Chapter 2
When Aurora opened her eyes again, she found herself in a hospital bed.
A nurse was changing her bandages. Seeing her awake, the nurse let out a relieved sigh.
“You’ve been unconscious for two days. Thank God you’re finally awake. How are you feeling? Your sister fainted from shock when she brought you here. Your parents and your brother-in-law have been staying in the next room taking care of her. Should I go let them know you’re awake?”
Aurora’s lashes trembled, but she shook her head.
“There’s no need. They don’t want to see me. And I don’t want to see them either.”
A flicker of sympathy crossed the nurse’s eyes as she turned and left the room.
Outside, voices carried clearly into the hallway.
“It’s crazy-they’re blood sisters. The younger one nearly bled out and was sent straight to the ICU, and yet her family
didn’t even check on her. They’ve been glued to the older sister the whole time.”
“Heard her brother-in-law’s the CEO of Blackwood Group. Her sister married rich, so it’s no wonder she gets ignored. But that man really dotes on his wife-feeds her medicine himself, hired a therapist, and the gifts just keep coming.”
Their whispers reached Aurora’s ears loud and clear, but her face remained devoid of expression.
She was used to it.
That afternoon, the doctor called her in for a follow-up. No one was there to help, so she forced herself out of bed, her body still weak and trembling.
As she passed the room next door, she caught sight of her parents and Sterling, all clustered around Scarlet like she was the center of the universe.
Her father tucked a blanket over Scarlet, while her mother peeled grapes and gently fed them to her.
Scarlet smiled sweetly, her voice light and tender.
“Dad, Mom, you’ve been taking care of me nonstop. You haven’t even checked in on Aurora. I’m full now-why don’t you take this leftover soup to her? She’s the one who’s really hurt. I’m sure she needs the nutrition.”
“Oh, don’t worry about her,” her father replied without missing a beat. “She’s tough. She’ll survive wherever she is. This soup took your mother all night to make. Giving it to her would be a waste.”
Her mother nodded in agreement.
Sterling gently brushed Scarlet’s hair behind her ear, his gaze full of indulgent affection.
“Scarlet, the doctor said you fainted from emotional distress. Aurora’s always been cold-blooded-she never cared about you as a sister. She even dared to covet her brother-in-law. Don’t trouble yourself over someone like her.”
Hearing that, Aurora let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
She had a severe seafood allergy. She couldn’t eat fish, shrimp, or crab-yet because Scarlet loved them, their family served seafood at every single meal.
She couldn’t eat any of it. Her meals were always bland vegetables and plain rice, and still she was scolded for being
picky.
In front of others, Scarlet played the doting big sister. But behind closed doors, she would sneer, mock, and even hit her. And every time she hit her, she’d cry and run to their parents, twisting the truth.
Not once had her parents asked for her side of the story.
They just made her kneel in the rain all night as punishment.
After that, Aurora learned to stay away. Whatever Scarlet wanted, she gave up without protest.
In her last life, the only thing she refused to surrender… was Sterling.
But in the end, even that had led to her ruin.
This life, she just wanted to live her own life.
No more fighting. No more begging. And definitely no more love.
After finishing her check-up, Aurora headed to the pharmacy alone, holding her prescription slip.
To get there, she had to pass through a small garden.
Near the fountain, someone stepped in front of her path. She looked up-and saw Scarlet.
“Wow, you’re already out of bed? Guess you weren’t that badly hurt. Just so you know, Mom and Dad are on my side. Even
if you tell Sterling it was you with him back then, that he really loved you-it won’t matter. So save your energy.”
Aurora’s expression remained composed.
“Don’t worry. From now on, I won’t love Sterling anymore. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”
Scarlet was used to this submissive, defeated version of her sister. Her smugness only deepened.
“Give it to me? Do I look like I need your charity?” She laughed. “I’ve always had everything I wanted. You’ve only ever picked up the scraps I didn’t care for. You’ll never win against me in this life.”
