I couldn't bring myself to speak kindly to someone so shameless.

Wendy froze for a moment, then quickly put on a pitiful, innocent act. "Esme, I was only joking. Please don't be mad."

My parents, Brett, and even Lance rushed over to comfort her.

Lance turned around to reprimand me. "It was just a joke. Aren't you worried about making her spiral again? You're too immature, Esme. I think I need to reconsider our engagement!"

"Whatever," I replied.

So now I was immature?

I gave this picture-perfect "family" a small smile. There was no reason to feel upset anymore.

I threw Lance a glance, then walked out the door without a care for the expression on his face.

My father suddenly called out, "Put on a mask. Don't let anyone recognize you."

I let out a bitter laugh, but I still did as he told me to.

I just had to hold on a little longer. In two more weeks, I would have a brand new life.

…

After leaving the house, I went directly to the construction site located next to a low-income neighborhood.

This was the most accepting part of the city. No one asked about my past, and I found a job doing odd tasks at a diner.

It didn't matter how much the pay was. At least it came with one meal a day, and I wouldn't go hungry.

After all, the Walkers never had a place for me at the table. Ever since Wendy showed up, the only thing they did was pay my school fees on time and nothing more.

Every time I came home, they would have already eaten as a "family". All I ever got was a "figure it out yourself".

That pushed me toward one illegal sweatshop after another. As long as I could eat, I didn't care about the pay—I just needed to survive.

Lance used to be the only person I could rely on.

He had protected me, pulled me away from home, and taken me out to eat. He was always gentle to me, and I relied on him. I had given him all my trust.

So, when he became seriously ill ten years ago, I didn't hesitate to donate a kidney to save him.

After that, my body got weaker every day. I couldn't even lift heavy things or exercise anymore. It hadn't mattered to me then, as long as I could save his life.

Everything ended when he sent me to prison himself. He helped my family frame me and forced me to give up my guaranteed spot in university.

Once Iris took me away, I wouldn't have to see him again.

No one would be able to hurt me anymore.

…

I continued going to work as usual until I saw the news on TV that Wendy and Lance had gotten engaged.

I had a hard time believing it despite everything.

Lance's family and the Walkers had known each other for generations. My engagement to him was, in fact, arranged by our grandfathers.

Lance and I had grown up together, and he knew my sufferings better than anyone else.

I once believed that Wendy could take everything from me, except him. But now…

…

When I got home that night, my mother spoke first.

"Esme, you're back. Come, let's sit down and talk about your sister's marriage," she said. "You owe Wendy anyway. Since Wendy likes Lance, she'll be the one to marry him.

"You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

Did they think Lance was some sort of toy that could be passed around?

I found this whole situation somewhat hilarious.

It all started with having to give up my room to Wendy.

Then, it was the puppy I rescued and the guaranteed admission spot—they all became Wendy's, even when she never appreciated any of it.

I clenched my fists and turned to Lance. I asked him, "You agreed to this?"

Lance looked a little uneasy. "When I'm around, Wendy's hallucinations seem to ease up a bit. You'll understand, won't you?"

"Then why bother pretending to ask me?" With that, I turned to head back to the "room" I was staying in.

Brett, however, blocked my way.

"Esme!" He looked furious. "How can you be so selfish? Do you even remember who caused Wendy's mental issues?

"Besides, you never went to university, and you have a criminal record. What makes you think you're worthy of Lance?"

"Esme," Lance said, grabbing my hand. "Wendy gave me a kidney back then. I can't turn my back on her."

Lance's words made my chest tighten painfully. For a moment, I felt lightheaded from the rush of blood.

I was the one who donated the kidney. Since when did Wendy become the donor?

Although I didn't expect them to believe me, I still couldn't hold back. I had to speak up.

"Lance, would you believe me if I said I was the donor—"

My trembling voice was soft. Before I could finish, my father interrupted me.

"Esme!" he roared. "If you have any shame left, shut your mouth! Stop lying. If you're trying to compete with Wendy, let me tell you—you'll never compare to her!"

I ignored my father. But when I saw the doubt and disgust in Lance's eyes, I knew.

He would never believe me.

I didn't bother to explain any further. No matter how they lost it behind me, I walked away without looking back.

…

The next day, I had just arrived at the diner where I worked when I saw a familiar figure.

"Welcome to—" The polite greeting caught in my throat the moment I recognized the person.

It was Brett. He walked up to me, looked around, then covered his nose in disgust.

I was about to say something when he cut me off and handed me a credit card.

"The passcode is Wendy's birthday. You should remember it."

Of course, I did. Every year, her birthday was celebrated with more fanfare than Christmas, after all.

When I didn't take it, he stuffed the card into my hand.

"We've never shortchanged you all these years, so stop looking all poor and shabby. You're embarrassing us."

I suddenly laughed and said, "Never shortchanged me? Then what am I doing here? Am I a rich girl pretending to live a hard life?"

Brett froze for a moment, then exploded with rage. "How did our family end up with someone like you?"

After that, he stormed off.

…

Time passed quickly, and soon it was the day before I left for Romero. It was also the day before Lance and Wendy's wedding.

I had quit the diner the day before. Before I could even make myself scarce, I was woken up by the noise outside.

They were all my old classmates.

The group of rich kids crowded around the soon-to-be newlyweds. When they saw me, they said mockingly, "Esme, you're still here?"

"You clung to Lance like a leech for years. Now that he's your brother-in-law, I guess at least you're his relative!"

"Hey, Lance, it looks like you lost. Truth or dare! Would you kiss Esme or Wendy?"

Lance looked past the crowd, his gaze landing on me.

My expression remained blank.

After just a moment of hesitation, Lance kissed Wendy amid the crowd's cheers.

I turned around and went back to my storage room.

…

The day was lively, but my memories stayed trapped in the past. I couldn't break free from it.

"Esme, I'll take you away one day."

"I'll protect you forever. Don't be scared, Esme."

"Esme, I love you."

The 18-year-old Lance, who once said he would protect me, had died in the past. I couldn't forgive him, just like I couldn't stop loving his younger self.

That night, fireworks lit up Whitville. The night sky looked almost as bright as day.

It was all Lance's doing for Wendy.

Then, I got a text from him.

"Esme, I don't blame you for lying to me. I know you did it because you love me. Wait for me, okay?"

No, Lance. Everything was already over.

…

In my room, I changed into the nicest clothes I had. Then, I sat at my desk and pulled out my diary.

I had written, "October 25th, 2008. Charles died saving me and Wendy. Beatrice passed too. Wendy had asked me to fetch her toy from the river, and Charles ended up saving her. But still, it was all my fault. I'll be good to her."

"December 13th, 2010. Wendy said she liked my room, and Mom told me to move into the storage room first. Mom said I could move again once the new space was ready. But how long will that take?"

"April 5th, 2011. Why did Wendy lie about me spending all her allowance? She was the one who took all of mine. Why won't Mom, Dad, and Brett believe me?""

The last entry was from November 2017, a month before I was sent to prison.

There was only one line.

"They never loved me!"

I sighed and picked up my pen, ready to write down the final entry in the diary.

I wrote, "January 1st, 2026. Mom, Dad, I'm gone. You can think of me as dead. Perhaps to you, I did a long time ago. But why must Charles' and Beatrice's deaths be my fault?

"What more do I have to do to 'atone?' In the past eight years, have you ever worried about me, even for a second? What were your feelings when you gave birth to me?"

I added, "To Brett, my brother. Perhaps you've forgotten, but I'm your sister too. But it's fine now, because none of it matters anymore.

"If there's a next life, I don't want you as my brother."

The last paragraph was for Lance. I wrote, "Lance, I won't wait for you this time. I can't forgive you, just like how you once told me to never forgive those who hurt me.

"I won't betray myself or the version of you who once loved me. Let's never meet again. I wish you and Wendy happiness."

At the end, I placed my prison medical report on the table. It clearly states I was missing a kidney.

Just as I was done, Iris called. I left Walker Residence with my luggage and stepped toward my new life.