Chapter 4

After a few days of rest, I returned to work.

Having been out for several days, my workload was enormous, leaving me swamped and unable to even grab a proper meal.

When I got home that day, I saw Mom and Dad sitting on my living room couch with Amber and Brandon.

That’s when I remembered Brandon still had a spare key.

Seeing him, and remembering everything we shared in that apartment, made me sick to my stomach.

I took a deep breath. It seemed I needed to speed up the process of selling this place.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice stiff.

Mom pretended not to notice my sour expression. “Stella, you and Amber are sisters; there’s nothing you can’t get past.”

“Amber has also promised that after she’s gone, we’ll hold another grand wedding for you and Brandon to make up for it.”

“This time, Mom and Dad didn’t think things through.”

It was rare for Mom to lower herself like this, but a chill ran through me. “So, you and Dad knew all about it that day?”

Mom and Dad’s eyes flickered, looking a little guilty.

I scoffed. So that’s how it was!

Mom pursed her lips before saying, “Your sister and the baby needed a legitimate status. That was the best occasion.”

Because Amber needed it, they chose to sacrifice me without hesitation.

I closed my eyes, laughing self-deprecatingly. I always knew I wasn't as important as Amber in their hearts.

But I never imagined how utterly insignificant I was.

Amber interjected at just the right moment. “Stella, don’t blame Mom and Dad. They did it all for me.”

“I know you’re hurt, but I didn’t want to miss Brandon again in my lifetime. We’ve already missed our chance once.”

As Amber spoke, she looked at Brandon with tender affection, and his eyes were filled with sympathy.

My heart skipped a beat.

I suddenly remembered Brandon had a first love before his senior year.

I’d been curious and asked him about it once, but he’d always changed the subject. I never imagined his first love was my sister!

No wonder he treated me uniquely.

It turned out I’d been a stand-in all these years!

I clenched my fists tightly.

Amber, Brandon! You’ve gone too far!

Perhaps my face was too pale, Brandon didn’t dare to look at me, but Amber continued, “Stella, I know you love Brandon very much.”

“But I love him too, and I don’t want to share him with another woman. But what can I do, since you’re my own sister?”

She then started crying, looking utterly pitiful. “If you agree to have a hysterectomy, I’m willing to let Brandon marry you after I’m gone.”

Amber cried so pathetically that Brandon pulled her into his arms, like a pair of star-crossed lovers.

Mom and Dad were shedding tears.

“That’s right, Stella, your sister doesn’t have much time left. Just give in to her one more time. Mom knows Dad and I neglected you in the past, which made you so stubborn.”

“How about this, you come home and live with Mom and Dad. Let us make it up to you properly. As for this new apartment, you can let Amber and Brandon have it for now.”

“You can move back in after a year…”

I looked at Amber. When no one was watching, she smugly raised an eyebrow at me.

Like a victor.

*Slap!*

I couldn’t take it anymore.

I lunged forward and slapped Amber hard across the face.

Amber shrieked.

Mom, Dad, and Brandon froze.