Liam Blackwood paced back and forth at the backstage door. The moment I emerged, he rushed forward. “What took you so long?”
He took me to a Western restaurant I rarely visited. On impulse, I ordered him a strawberry cake.
He visibly froze when he took the dessert. “How did you know…?”
My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t exactly tell him that in my previous life, I’d once stumbled upon him secretly
9:08 PM
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devouring cake in the middle of the night.
After dinner, he mysteriously drove me to a pet sanctuary in the city outskirts.
He said it was his secret base, and being with the animals made his soul feel cleansed.
Watching his tender expression as he played with the furry creatures, I couldn’t help but mention Buddy–the mutt i’d raised since childhood, now being fostered at the Hayes family home.
“Why the Hayes family? Not ‘home‘?” he keenly picked up on my words.
I briefly recounted the cliché story: the stolen twin, how after my foster parents in the small, forgotten town had their own son, I became an afterthought. At eighteen, Maya had come down from the mountainside for an art project and recognized me, but even after being acknowledged, I remained invisible. It wasn’t until three months ago, when Maya needed a “twin gimmick” for the show, that she remembered there was still a daughter living in the basement.
I’d never truly had a home, which is why I longed for its warmth so deeply.
1
Buddy was the only family I had.
In my previous life, when Julian approached me, he promised to give me a home.
I believed him, I fell deeply, and I died horribly.
.
So when Liam Blackwood looked at me and promised to give me a home, I just politely curved my lips and invited him to
visit Buddy with me sometime.
I never expected him to pick me up the very next day.
Stepping into the Hayes family mansion, I didn’t expect to run into Julian Thorne.
He sat at the head of the table, sipping tea, his gaze lingering on my hand clasped with Liam’s.
“I’m going to see Buddy,” I said, turning away. Mrs. Hayes shrieked, “No manners! With a distinguished guest like Mr. Thorne here, why bother with some wretched animal!”
I joined them in flattering Julian Thorne, even Liam Blackwood became an ignored side character.
Maya Hayes suddenly stood up. “It’s rare for sister to bring her brother–in–law home… I’ll make a dish.”
At lunch, she brought out a plate of charred meat chunks.
“My first time cooking, little sister, try some,” she piled four or five pieces into my
bowl.
I was about to push it away when Julian Thorne suddenly spoke, “What, you don’t approve of your sister’s cooking?”
Mrs. Hayes also fiercely kicked my shin under the table. “Eat it!”
I forced myself to finish the burnt meat on my plate, then got up and took Liam Blackwood to the backyard to find Buddy.
But I couldn’t find that familiar little figure anywhere in the Hayes‘ house.
“Buddy? Where’s Buddy?” I rushed back into the living room, just as Mava Haves was pouring tea.
909 PM d
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“Buddy? Where’s Buddy?” I rushed back into the living room, just as Maya Hayes was pouring tea.
She smiled and said, “Buddy? Didn’t you see him? Was he tasty?”
My ears instantly rang, my blood ran cold, my stomach churned, and I fell to my knees, gagging.
She walked over and yanked my hair. “You knew I was bringing Julian home today, so you deliberately brought Liam to show off? A country bumpkin like you dares to compete with me?”
She pressed my face into the mess on the floor. “Remember, even the animal you raised is only fit to be a dish, let alone you dreaming of becoming Mrs. Blackwood.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Julian Thorne’s voice came from the hallway.
Maya instantly released her grip, then gently patted my back. “Sister suddenly felt unwell, she’s throwing up really badly.”
Her voice held just the right amount of concern, but her fingertips fiercely twisted my lower back.
Julian Thorne, uncharacteristically, showed concern. “Should I call a doctor…?”
I bit her hand hard. Maya shrieked in pain.
Julian immediately kicked me in the chest, sending me sprawling. “Bitch! I thought you’d learned your lesson, but a dog can’t change its spots! Are you really that jealous of your sister?”
“She killed Buddy!”
By the time Liam Blackwood rushed over to help me up, Maya was already crying crocodile tears, hiding in Julian Thorne’s arms.
“I just wanted to cook for my sister… the maid said she couldn’t find any ingredients…”
She tearfully showed her bleeding tooth marks. “Who knew it was her mutt? I’ll compensate her with ten pedigree dogs, isn’t that enough? She’s actually acting crazy over a dog…”
“Acting crazy over an animal,” Julian Thorne sneered, looking down at me, yet gently blew on Maya’s wound. “Don’t be scared, Maya. I’ll have someone deal with this mad dog right away.”
I glared at him fiercely. “Mad dogs can bite people to death when cornered, Mr. Thorne. Aren’t you afraid I’ll expose some… unspeakable secrets?”
Julian’s face instantly twisted. He dropped a threat, then pulled Maya away to the hospital.
