Chapter 1
In the third year after my parents died, I had my first big fight with my brother.
Enraged, he slapped me across the face, his voice filled with venom. “Pandora, get out of my sight! Forever!”
He brought home another girl who called him “brother.”
I did as he said and moved out of the house.
Just like he wanted, I was gone for good–and this time, there was no
When Elbert slapped me across the face, I remained expressionless.
In an even tone, I said, “Let’s cut ties then.”
His face froze instantly as he stared at me
in
coming back.
utter disbelief. “What did you just say?”
I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out a slightly crumpled agreement.
Those few flimsy sheets now felt as heavy as lead in my hands.
With deliberate care, I handed him thers.
making sure the hidden medical report stayed concealed.
My eyes, drooping, refused to meet his gaze.
said coldly, “If I make you sick, then let’s just stop being siblings. From now on, you won’t have a disgusting sister like me to bother you anymore.” After what felt like an eternity of tomb–like silence, the agreement I handed over was violently swept to the floor.
Half the force from his hand landed on my hand.
For a moment, my vision swam with dizziness, but I clenched my teeth and managed to stay upright.
Elbert’s voice, laced with fury and utter disappointment, sounded in my ears. “Pandora, you’ve gone too far this time! Do you really think I’d beg you to stay?!”
I sneered and forced myself to meet his gaze, flashing a taunting smile. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll end up begging me to stay.”
As expected, his face darkened completely.
The last trace of affection vanished from his eyes, leaving only cold indifference and undisguised disgust.
I turned around and went upstairs to pack my things.
After I gathered a few clothes and got ready to leave, my gaze lingered on the family portrait atop the nightstand.
It was taken when Mom and Dad were still alive–all four of us together.
I was just four years old in that photo.
Mom, Dad, and Elbert were all smiling at me, while I grinned foolishly at the camera.
Back then, Elbert was still that kind and gentle big brother.
Unlike now–it’d been years
since he last smiled at me like that.
This journey was likely my farewell.
After a moment of inner struggle, I turned back and carefully tucked the family photo into my suitcase.
The oversized suitcase made my descent down the stairs a clumsy spectacle, my strained movements bordering on ridiculous.
The housekeeper stood at the bottom, halfway extending a hand to help.
But after a quick glance at Elbert’s thunderous expression, she lowered her head and pretended not to notice me.
I dragged my suitcase downstairs.
Even that short distance left my forehead drenched in cold sweat,
Elbert wouldn’t even look at me.
1/2
8:14 PM
Chapter 1
He sat on the sofa, flipping through the newspaper.
The rage from earlier had faded, leaving only cold indifference.
I walked over and placed the agreement on the coffee table before him.
In a hushed, barely–controlled hoarse voice, I said, “I’m leaving.”
He remained silent.
Seventeen years as siblings–I knew him inside out.
He was in a fit of rage right now.
If I said he’d beg me, that just guaranteed he never would.
I dragged my suitcase to the front door and stepped outside.
Behind, he finally snapped–the crash of crockery shattering on the floor.
Then came his voice, trembling with fury. “Get out! And don’t you ever come back!”
The china shattered with a jarring crash.
My fingers trembled slightly where they gripped the suitcase handle.
As I stepped outside, the night greeted me with a torrential downpour.
No umbrella in hand.
Going back for one now was out of the question.
My ride was almost here, so I simply walked down the steps and stepped into the rain.
Something came flying from behind, landing right in front of me.
The pouring rain blurred my vision, making it impossible to focus.
Straining my eyes for a long moment, I finally made out what was lying there in the rain.
It was the slippers I’d left by the entrance.
The pink fluffy bunny slippers were something Elbert brought back for me during a business trip late last year.
After our parents passed away, his personality became quite twisted.
! could tell–he’d bought me something cute, yet
hand
it
to
me directly.
couldn’t bring himself toe
Those slippers sat in his suitcase for days before he finally had the housekeeper pass them to me.
Right now, the slippers lay discarded on the rain–soaked ground, quickly getting caked with mud and becoming unrecognizable.
Not a trace of what they once were remained.
Just like me–cast aside by this world.
I heard Elbert’s furious roar. “Clear out every last thing associated with her–down to the last tissue or
cotton
swab. Burn
all to ashes!”
Rain mixed with my tears, streaming down my face and dripping
1
I didn’t look back.
Swall
he cab (
