Chapter 171 You Won’t Die
That day, Kate’s words completely shattered Jeffrey’s world.
He clasped his hands over his ears, his mind refusing to process what he’d just heard.
Tears cascaded down his cheeks as he desperately protested. “No! That’s a lie! You’re making this up! Just stop! Stay away from me!”
But Kate held her ground. “Jeffrey, whether you believe me or not doesn’t change the truth. Think about it–if your mom were still alive, wouldn’t she have come for you by now? Did she ever stand up for you when you were hurt? Was she there to care for you when you were sick? She’s gone, Jeffrey. And you know what else? My mom told me that she died giving birth to you and Rachel. Face it–Rachel is a curse. If she hadn’t been born, maybe your mom would still be alive, and you wouldn’t be all alone.”
Kate, just a child herself, spoke with a cold certainty far beyond her years. Her words were sharp as daggers, cutting deep, leaving wounds that would never fully heal.
“Stop talking nonsense! You’ve always been jealous of Rachel because she’s prettier than you!” Jeffrey shot back, his voice shaking. “And let me tell you one last time–my mom isn’t dead! She’s up there, a star in the sky!” And with that, he spun around, ready to bolt.
But Kate wasn’t about to let him escape so easily. She grabbed his wrist, refusing to let go. “You don’t believe me? Fine! I’ll prove it. I’ve got books in my room–tons of them. I’ll show you the truth.”
Jeffrey, frail and weak back then, didn’t stand a chance against her determination.
Before long, she had forcibly dragged him into her bedroom.
Once inside, Kate hurled a stack of astronomy books at him, commanding him to read them.
When Jeffrey refused to comply, she began reading aloud passages about stars, methodically dismantling his cherished beliefs.
Within just ten minutes, Kate had crushed the final fragments of hope in Jeffrey’s heart.
That day, Jeffrey wept. He sobbed with raw, unrestrained anguish. It also marked the first time he felt genuine dislike toward Kate–the pampered girl who always appeared immaculately dressed.
Previously, even when Moira had targeted him, he’d maintained a fondness for his cute and pretty stepsister.
Because despite her spoiled nature, Kate had never truly wounded him until now.
But this? This was different.
“Open the door! I want to leave!” Jeffrey demanded, his voice hoarse. But Kate forced him to continue reading, to confront the truth, refusing to grant him exit.
Later, when her attention wavered, he quietly unlatched the door and slipped into the hallway.
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Chapter 171 You Won’t Die
Kate, still unsatisfied, immediately pursued him, clutching his sleeve to halt his escape.
They struggled near the stairwell, and overwhelmed by grief, Jeffrey lost control and shoved her away.
Neither child anticipated that with a single push, Kate would tumble down the entire staircase.
When Jeffrey rushed down to check on her, he found her lying in an expanding pool of crimson, her small body
nearly covered in blood.
It was this incident that ignited Moira’s murderous intent toward Jeffrey and Rachel.
Their father beat Jeffrey so severely he clung to life by the thinnest thread.
From that day forward, the status of Jeffrey and Rachel in the household plummeted further, their worth sometimes valued less than Kate’s pet.
Though Kate lost considerable blood, fortune favored her with mostly superficial wounds.
Later, she recovered and returned home from the hospital.
Her first words to Jeffrey carried a sinister undertone. “Hey, my silly brother, don’t you miss your mom terribly? I’ve thought of a perfect way for you to see her.”
“What way?” Jeffrey gazed at her, his eyes brimming with innocent hope.
Kate’s next words sent a chill straight to his bones. “I heard that if you die, you can see the dead. So, if you go, you’ll see your mom.”
Rachel, who had just arrived with a tray of food for Jeffrey, froze in the doorway.
Without a second thought, she put the tray down and lunged at Kate.
That day, Rachel beat Kate to a pulp. By the time she was done, Kate had lost four teeth, and her face was a swollen, tear–streaked mess.
But Rachel didn’t feel a shred of remorse. Not when that wretched girl had dared to tell her brother to die. She left Kate sprawled on the floor, bruised and humiliated, her once–pristine clothes in tatters.
Leaning down, Rachel’s voice was like ice. “Listen to me, Kate Marsh. If you ever lay a finger on Jeffrey again–if anything happens to him–I swear I’ll drag you down with me. And don’t even think about tattling to your mom or my dad. If they find out about today, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Kate, stubborn as ever, clenched her jaw.
Rachel wasn’t worried. She crouched lower, her gaze drilling into Kate’s. “I know what you’re thinking. You’ll run to your mommy, cry to her, and have her punish us.”
Rachel tilted her head, smiling darkly. “But here’s the thing, Kate–I don’t care about life or death. I have nothing to lose. You, on the other hand? You’re a pampered little princess with everything laid out for you. You have a future.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Are you really ready to throw that away?”
For the first time, Kate looked scared. Real fear seeped into her wide eyes as she nodded frantically. “I won’t! I swear, I won’t do it again. I don’t want to die!”
Rachel gave her one last cold look. “You’d better mean it. Because if I go down, I’m taking someone with me.” 35.5%
Chapter 171 You Won’t Die
Once Kate had scurried away, Rachel let out a slow, trembling breath. And then, as if all the strength had been sucked out of her, she collapsed onto the floor.
She hadn’t meant a word of it. She had only parroted what she had once heard Moira say–threats meant to strike fear. Back then, she had thought Moira was cruel for using them. She never imagined she’d one day throw them back at Moira’s own daughter. Fate had a twisted sense of humor.
Kate’s cruel words had once shattered Jeffrey’s heart, and even now, they still haunted him.
Rachel shook off her memories and brought her thoughts back to the present, feeling bitter inside.
“Jeffrey,” she said softly, “promise me you’ll never do anything drastic.”
Jeffrey nodded vigorously, his enthusiasm returning. “As long as you remain by my side, I’ll go nowhere. I’ll stay with you forever. When you and Brian marry and have children, I’ll play with them endlessly. I’ll create paper airplanes and draw pictures with them. Would that be okay?”
Listening to his description of this imagined future, countless words Rachel yearned to express became lodged in her throat.
“Jeffrey?”
“Yes, what is it you want to tell me?”
“I… I…” After several attempts, Rachel still couldn’t bring herself to voice the cruel reality.
“Have you ever considered that one day, I will also grow old, pass away, and leave you?” Finally, she expressed this inevitable truth in the gentlest manner possible.
Jeffrey appeared visibly shocked. Several moments passed before he could respond. “No, that won’t happen. You won’t die. Rachel…” His voice had diminished to a whisper, clearly revealing his distress.
“Silly boy.” Ultimately, Rachel could only offer comfort once more. “I was merely teasing you, inspired by the film we watched just now.”
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