Chapter 4I Won’t Be Gaslit Again

Before I found my biological family, I took perfectly good care of myself and even had a stray dog, a little yellow mongrel. After being reunited, my brother claimed that the single room I rented had bad feng shui, which was detrimental to Mom’s recovery. So, with a grand gesture, he rented a spacious four-bedroom, two-living-room apartment. This meant I had to pay eight hundred a month in rent.

The result? The house was overflowing with their belongings, while I was relegated to sleeping on the balcony. Even my dog was thrown out of the house by my brother multiple times. Later, my little yellow dog, like me, developed a tumor. Despite being in constant pain, she would still wag her tail whenever she saw me. My brother, in my absence, drove her deep into the mountains and abandoned her. When I was grieving, he coldly questioned me, “In your heart, which is more important: your family, or a dirty dog?”

I thought he just disliked dogs, but my memories showed that Daphne’s villa housed three expensive pedigree dogs. He didn’t dislike dogs; he disliked me. He thought I was lowly, and that my dog was worthless.

So, I didn’t go home. I took my little yellow dog directly to my and my friend’s studio.

Without the burden of “family,” my life immediately soared, and my happiness index couldn’t be higher. However, as I became happy, they became unhappy. Because I had blocked my entire family, Mom couldn’t reach me and asked Daphne to find me.

One day, as I entered the large lecture hall, I saw Daphne. She was petite, dressed in a light pink puff-sleeve dress, looking like a little princess. It was laughable that I had once been brainwashed by Oliver: “Even though she’s not truly a Sterling, she’s been part of the family for so many years. I treat her as my sister, so naturally, she’s your sister too. As her older sister, you have an obligation to fulfill all her needs.”

So, while I was scrambling to find ways to make money, looking utterly disheveled, Daphne was able to brazenly enjoy all my efforts without lifting a finger.

At this moment, she was surrounded by three or four girls—their little clique. As soon as I walked in, they eyed me with harsh, critical stares that were hard to ignore. But I tried my best to ignore them, focusing on reviewing my notes, waiting for the professor to arrive so I could ask some valuable questions.

Daphne couldn’t hold back. She dabbed her eyes. Immediately, her sycophant number one couldn’t contain herself. “Amelia Thorne, don’t you see Daphne is crying? How can you still have the nerve to show your face after harming someone so terribly?”

I frowned, annoyed. “None of your business!”

Sycophant number two spoke up. “What kind of attitude is that? Didn’t you drop out? Why are you back? If it weren’t for you, how would Daphne have been kicked out by Professor Vance?”

“Exactly.” Sycophant number three crossed her arms in agreement. “I heard you didn’t pay rent, causing your family to be thrown out by the landlord on a rainy day, worsening your mom’s condition. And you’re just sitting here in class like nothing happened? Where’s your conscience?”

With the three sycophants fanning the flames, I became a disloyal, unfilial bane. Daphne, with tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain, pleaded, “Don’t talk about my sister like that. Whatever choices she makes, she’s still my sister… I, I’m fine, as long as sister is happy…”

This trick again? Daphne was already delicate and pretty, and with her vivid acting, she successfully garnered everyone’s sympathy. Some even started stirring, chanting for me to get out. Even the renowned, stern Professor Vance looked at me with a dark, deathly gaze.

Before, I would have been consumed by shame and anger. But now, I had found my voice. Playing the victim? Who couldn’t do that? She was faking it; I was genuinely miserable!

I immediately fell silent, tears silently flowing, gazing at Daphne with a mournful expression, as if the whole world contained only the two of us.

“Daphne, the dress you’re wearing, I bought it with the money from my fourteenth blood donation. You said you liked it, so I gritted my teeth and bought it.”

“But this white T-shirt I’m wearing? I’ve had it for three years!”

“We’re the same age, born on the same day, so why do you get to be the little princess of the family, while I’m constantly scrambling to cover all the family expenses?”

“Dad’s cigarettes and alcohol, brother’s gaming gear, Mom’s medicine, your princess dresses and high heels, the entire family’s rent and living expenses.”

“Daphne, I know you love me, but… but this love is truly too heavy. I genuinely can’t afford it!”

“I have to get up at 5 AM every day to work, and I don’t get home until midnight. I’ve tried so hard to find ways to earn money, but my abilities are limited. I can only sell my coursework, my projects, even my start-up company, even my own body, my flesh and blood, to afford your luxurious lifestyle.”

“I… cough cough, I really… can’t keep going. Please, please, just let me go!”

I clutched my fists in anguish, leaning on the table, my slender body swaying precariously. The vast classroom fell into dead silence, then, like a clap of thunder, it erupted into a cacophony of buzzing voices.