I grew up in an orphanage.

Because of my congenital heart condition, the director always took special care of me. Then, on my eighteenth birthday, a couple appeared out of nowhere and said they were taking me home.

It turned out I had parents. And a sister, one year younger than me.

My sister didn't like me.

"Why did you even come back if you're sick? You were better off at the orphanage. If you just drop dead one day, imagine how sad Mom and Dad would be!"

Dad scolded her harshly for that.

Mom held my hand and murmured under her breath, "Thank God. Minnie Henson is going to be perfectly healthy. She will."

It took two years before I understood why they'd brought me home.

Jennifer Henson stood in front of me, her face twisted with a smug little smile.

"Big sister."

"You really think Mom and Dad would let me marry a cripple? They brought you back for the arranged marriage!"

"If they actually loved you, they never would have abandoned you in the first place!"

"Honestly, no one expected you to survive long enough to come back. Marrying Mr. Sanchez has to be better than rotting in that orphanage, right?"

"So I suggest you do as you're told. Either go through with the marriage, or go die."

Eve Hensonry word was a knife. When she finished, she slammed the door behind her and left.

I didn't say anything. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, tears streaming down my face.

……

So that was it. My parents didn't love me. They just thought I still had some use.

I gasped for air, the tears falling and falling.

How pathetic. We were both their daughters. Why would they do this to me? Just because I was sick? If I could have chosen where I was born, I never would have come to this family.

I wiped my eyes and sat up, only to find that the medication I'd left on the nightstand was gone.

The pain in my chest was getting worse. I didn't even make it to the door before I collapsed.

I tried to scream, but I had no strength left.

I stretched my arm as far as it would go and barely managed to reach my phone on the floor beside me. I dialed. No one picked up.

I called again. Nothing.

My heart went cold, and everything faded to black.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw myself sprawled on the floor by the door, face drained of all color. White as paper.

What's happening? I can see my own body. Am I dreaming?

I reached to pinch myself, and terror flooded through me, because my fingers passed right through my arm. I had to accept it.

I was dead.

I had already left this world.

I could pass through walls now. I drifted straight through the bedroom door, and in the blink of an eye, I was sitting on the living room couch.

Beside me, Jennifer and my parents were laughing. Warm, easy laughter. The kind families share.

They were the real family. I was just an intruder who had stolen twenty years she was never meant to have.

Why does it still hurt when you're dead? I could feel tears sliding down my cheeks even now.

"Once your sister's wedding is set, Mom and Dad will find you a wonderful match. Our Jennifer isn't going to suffer one bit."

That was Mom. Her voice was impossibly gentle.

"But what if she refuses?" Jennifer asked.

"She doesn't get a choice. She's marrying him."

The expression on Dad's face was something I had never seen in the two years I'd lived under this roof. He looked like a stranger. Like a completely different person.

I fought back.

"Jennifer and I are both your daughters! Why does she get to throw something away and have it handed to me?"

"I won't marry him! I won't!"

No matter how loud I screamed, they couldn't hear me.

I reached for Mom's arm, desperate to grab hold of her, but my hand passed right through.

If this is how it was always going to be, I would have been better off staying at the orphanage. But I could never go back now.

Nora had lunch ready on the table.

Mom seemed to remember I existed. She turned to Jennifer.

"Go tell your sister to come down and eat."

Jennifer's face soured instantly.

"Every single day, holed up in that room. Can't even come down for a meal without someone fetching her!"

"Nora, you go get her."

Jennifer didn't bother hiding her irritation. She'd figured it out long ago—no matter what happened, Mom and Dad's hearts would always tip in her favor.

The privilege of being loved was knowing you could get away with anything.

Nora went upstairs and knocked on the door.

"Miss Minnie, are you up?"

No answer. Nora assumed I was still asleep and hurried back down.

"Sir, ma'am, Miss Minnie doesn't seem to be up yet."

Mom's face darkened with anger.

"She thinks hiding in her room means she won't have to go through with the marriage? How naive. Forget her. Let's eat."

"Here, Jennifer, have some more."

Mom's expression shifted instantly, her voice dripping with honey.

"Don't you go copying her. If you starved yourself, it would break my heart."

Dad piled food onto Jennifer's plate too, heaping it with meat until the bowl could barely hold any more.

In the two years I'd lived here, the number of times they'd served me food at the table didn't even fill one hand.

How was this fair? I was the one with the illness. Jennifer was perfectly healthy and had parents who adored her on top of it. What had I done wrong to deserve this?

Grief and fury surged through me. I wanted to knock Jennifer's bowl off the table, but my hand passed straight through it.

Watching the happy smile on Jennifer's face, my entire soul trembled.

Then the doorbell rang.

In the middle of lunch—who could that be?

Nora went to answer.

Several bodyguards flanked a man in a wheelchair, pushing him forward.

When Mom and Dad saw who it was, they both shot to their feet.

So this was the man I was supposed to marry. Aside from his legs, it was hard to find a single flaw. Tall, with sharply defined features—he could have passed for a movie star.

"Mr. Sanchez! You should've called ahead so I could've picked you up. What brings you all this way?"

"Have you eaten lunch yet?"

Dad waved for Nora to go prepare more dishes in the kitchen.

But Ronnie Sanchez stopped her. "No need. I'm here on business."

Jennifer's gaze hadn't left him once, a flicker of worry threading through her delight.

"Mr. Sanchez, right this way."

They moved to the living room. Dad busied himself making tea.

Ronnie got straight to the point.

"The marriage arrangement—has Miss Henson made her decision? If she's agreeable, we can register the marriage next Tuesday."

"Marrying you would be her good fortune. We'll follow whatever arrangements work for your side."

Dad didn't hesitate for a second. When profit was on the line, family meant nothing—let alone a daughter he'd abandoned as a baby.

Mom spoke up, curious.

"Mr. Sanchez, why the sudden rush to register?"

I could feel it. Her question had nothing to do with concern for me.

Dad shot Mom a sharp look.

"What kind of question is that? Mr. Sanchez has his reasons."

Mom let out an awkward laugh.

"I was just asking. I didn't mean anything by it."

Ronnie took a sip of tea and explained.

"My grandfather would like to see Miss Henson and me married soon."

There was something about him—a deep, tightly suppressed sadness. I tried to read his eyes for answers, but his expression gave nothing away.

"Is Miss Henson home? I'd like to meet her."

Before anyone could respond, Jennifer cut in.

"She's still sleeping."

All eyes drifted toward the second floor, toward my bedroom door.

Mom tugged at Jennifer's sleeve.

"Go wake her up."

Jennifer sighed and started up the stairs, muttering under her breath as she went.

"With that face of hers, fresh out of bed? Let's hope she doesn't scare Mr. Sanchez half to death."

"Ugh, now I have to go get her myself."

Jennifer knocked on my bedroom door.

"Hey, get out here! Mr. Sanchez is here to see you!"

"Mom and Dad are both waiting!"

When she got no response, Jennifer's temper flared instantly.

"What, are you mute? I'm talking to you!"

"You really think hiding in your room means you don't have to get married? Mr. Sanchez just said you're registering the marriage the day after tomorrow."

"Minnie! Can you even hear me? Open the door!"

"I'm giving you three seconds. If you don't, I'll make sure this lock never works again!"

This wasn't the first time Jennifer had broken into my room. Before, whenever we fought, Mom and Dad put on a show of being fair, but they always sided with her. Because I noticed things, because I was sensitive to every small shift, I caught every bit of it. My bedroom was the one private space I had, the only shelter where I could shut out everything I didn't want to feel.

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

"Minnie! You just wait. I'm going to get someone to pick this lock right now!"

Jennifer stormed back downstairs in a fury.

"Mr. Sanchez, I'm so sorry. My sister hasn't gotten out of bed yet!"

Dad's expression darkened.

"What happened? Didn't I tell you to bring her down?"

Jennifer explained, her voice dripping with wounded innocence.

"I tried, Dad! She's locked herself in her room and won't open the door!"

She ground her teeth and, right there in front of Ronnie, started tearing me apart.

"Well, she grew up in an orphanage, so what do you expect? We have a guest in the house and she can't even come down to say hello. No manners whatsoever!"

"Mr. Sanchez, my sister has quite the temper. Are you sure you want to marry her?"

Once Jennifer's emotions took over, nothing was off-limits.

"If it weren't for Mr. Sanchez's leg problems, someone like her would never even get a chance like this! She's handed a golden opportunity and still throws a fit. So dramatic!"

Dad reached over and clamped his hand over Jennifer's mouth, then turned to Ronnie with an apologetic smile.

"Mr. Sanchez, please don't listen to my daughter's nonsense. The marriage arrangement was always meant for Minnie from the very beginning."

Ronnie tightened his grip on the teacup in his hand and looked at Dad.

"To be honest, I don't particularly care who the bride is. I'm only doing this to fulfill my grandfather's wish."

Mom and Dad both let out a breath of relief. Their biggest fear was that Jennifer would say the wrong thing and send all that money walking right out the door.

"However, what was just said? I don't want to hear anything like that again. Minnie is my woman. None of you get to talk about her. If she wants to stay in her room, let her stay."

So this was what a real tycoon looked like?

Ah, what a shame. I was already dead.

It really was a pity, when I thought about it. If I hadn't gotten so worked up, maybe I'd still be alive.

Jennifer's face turned a sickly shade of green.

"She's just some hick who grew up in an orphanage, and Mr. Sanchez is actually defending her!"

Ronnie's gaze shifted to Jennifer. His eyes were glacial.

"Ms. Henson, if I'm not speaking up for her, should I be speaking up for you?"

Mom pulled Jennifer down to sit beside her.

"Mr. Sanchez, please forgive us. My daughter doesn't know any better. I'll make sure to discipline her properly."

"You'd better."

"Since Minnie is still sleeping, I'll come back next Tuesday. We'll go straight to register the marriage then. Let her know."

"I have other matters to attend to. I'll be going."

His bodyguard wheeled Ronnie toward the door. Dad trailed behind them.

"Mr. Sanchez, take care! You're welcome anytime!"

The moment Ronnie was gone, every face in the room changed.

"Dad, he actually stood up for her! How is that fair? I'm supposed to be his fiancee!"

Dad raised his hand, brought it inches from Jennifer's face, then let it drop.

"You..."