"Elena, you're her elder sister. Avie has suffered for so many years—can't you give her a break?"

"Exactly! You've enjoyed a good life for so long. Why not let Avie have a taste of it too?"

"You’re the older sister, after all!!"

Listening to my family's reproachful words, I opened my mouth, trying to say something.

But Avery was quicker to respond.

"Dad, Mom, brother, I understand. I know my sister doesn't want to give Jay up for me. I get it—after all, the engagement was made with her, not with me."

Avery finished speaking, her head bowed slightly, her pearly teeth gently biting her red lip.

What a pitiful sight.

Hearing Avery's words, Jayden, who’d been standing beside her, immediately wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Avie, don't worry. I, Jayden Hanson, will only marry you in this lifetime."

Then, Jayden turned to me with an irritated expression.

"Elena, Avie suffered outside for so many years. If I hadn't seen her at the company’s annual gala and brought her back, how many more years would you and your parents have grieved?"

"For all these years, the Wilkinsons have granted your every wish, while Avie has only asked for one thing since she returned—to marry me."

"Can’t you be a little more generous?"

Can’t I be a little more generous?

I looked at the man I had loved for over a decade. Once, he had held me like this, wrapping his arms around my waist, and promised my family earnestly.

"Owen and Ashley, and Darren, don't worry—I will always take good care of Ellie."

Seeing the loving couple before me, my eyes began to sting with tears.

"Jayden, you truly are unbelievable."

Their brows furrowed at my words, looking at me as if I were some irredeemable villain.

"Elena, go to your room!" My father’s face was set in a frown, filled with discontent.

Darren’s gaze was also filled with disdain.

I scoffed and retorted, "You’re not any better."

My father threw the newspaper at my feet, threatening, "Do you want to be punished again? Apologize to Jayden and Avie right now!"

I ignored them, merely frowning.

They, in turn, paid no attention to me, focusing instead on Avery in Jayden’s arms, their faces brightening with joy.

"Avie, it's settled then. You and Jayden should get married soon, and we will help with the children."

At my parents' words, Avery blushed and buried her face in Jayden's chest.

"Mom, Dad, Avie is still just a child. Can we not talk about such things? Avie just got home and wants to spend more time with you and my siblings."

Avery's words made everyone laugh.

Jayden playfully pinched Avery’s nose and said, "Little girl, who was it that fell for me right away?"

Avery had been brought back to the Wilkinsons a month ago.

Jayden had said he found a girl who looked remarkably like me at his company's annual gala, suspecting she might be the Wilkinsons' missing youngest daughter.

Our family rushed to see her.

We quickly took Avery for a DNA test.

The result confirmed that Avery was my lost twin sister.

Initially, like everyone else, I was happy to have found Avery.

But somehow, it seemed Avery started to replace me in the family.

My father, worried that Avery might be mistreated at Jayden's company, brought her to work at his own firm.

He even arranged the easiest job for Avery.

But within a few days, Avery came to us in tears.

"Dad, Mom, the people at the company say that my skills are inferior to my sister's. Why should I do the least work and get paid the same as her?"

Avery cried inconsolably in our parents' arms.

My mother, heartbroken, hugged Avery and scolded my father, "You need to fix this immediately. Don't let Avie be mistreated in her own home."

My father fired a few people as a warning, but the rumors only grew worse.

It eventually spread that "Avery was placed in the company because the Wilkinsons were afraid of being caught by other firms. Her skills are nowhere near Elena's."

Moreover, the shareholders unanimously opposed having all three siblings in the company.

"Ellie, Dad believes in you. You can make your own way."

As soon as I got off work, my father called me into his study. With a look of guilt, he handed me a resignation letter.

"I refuse!"

At that time, I was still proud and self-assured, unwilling to accept being fired from my own family's company.

But I didn’t expect my usually compliant father to suddenly turn stern.

"How many times do I have to tell you? You're the elder sister—can’t you just let your younger sister have her way? Besides, if you hadn’t been so careless, Avie wouldn’t have gone missing. It would have been better if it were you who had disappeared."

When those words were spoken, I was left speechless with shock.

"I refuse. Why should I be the one to leave while Avery stays?"

Yet my pride wouldn’t let me leave the company in such a manner.

My father took a sip of his cappuccino and said coldly, "This is the company’s decision. Am I the president or are you? If you can handle it, stay. If not, get out."

As I looked at my father, I felt for the first time that I was being pushed out of this family.

My pride wouldn’t allow me to argue further with my father. I swallowed my pain and finally said, "Okay, I understand."

As I left the study, I saw Avery standing across the hallway, smiling warmly at me.

I didn’t want to speak to Avery any more. At first, I had thought that Avery’s return would mean sharing our family’s affection, but now I realized I was mistaken.

However, Avery wasn’t going to let me off so easily.

"Sorry, Ellie, that you got fired because of me."

Avery approached me with a smile, her tone full of unspoken joy and no trace of remorse.

"What do you mean?"

I glared at Avery, demanding an explanation.

To my shock, Avery glanced downstairs and then jumped over the railing.

"Ellie, I’m sorry! Please don’t push me! I really didn’t ask Dad to fire you!"

"Thud!"

The whole family heard the commotion. Avery lay crumpled on the ground, repeatedly saying, "Sis, I’m sorry! Please don’t push me!"

Darren’s face darkened as he approached me.

"Apologize to Avie."

"Darren, she jumped down on her own. I didn’t push her. Check the security footage if you don’t believe me!"

Before I could finish, Darren slapped me.

I tasted blood in my mouth, and my vision blurred.

Still, I tried to explain, "It wasn’t me."

"Smack!"

Another slap followed.

I spat out a bloodied tooth, tears streaming down my face, and looked up at the brother who had always cared for me since childhood.

"Darren, it really wasn’t me," I whispered.

Darren ignored my words, leaving me with a final command, "You’d better apologize quickly and resign. Don’t let those rumors affect Avie."

And so, I stood by the railing, holding the tooth Darren had knocked out.

When the sun finally set, they returned.

Avery was the first to rush through the door, smiling at those behind her. "Mom, Dad, brother, look at me. I’m really fine. I’m going to apologize to Sis later."

Avery’s words had the opposite effect.

The whole family turned their gaze toward me.

"Avie, let’s get you to your room first," my mother said, pulling Avery with her. She cast a look back at me, one filled with anger and reproach, devoid of the previous affection.

"Come here."

My father and Darren looked at me with dark, disapproving faces.

They dragged me down to the basement.

"We Wilkinsons never tolerate the abuse of family members. Darren, take care of this."

My father retrieved a thick wooden stick from the basement.

"Twenty strokes."

"Understood."

One stroke, another, and another.

I had lost count of how many blows I had received. My tears were beaten out of me, my back bent from the force.

I lay sprawled on the floor, a pitiful mess.

"Do you understand your mistake?"

My father sat in front of me, his voice cold.

I looked up at him and explained, "Even if you ask me a thousand times, or ten thousand times, I will say the same thing—it's not me who pushed her. Avery jumped down on her own."

My father was about to have Darren continue the punishment.

But a voice interrupted him.

"Mr. Wilkinson."

Jayden arrived, looking weary as if he had just returned from a business trip.

To my surprise, Jayden didn’t even glance at me. He addressed my father, "Mr. Wilkinson, I heard Avie was hurt, so I came to see her. I also wanted to discuss something."

"I want to marry Avie."

What? I looked up in disbelief.

Jayden continued, completely ignoring my presence.

"I want to formally become Avie's legal husband."

At that moment, it felt as though I had been forgotten by this family, as if no one cared about me.

I lowered my head, struggling to hold back tears, and decided to go upstairs to calm down.

As I was climbing the stairs, Avery suddenly called out to me.

"Sister, can you help me choose a wedding dress?"

I was about to refuse, but seeing the threatening expressions of those around me, I knew I had no choice but to comply. I nodded faintly, my face devoid of emotion.

"Sister, there's no time like the present. Let's go and choose now," Avery said, her smile widening at my response.

I withdrew my hand and replied flatly, "When do we leave?"

Avery looked at my hand with a feigned sorrow and lowered her voice.

"I’ve already arranged things with the bridal shop. We can go right away."

Darren, unable to bear Avery’s sad expression, quickly took my hand and placed it in Avery’s.

Avery’s hand was rough from earlier work, and it hurt a little. But she held my hand tightly, not letting go.

When we arrived at the bridal shop, I realized what Avery was up to.

"Ms. Wilkinson?" The shop owner seemed surprised to see me at the store I had previously visited with Jayden.

"I’m here to help my sister choose a wedding dress," I explained.

Avery smiled and linked her arm with the shop owner’s.

"Sister, I’m going to marry Jayden Wilkinson. Could we look at the wedding dresses in your shop?"

The shop owner gave me a pitying glance before turning to show Avery the gowns.

Avery took a long time to choose, finally bringing a few photos to me.

"Sister, did you and Jayden choose this dress? What do you think of it on me?"

I looked at Avery’s insincere smile and replied mockingly, "So, does this mean you’re using my hand-me-downs?"

Avery’s expression nearly faltered at my words.