Memories surged again, sending chills down my spine. I instinctively recoiled to dodge Antonio's outstretched hand.

"I-I'm not—" My voice was so hoarse.

I wanted to say I wasn't pretending. Here, dodging a beating was already a small win.

But before I could finish, the door was kicked open with a loud bang.

Against the light, I saw Orfeo rushing in.

"Sofia! You know today is Emilia's birthday. Even if you want to die, don't do it today and ruin her day!"

So, that was why they'd been desperate to keep me alive. They were afraid I'd die on Emilia's birthday and ruin her day.

I wanted to laugh but had no strength. Darkness crept over my vision little by little.

When I woke up again, I was in Lombardi Manor.

I heard Orfeo's gentle coaxing from the next room. "Emilia, come on, one more bite. Just one more."

I glanced at the clock. It was already the next day. Emilia's birthday had passed, so I wouldn't ruin her day anymore.

Now, I could finally die, right?

At that thought, my eyes landed on a fruit knife not far away. I pushed myself up and tried to get out of bed.

The moment my feet hit the floor, a sharp, tearing pain shot through my private part, and I collapsed heavily to the ground.

It hurt so much. Tears spilled uncontrollably as I hugged my dirty self tight and curled into a ball.

If I died, it wouldn't hurt anymore. If I died, I could forget the pain and let my memories stop at the good times.

That thought kept me going. My arm stretched toward the knife.

The moment I yanked the tablecloth off, glass shattered everywhere, slicing my skin, but I didn't notice.

Finally, I grabbed the knife and slashed at my neck without hesitation.

My strength drained fast as blood poured out. I slumped against the wall, powerless.

I was free now.

"Silvio, I'm sorry. I can't stay by your side until your last moment."

That was my last thought.

After that, I was jolted awake by violent shaking.

As I stared up at the hospital ceiling, a cold wave of emptiness washed over me. I hadn't died.

What greeted me was Orfeo's sharp and angry voice. "Sofia!"

I turned to him blankly.

Orfeo stood at the bedside, looking like a wreck despite his white coat. His eyes were red, and his voice trembled as he screamed, "Are you crazy? You actually tried to kill yourself just to compete with Emilia for our attention? Do you know you'd be dead if I'd been a minute later?

"Emilia was right next door! She faints at the sight of blood! If you want to die, do it somewhere else!"

His yelling made me feel even more aggrieved.

In my memories, Orfeo was the most cheerful and lighthearted of the Lombardi brothers.

When I was sick and burning with fever, Antonio went to pray in the church. Meanwhile, Orfeo—who was a medical doctor—stayed up all night by my bedside. He'd tell jokes to cheer me up and bake cupcakes to make me smile.

Even when Emilia first came, he dismissed her and made his stance clear to Antonio. "Sofia's my only sister."

Until that one banquet, when Emilia suffered an allergic reaction.

After checking her over, Orfeo tested the wineglass I'd given her and found the allergen.

That was the first time he snapped at me. "Sofia! What do you have to say? You just can't stand Emilia, huh? Do you want to get rid of her so badly?"

I shook my head helplessly, unable to defend myself.

A sudden phone ring interrupted my thoughts.

When Orfeo saw the caller ID, all his anger vanished. A smile I hadn't seen in a long time took over his face.

"Emilia, don't be scared. Sofia's okay now. She wouldn't really want to die. She's just being childish. She knows you faint at blood and wanted to scare you. I've already scolded her harshly.

"Alright. I'll make you some cupcakes when I get home."

When the call ended, the gentleness on his face vanished instantly. He shot me a fierce glare.

"Emilia has been crying so much out of worry that she couldn't even eat. Her depression had just gotten better, and you almost made her relapse with this stunt.

"Stay here and think about what you've done! When you realize your mistakes, then maybe we'll think about taking you back."

With that, he gave me a harsh sedative injection and slammed the door behind him.

Watching his retreating back, I forced a bitter smile and thought, "Don't worry, Orfeo. I'll die far away. You won't have to take me back."

My gaze drifted out the window.

This was Elythra Sanatorium. Down below stretched an endless ocean.

Not bad. Dying here wouldn't scare anyone.

I grabbed the edge of the bed and slowly shuffled toward the window.

Farewell, Antonio, Orfeo, and Carlo.

As I jumped, the door opened. Carlo rushed in just in time to see it all. His face twisted with rage.

Carlo came looking for Orfeo and just happened to catch me jumping out the window.

"Sofia!" He lunged to the window, his face instantly draining of color.

I guess I was born unlucky. I couldn't even die properly.

When they pulled me from the water, I coughed so hard it felt like my lungs were tearing apart.

When Orfeo arrived, he grabbed my soaked collar and laughed in frustration. "Sofia, are you crazy? When will you stop?"

Before I could catch my breath, a slap cut through the air.

Half my face went numb, and the metallic taste of blood spread in my mouth.

Antonio's hand trembled as he pulled back, and his chest heaved. After a long pause, he spat out through clenched teeth, "Take her back."

They roughly threw me into the trunk.

In the darkness and jostling, my consciousness started to fade. In a daze, I thought I saw Silvio holding me and gently telling my stories.

After some time, Carlo's hesitant voice came from the front seat, "Sofia hasn't made a sound. Is she okay?"

"She's faking again." Orfeo sneered. "You know how good an actress she is."

Antonio stayed silent. Frowning, he took slow drags from his cigarette. His expression barely hid his irritation.

Suddenly, Antonio's phone rang.

Pietro Santini, the butler, sounded panicked. "Mr. Lombardi! Ms. Ricci is having a depressive episode!"

Then, Orfeo's phone rang.

Zetico Solomon, the family doctor, also sounded shaky. "Mr. Lombardi! Ms. Ricci tried to kill herself. There's blood everywhere!"

As the call ended, the car screeched to a halt.

Antonio slammed the door open and yanked me from the trunk. "You keep trying to kill yourself today over and over just to distract us so Emilia can have an episode, right?"

Rain poured down, washing away the blood on me.

Cold to the bone, I trembled uncontrollably. The voices around me grew muffled.

Just then, Orfeo stepped forward and grabbed Antonio's arm. "Antonio, Emilia's condition can't wait. Stop wasting time on her."

Orfeo motioned for the helpers to drag me inside and pressed me to the floor.

As his gaze swept over me, he sneered with a strange expression. "What are you staring at? Emilia's in this state because of you. Isn't it right to draw some blood from you?"

At the sight of the long, thick needle, the hellish memories of the past three years crashed down.

Overwhelmed by fear, I trembled uncontrollably, desperately shaking my head and kicking wildly with my broken leg as I tried to move backward.

"No… Please… Don't…"

But my struggles were futile. I was dragged back forcefully and held down by several hands.

The sharp pain of the needle piercing my skin made me scream.

Carlo looked away and reached out to cover my eyes. His voice lacked conviction as he said, "Sofia, hang in there. It'll be over soon. Emilia's your sister, too. You can't just stand by and see her suffer, right?"

My vision began to blur. I gasped, but no air reached my lungs. Tears and cold sweat mingled, drenching my entire face.

Seeing my agonizing state, Zetico turned an uncertain gaze toward Orfeo. "Her body… might not handle this much blood loss. Should we call the hospital for an emergency transfer?"

Orfeo frowned. His voice was laced with a newfound hesitation as he replied, "But the hospital's too far. Emilia can't wait."

Just then, Pietro stumbled in. "This is bad! Ms. Ricci says she feels worse and might not make it!"

The moment he said that, the Lombardi brothers' faces turned pale.

Antonio gritted his teeth, and his earlier hesitation vanished. "Keep drawing!"

Orfeo opened his mouth as if to say something but stopped. He pressed his lips into a thin line before saying, "Emilia comes first."

Carlo turned away and quietly added, "Sofia, hang in there."

With that, they rushed to Emilia's room.

The pain swallowed all feelings. In my fading vision, another gentle face appeared.

"Silvio…"

I stopped struggling. My raised fingers finally fell limp.

Only when Emilia fully recovered did they remember me in the corner. They approached and called my name, but I didn't respond.

"Sofia, drawing blood shouldn't make you like this. Stop faking and get up. We'll have Orfeo make you something you like to eat later."

Carlo seemed to notice something was wrong. He slowly crouched and reached out to check for breath beneath my nose.

But I had long since stopped breathing.

The next second, his face drained of color, and he collapsed to the floor.