Chapter 1
“Grace, this is Ethan, my girlfriend.”
I looked at the slender, pale girl in my brother’s arms, my gaze drawn to the shabby handmade bracelet in her hand.
“Happy birthday, little sister,” she said timidly.
“I made this bracelet myself… please don’t dislike it.”
I froze for a second.
Her eyes immediately welled up with tears.
Henry frowned.
“Grace, what’s wrong with you?” He shoved the bracelet into my hand. “Hurry up and say thank you!”
Afraid that Ethan might feel hurt, he was so rough that my wrist ached.
In my past life, I thought Ethan was meek and unimpressive.
The bracelet she gave me looked like something dug out of a trash pile.
I didn’t bother hiding my disdain.
My brother flew into a rage, accusing me of being disrespectful.
I shot back, telling him that as a senior in high school, he shouldn’t be wasting time on romance.
Besides, Ethan wasn’t as innocent as she seemed.
But he wouldn’t listen.
He kept skipping class to take Ethan out, indulging in lavish trips and parties.
Finally, I had no choice but to tell our father.
Under Dad’s strict intervention, he broke up with Ethan.
After that, he focused on his studies and got into the best university in the country.
Later, when Dad fell seriously ill, Henry inherited the family business.
Back then, I thought, At least I still have my brother now that Dad’s gone.
But in the end, Henry kicked me out of the house—even hired someone to break my wrists.
“Look at you now. Pathetic as a beggar. What’s left for you to be proud of?”
Only then did I realize the truth.
He had never actually broken up with Ethan.
He blamed me for snitching, forcing them to hide their relationship all those years.
He blamed me for my coldness, which had made Ethan feel insecure and miserable for so long.
And worst of all—Dad’s illness?
He and Ethan had secretly replaced Dad’s supplements with slow-acting poison.
In the end, when Dad was bedridden, they abandoned treatment and buried him hastily.
As for me, I died alone in a dark alley.
At the exact same time, Henry threw Ethan a grand, extravagant wedding, with red roses decorating every streetlamp.
When I opened my eyes again, I was back at my sixteenth birthday party.
This time, I would fight back.
