Chapter 2Murdered by Mom and the Fake Heiress

I stared at Brooke’s smug face, didn’t say a word. Just bent down and silently picked up a couple of chunks of putrid fish that hadn’t fully dissolved into slime yet.

Even through her mask, she pinched her nose, looking down at me with utter contempt.

“Tsk, figures. Grew up digging through trash, didn’t you? This stuff suits you perfectly, Miss Stinky Fish.”

“Yeah, well, I never keep the good stuff all to myself.”

With that, I walked towards her, grabbed her chin, and yanked off her mask.

Brooke started to say something, her mouth forming a perfect ‘O’. I seized the moment and stuffed the handful of rotten fish from my other hand right into it. Then, like force-feeding a duck, I clamped her jaw shut.

Her throat worked, an involuntary swallow.

…

Brooke froze for a few seconds, then let out a bloodcurdling scream and burst into tears. Forgetting the stinking puddle on the floor, she dropped to her knees, retching violently.

Her shrieking was ear-splitting.

Seconds later, Mom and Dad rushed in, looking panicked.

“What’s going on… What are you two doing?!”

Both Mom and Dad instinctively covered their noses.

Brooke saw them like they were cavalry charging to her rescue. She howled even louder, practically leaping into Mom’s arms.

“She attacked me! She forced my mouth open and made me eat rotten fish! Dad, Mom, do something! Ugh…”

I glanced at her.

“She was hiding in my room. She dumped this on me the second I walked in.”

Dad saw me, soaked and reeking. His face darkened. He turned and snapped at Brooke.

“What is the meaning of this? I told you yesterday, don’t bully your sister.”

Brooke, pale-faced and looking utterly wronged, sniffled.

“Dad… I wasn’t bullying her. My teacher told us… there’s this old custom, when long-lost relatives return, you splash them with dirty water… it represents washing away past misfortunes. I… I just wanted Ava to have a happy future… sob…”

“Is that so? Well, thanks ever so much.”

I nodded at her, my face blank.