Chapter 1When the Ashes Were Scattered

The moment my parents cut off my sister’s medical funds—again—for their precious adopted daughter, my heart finally died.

The feed sighed along with me.

【Scarlett, your parents said they’re not doing it because they like the adopted girl more. They’re just afraid of spoiling you two. This is all just a test to toughen you up.】

【Remember last time? When they made you sell your blood for tuition? And the time they hired those thugs to steal your food money? This is the 99th test. They said if you can just get through this one, they’ll finally let themselves love you.】

Get through this one?

But my sister was already dead.

When I saw my parents standing in the middle of my tiny rental apartment, having broken in illegally, I wasn’t surprised. Ten minutes after I’d posted a desperate plea for help online, they had used their connections—and their money—to have the post scrubbed and my account banned.

They had the power to silence me online. But they didn't have the money to save my sister’s life.

I clenched my fists, listening as my father’s voice, cold and final as a death sentence, echoed in the small room.

“Scarlett, your allowance for the year is cancelled.”

He launched into a tirade. “You and Nina are getting more and more out of control. First, you lie about needing medical fees, and now you’re spreading rumors about us online! Do you have any idea how much it cost me to get that post taken down?”

His agitation grew, his eyes darting around the room. “Where’s Nina? Get her out here! It’s time I taught you both a lesson, once and for all!” He pointed a finger at me. “You. Kneel. Now.”

My mother stepped forward, feigning protection. “Let’s just talk this out. There’s no need for violence.” She turned to me, her voice syrupy sweet. “Scarlett, dear, where’s your sister? Have her come out and apologize to your father with you. This joke has gone too far. If you keep being stubborn, even I won’t be able to help you.”

Help?

When had she ever helped us?

She was always the silent observer, stepping in only at the end to play the peacemaker. When one of their “tests” succeeded, she’d praise herself for her brilliant parenting advice. When a test failed, she’d brush it off, placing all the blame squarely on Nina and me.

Even the feed had seen this script too many times.

【I can’t. This time her parents have really crossed the line. Scarlett was just asking for help to give Nina a proper burial. And they had the post deleted in less than ten minutes.】

【My heart breaks for her. I guess this is just the fate of a side character.】

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Ever since Stella walked into our lives, I’d been able to see the feed. I knew that my sister and I were just stepping stones for the story’s protagonist, Stella. We were destined to fail.

But I refused to accept it. I fought back, again and again, only to be defeated every time. Whenever Stella framed me for something, I would exhaust myself trying to explain, to prove my innocence to my parents. To them, my pleas were just pathetic excuses.

Later, I learned from the feed that they were using Stella to “toughen us up,” and that they secretly approved of her cruelty. Finally, I gave up. I accepted their twisted tests and even tried to convince Nina to do the same. I thought if we just endured it, the tests would end.

But it had been seven years. The tests never stopped. They just got worse.

And my beautiful, precious sister, because of their 99th test, had died alone in a hospital.

Even now, her body was lying in a cold morgue drawer.

Because I didn’t have the money to lay her to rest.

And my father had just cut off my meager $500 monthly allowance.

I took a deep, shuddering breath. When they were finally done yelling, I spoke, my voice barely a whisper.

“You can stop my allowance.”

“But please… just lend me two thousand dollars. Please?”

“Nina… she’s waiting to be buried…”

My father exploded. He ripped off his belt and lashed it across my back.

“So, you’re still lying! What kind of sister are you, cursing your own sibling to be dead?”

Pain shot through me, but I pushed through it. “I’m not lying. Nina was in a car accident. When I called you, you refused to pay the medical bills. She bled out and died. The cheapest cremation and burial… it’s two thousand dollars.”

My voice trembled uncontrollably. “I don’t have the money… that’s why I posted online for help… You can hit me all you want, but please, can you just lend me two thousand dollars so I can bury my sister…”

They had so much money. And my sister had died for lack of it. The irony was a knife in my heart.

My mother’s body went rigid. “Scarlett, what are you saying? Is Nina really…”