The young woman agreed at once. Then, she carefully asked for my permission and posted my story online.

On the screen, my face was sallow and gaunt, and my clothes were in rags. For a second, I almost did not recognize myself. I used to care so much about looking pretty.

Then, a thought came to me. I wanted to look beautiful when I died.

I counted the money in my hand. I was still tens of dollars short of buying some proper clothes for when I died. I could make that much by collecting bottles, however. Still, my muscles had almost completely wasted away. I really could not walk anymore.

I could only make my way to the mall entrance and ask someone to help me write a few large words on a piece of cardboard: [Can you give me your empty plastic bottles? Thank you!]

However, there were still plenty of kind people. By the end of the day, the bag in front of me was full, and I sold the bottles for more than ten dollars.

But I had not expected the young woman's video to go viral, drawing sympathy and attention from countless strangers.

The next day, my bag was full as soon as I reached the mall. Just as I struggled to pick it up, James kicked it away. "Alicia! Why did you put that video online? Were you trying to make people pity you so they would attack Tina and torment her emotionally instead? Delete it right now and tell everyone the truth!"

I let out a mocking laugh. "The truth? Isn't that... The truth?"

Even speaking was getting hard for me, and I could no longer control my facial expression.

James rubbed his brow in disgust, as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. Then, he sneered, "What's the point of doing all this? You made such a huge scene because you wanted me to bring you home early, didn't you? Fine. You can't even wait for another two weeks, and you insist on going against me? Let's see how far you get."

He nodded as if he had seen through everything, his eyes dark and emotions unreadable.

After James left, I tried not to think about it. I kept collecting bottles and selling them for money. I calculated that after a few more bags, I would have enough for the clothes.

But that afternoon, the blogger called me. She was sobbing, her voice full of guilt. "I'm so sorry. I probably can't help you make your wish come true anymore. My account was shut down, and my home was smashed. My grandma got so upset that she ended up in the ICU. I even have to borrow money for her treatment."

The young woman sounded like she was emotionally falling apart. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I don't know why everything was clearly getting better, but in just one hour, it all changed..."

My head buzzed.

I had never thought… I truly never thought that James would go this far for Tina. It was one thing to hurt me, but why did he have to hurt another innocent person?

I called a cab and had the driver take me to the Jennings villa.

I grabbed a bottle and threw it at James. "What right do you have to treat that young woman like that?!"

James turned around and looked at me sternly. "Do you know how much trouble you two caused this time? Tina saw the comments attacking her, and that triggered her depression! She almost killed herself! I'll explain everything to Mom and Dad in two more weeks! I'll use everything I have to make it up to you, and everything will end then. Your partner in crime will naturally improve, too."

I suddenly laughed until my vision blurred.

When everything ended, I would already be dead. What use was compensation that came too late?

Just then, the door opened. "Tina, we're back. Look what we brought you..."

It was Oscar and Florence. The moment they saw the laughter on my face, their expressions froze.

They stared at me for a long time before they finally realized the beggar standing in front of them was me, carrying a huge bag of recyclable bottles and looking completely out of place in the luxurious villa.

Florence's eyes reddened at once, and she broke down again. "What are you doing in our home?! My Tina almost died because of you! Get out! Get out of here!"

Oscar comforted Florence, his gaze cutting into me as he ordered me to leave. But I simply stared at James. As long as he agreed to let that blogger go, I would not stay even one second longer.

After a few tense seconds, Tina suddenly came out of her room. She still looked fragile and tearful. "Dad! Mom! I don't blame Alicia! Instead, I've always felt guilty toward her. If I hadn't suddenly appeared, Alicia would still be your precious daughter."

She bowed to me and said, "I'm sorry, Alicia. I deserve to get depressed. I know you'll only be satisfied if I die. I just hope you can take care of Mom and Dad for me after that."

As she spoke, she turned around and rushed into traffic.

Her acting was as clumsy as ever. And yet, James, Oscar, and Florence were terrified. The two older Jennings broke down, screaming Tina's name until their voices went hoarse. James did not hesitate. He chased after Tina despite the honking and cursing from the drivers.

At the last second, he threw himself forward and pushed Tina to safety.

Once they saw their precious daughter was unharmed, Oscar and Florence held Tina and cried with relief.

James looked at Tina, still panting in fear. Then, he turned around and slapped me in fury. "Alicia! You knew Tina was emotionally unstable! Did you come to the villa today on purpose just to provoke her?! You're so vicious, you're beyond saving!"

James's eyes were full of disappointment.

Oscar, who had been silent the whole time, roared with a low and furious voice. "We Jennings have never treated you badly. I never thought we would raise you into someone who hurts others without a second thought!"

My face burned in pain, as the slap left my head buzzing. I raised my hand and waved, even when I was groggy. "I didn't. I never hurt her..."

But their eyes were the same as they had been six years ago, when they drove me out. All of them looked as if they wished I would die. I could no longer voice any of my explanations or grievances.

Then, I stared at James and asked, "If I die, will you let that blogger go?"

He sneered. "If you die, I'll give her resources and make her a famous influencer."

His indifference suddenly made my whole body feel light, as if I was not so afraid of death anymore. I lowered my eyes and said softly, "You'd better keep your word, then."

When I turned around, I saw Florence pointing at me uneasily. "James, look at her. Something about her looks wrong. She isn't really going to die, is she?"

James glanced at me and immediately dismissed the thought. "How's that even possible? She loves her life more than anyone else. It's all an act to soften us."

After that, all three of them surrounded Tina.

Oscar and Florence took out the presents they had brought back from their trip and kept consoling Tina to cheer her up. James was distracted the whole time, turning his head every so often to look at my strange figure from behind.

But in the end, Tina's sweet call of his name buried that unease.

The four of them talked and laughed.

That happiness had stopped belonging to me a long time ago.

In the end, I sold the two bags of bottles in my hands and saved enough money for the clothes that I would wear for my burial.

But I could not even make it to the store...

-

Two weeks later, James successfully sent Tina abroad.

He was about to confess the truth he had prepared for so long to Oscar and Florence.

Then, he suddenly saw a trending topic: [The young woman diagnosed with ALS who went viral in that video did not make it in the end. When citizens found her in the bushes, her body was already starting to decompose...]