All they had to do was take the first step and reach out, and I’d cave every time.
This time, no one was on the other end of the call, eagerly calling them “Mom” and “Dad.”
“Honey, Laura’s not exactly the sharpest at work, so why do you keep spoiling her? When we’re gone, she’ll burn through the family’s fortune in no time.
“I really thought we could count on Eva to take care of us when we’re old. But she didn’t answer just now. You don’t think she’s actually mad at us, do you?”
Mom looked at Dad with a worried expression.
He tossed his cigarette into the ashtray, scowling.
“For giving her life, she owes us everything. And Laura was dying. As her older sister, she should be happy to help. What right does she have to be upset? Honestly, we’ve been too soft on her lately. She’s forgetting her place!”
I hovered silently in the corner, my eyes burning.
At that moment, I was relieved I was dead.
They spent the next month laughing and traveling on their honeymoon before they returned home.
Laura strolled in wearing my nightgown.
She picked up my perfume and sprayed it casually over herself. Then she lifted the covers and curled up on my bed like she owned the place.
David walked through the house, as if searching for my presence.
After scanning everywhere, his face darkened. There was nothing, not even a trace of me.
He stood still for a long while, staring at the kitchen, where I had spent most of my time.
“David, I’m your mate now. We shouldn’t keep another woman’s stuff in our home, right?” Laura cooed, her arms wrapping around his neck from behind. She perched on the edge of the dining table I had set up so carefully.
“Since you got me so many new clothes, why don’t we turn that kitchen into a walk-in closet? We always eat out anyway.”
Her voice was sweet, and her warm breath against his skin made his heart race.
David pulled her arms away and stepped back, hesitating.
“Laura, Eva’s still my mate. I only held the ceremony to give you peace before… This kitchen, let’s just…”
“I don’t agree!” Laura cut him off sharply. With tears streaming down her face, she looked pitiful yet determined.
“We had a formal ceremony in front of everyone we know. I’m your true mate now! You shouldn’t be thinking about anyone else.”
In the end, David gave in. He agreed to convert my kitchen into Laura’s new walk-in closet.
“Put that over there!
“Get rid of this one.
“Toss these useless old things!”
Laura stood in the middle of my kitchen, hands on her hips, barking orders at the workers as they emptied the space.
One by one, my beloved kitchen tools were thrown out like trash.
David just stood there, watching in silence. He never once stopped them.
Even though I had told him again and again that my greatest dream in this life was to have a warm, sunlit kitchen where I could cook for the people I loved.
