Chapter 1

My sister has always been a liar, always setting me up since we were kids.

She stole money, got caught, and said I took it.

She accidentally tumbled down the stairs, but claimed I pushed her.

She ran off with strangers who turned out to be traffickers, just for a cellphone. When she was rescued, she swore I’d abducted and sold her.

My brothers called me a born evil. My parents’ brutal beatings became a daily occurrence.

Until one day, I heard my sister's inner thoughts:

“Hahahaha, a bunch of idiots! Hurry up and drive Alice to her death. Next, it’s the brothers’ turn. Watching you turn on each other is going to be so satisfying, serves you right!”

Everyone stared at my sister, disbelief etched on their faces. She was so screwed.

When my sister, Willow, was in her senior year of high school, she faked being sick for a whole week, all for a cellphone. She’d hide under her covers, playing games all night. One time, she was cursing out her teammates so loudly that Mom caught her. In a fit of rage, Mom confiscated her phone.

Willow immediately threw a massive tantrum, battling our entire family. After her inevitable defeat, she stormed out of the house.

It was snowing that day, and our whole family split up to find her. Mom and Dad called almost everyone in their contact list, asking all our relatives, teachers, and classmates. They came up empty-handed.

Finally, I found Willow at a downtown spot. She was about to get into a stranger’s car. I ran over and pulled her, trying to get her to come home with me. But then, two burly men got out of the car, claiming to be Willow’s friends. They roughly pushed me to the ground, telling me to mind my own business.

Willow stood behind them, a phone in her hand, a smug look on her face as she told me, “See? Anyone is better to me than Mom and Dad. I don’t want to spend another minute in this messed-up home. I’m cutting ties with all of you and going to live a good life.”

With that, she willingly got into the car and drove off without a care.

Later, I found out Willow had been abducted and taken to a remote, isolated compound. When we finally found her, she was in a dilapidated shack, forced to care for an old, disabled man.

The moment she saw us, she burst into uncontrollable sobs, throwing herself into Mom’s arms. Mom took one look at the surroundings and, completely overwhelmed, hugged Willow and cried herself unconscious. Dad leaned against the wall, slapping himself repeatedly, consumed by regret. My brothers watched the scene in silence.

Over the years, our family had searched high and low for my sister. Through countless sleepless nights, Mom and Dad were heartbroken with guilt, even imagining the worst possible outcome. What we saw now, though unbearable, was still our greatest comfort: Willow was alive, safe and sound, standing right in front of us.