, who was calmly trimming branches nearby, chuckled. "For anything Ms. Vivian Hayes desires, what are a few millions?"

"After all, everyone knows Ms. Vivian Hayes is the true mistress of Sterling Mansion."

The few women covered their mouths and laughed.

Of course, I knew what they were laughing about. They were mocking me, the true daughter of the Sterling family, for being incomparable to Vivian Hayes, a relative who just appeared.