Chapter 2

Maya tugged lightly at Julian's sleeve, pouting pitifully.

"Julian, please don't be mad at her anymore. It's my fault for having such a useless body and being allergic to seafood. Alyssa couldn't have meant it. Please don't blame her..."

Julian's expression darkened, an icy scowl settling over his features.

"That little menace was pampered too much, which made her arrogant and vicious!"

Carter's eyes practically burned with fury. "The older she gets, the nastier she becomes. If it weren't for her, you wouldn't have suffered like this!"

Maya deliberately shifted her sleeves back, revealing her arms. There were still faint red rashes visible on her fair skin.

Leo gently brushed his fingers over the fading marks, his heart aching for her. "Does it still hurt, Maya?"

Maya lowered her head, her voice trembling as if she were holding back sobs. "It... it doesn't hurt. Not anymore..."

Carter's temper flared completely out of control. "If we had arrived at the hospital a minute later, you could have gone into anaphylactic shock and died! And after three days, that little monster hasn't sent a single message of apology. She doesn't feel an ounce of remorse!"

Julian stood up, slamming his hand against the mahogany table.

"Drag her out here right now! I want her on her knees! Let's see how long her stubborn pride lasts!"

Carter and Leo chimed in, venom dripping from their voices.

"Her stubborn pride only exists because we used to pamper her! Now that she's crossed the line, she needs a real punishment!"

They turned to glare at the trembling housekeepers and shouted, "What are you all standing around for? Drag that ungrateful brat up here! And bring the riding crop from the study. Since she made Maya suffer in the hospital for three days, it's time she learned some discipline!"

Terrified of their rage, the staff hurried down the hallway toward the cellar.

I let out a hopeless, bitter laugh.

They didn't even bother to investigate the truth before condemning me.

Three days ago, Maya had said she was craving soup. Wanting to repair our strained relationship, I volunteered to make it for her.

She specifically handed me a sealed packet of seasoning, claiming it was her favorite blend. I tasted it—it was just ordinary seafood bouillon.

How was I supposed to know it contained her deadly allergen?

Julian was supposed to be a brilliant business mogul who saw through corporate sharks every day, yet he couldn't see through such cheap, high school theatrics. Was it really blindness, or was it just blatant favoritism?

In my brothers' hearts, I would never measure up to Maya. A hollow chill spread through my spectral chest.

Not that it mattered anymore. I was already dead in the dark. Now, they could pour every ounce of their love into Maya without me in the way.

Minutes later, a housekeeper ran back into the dining room, gasping for breath and pale as a ghost.

"Mr. Vance... we've been shouting Miss Alyssa's name for five minutes, but there's no answer! We pressed our ears against the door, and... and we can't hear any breathing at all!"

Julian's brow furrowed tightly. He stood up, radiating cold disdain.

"What kind of game is she playing now? Is she pretending to be dead because she's too proud to apologize to Maya?"

"Does she even realize she almost committed manslaughter?!"

Maya tugged at the corner of Julian's jacket, her voice dripping with sorrow.

"Julian, it's okay... I'm just an adopted orphan. I don't deserve an apology from Alyssa anyway."

Julian's fury reached a boiling point.

"Playing the silent treatment to get our sympathy? Does she really think I'm that stupid?"

"She thinks if she acts mute, I'll let her off the hook? It seems my punishment was far too light!"

"Let's go. Drag her out. I'll make sure she kneels before Maya today, even if I have to break her legs to do it!"