Chapter 2

James, once hailed as the most promising actor of his generation, boldly took the stage to propose to me.

After our wedding, we lived in blissful happiness.

I accompanied him as he networked, met with directors, and attended countless auditions.

In winter, we huddled together on a tiny single bed, shivering from the cold. He'd warm my icy feet against his belly.

The toughest year came when he was diagnosed with uremia, and our bank account dwindled to double digits.

I worked five jobs every day, from dawn till dusk, just to cover his medical expenses.

When a matching kidney was found, I didn't hesitate to donate one of mine to him.

Seven years proved that I loved him deeply, and he loved me just as much.

But only now do I understand that James married me simply to stop me from pursuing my ex-fiancé and ruining Violet's wedding.

I had thought that by following my mother's wishes and giving up my fiancé to my sister, she would love me more.

In the end, I realized that in all the love I had received before, my sister's shadow was ever-present.

As soon as she returns, whether it's James or my mother, nothing will belong to me anymore.

In the evening, Violet suddenly appeared.

She wore a micro-mini skirt, flaunting her long, pale legs, and smiled provocatively."You always lose to me. I just have to pretend to cry a bit and say I want a prize, and Ayi and Mom can't wait to ruin your legs."

"You're a legless freak. It makes me sick to look at you. If I were you, I wouldn't have the face to keep living."

Furious, I grabbed my phone and hurled it at her.

I missed, but she went berserk, pulling a paring knife from the drawer and lunging at me.

She slashed my left cheek, blood trickling down as a searing pain flared up.

I wrestled the knife from her grip and raised it high.

In the next instant, James snatched it back, embracing Violet protectively as he demanded to know what I was doing.

Violet sobbed heartbrokenly, claiming I had called her a homewrecker and threatened to break her legs before killing her.

I looked at James, shaking my head.

"That's not true."

James didn't even glance my way, carefully shielding Violet as they left.

Mom, hearing the commotion, peeked in from the doorway.

She didn't ask what happened or if I was in pain.

Watching me dab at the blood with tissues, she said in a tone that suggested I deserved it, "Serves you right for making your sister angry."

She didn't even step into the room, turning to follow and comfort my sister instead.

For as long as I can remember, I've known that Mom doesn't love me.She had her older sister with her rich ex-husband, then married my dad after the divorce.

She always scolded dad for not making enough money and complained that I ate too much without doing any work.

When the wind blew and rain fell, mom would gaze out the window worrying about my sister at her elite private school, living in a mansion with maids to care for her, wondering if she had enough to eat and warm clothes to wear. Meanwhile, she paid no attention to me shivering in my thin clothes with my stomach growling from hunger.

Things that others could easily obtain, I had to fight tooth and nail just for a chance at getting a small piece.

But now I think I don't want them anymore.

After a long while, James finally returned. He looked at me with a somewhat guilty expression.

My entire abdomen was in excruciating pain, even painkillers couldn't suppress it.

Remembering what the doctor had said, I suddenly didn't want to be angry anymore.

I told him it was Violet who tried to stab me with a knife.

James wasn't surprised at all after hearing this.

"I know. You don't have legs, so there's no way you could have gone to the drawer to get a knife."

I grabbed a pillow and started hitting him furiously, screaming in despair.

"Then why did you keep saying it was my fault?"

James furrowed his brow, constantly running his hand through his hair.

"Melody, Violet has a childish temper. You should just let it go."

"Besides, she won't be able to compete with you anymore. From now on, we'll give all our love to you. Everyone will revolve around you. Can't you just let this one go for her?"Tears flowed shamelessly down her face.