A Childhood Nightmare I was the imposter heiress of the Scott family. When the real heiress, Edna Scott, returned, everyone blamed me for stealing ten years of her life and forced me to atone for it. They despised me, even cursed me to die. Eventually, I did die, and everyone lost their minds. The boy who used to love bullying me knelt at my grave, crying and begging me to wait for him—to marry him in the next life. My parents and brother, who had always insulted me, also knelt there, crying, and apologizing for all the harm they’d done to me. But it was too late. I was dead. My body was shattered from the accident, but even then, I still clutched the grocery bags in my hands. Inside them was the dinner I was supposed to cook for the family. My spirit floated above the scene, numb, as I watched the driver panic and hurriedly load my body into the car. I laughed bitterly to myself. Who would’ve thought that my eighteenth year would end in death? I drifted aimlessly for a while. Then, without realizing it, I found myself floating back to the front of my house. When I got home, Dad and Rick hadn’t returned from work yet. Edna and Mom were sitting in the living room, discussing the latest designer handbags. Each bag’s price was more than I could ever dream of spending. After some time, Edna pouted and said, “Mom, I’m hungry. Why isn’t Sunny back yet?” Mom glanced at the clock, her tone full of irritation. “Where the hell is that Sunny? It’s been forever, and she still hasn’t returned with the groceries!” “Sweetheart, how about I take you out for dinner instead?” she offered. But Edna stuck out her lower lip. “No, no, I want to eat the dinner my sister makes for me. Let’s pretend we’re supporting her effort.” I knew she didn’t actually want to eat anything I cooked. She just didn’t want to miss another opportunity to humiliate me. Mom shook her head with a smile full of affection. “You’re too kind-hearted. Even now, you’re trying to support her.” Edna had always been like this—at school, she was a rebellious teen, but at home, she played the role of an innocent angel. Another hour passed, and finally, there was some noise at the door. Mom couldn’t hold back her anger anymore. “You worthless girl! Do you want to starve Edna to death by showing up this late?” But the door opened to reveal Rick and Dad instead. The moment I saw Rick, a lump formed in my throat. He was the person I cared about most in this family, but it had been so long since he even looked at me. “Dad! Rick!” Edna excitedly ran over to greet them, snuggling her head into their chests. Dad patted her head affectionately. “Edna, you’re all grown up now, but you still love clinging to your old dad, huh? Once you get married, you’ll cry your eyes out.” “Well, then I won’t get married! I’ll stay by your side forever.” Her sweet words made Dad burst out laughing. Rick tugged casually at his tie, every move effortlessly attractive. He didn’t pay any attention to Edna, though, and frowned as he asked Mom, “Where’s Sunny?” “You mean that fraud?” Mom couldn’t hide the disgust in her eyes. “I bet she’s up to no good. She can’t even manage a simple grocery trip, and she’s probably starving my Edna on purpose.” Dad’s face darkened with anger. “I’m calling her right now to see what the hell is going on. Does she think she can get away with making my precious daughter hungry? She’s been out of that basement for too long.” Even though I was dead, hearing those words made my soul tremble. The basement was my nightmare. Edna had been brought back into the family when I was ten. I couldn’t accept that there was suddenly another girl in our house, or the abrupt change in my parents’ behavior. I threw tantrums and even demanded they send Edna away. That night, I got slapped several times and was locked in the basement.
I Died, and No One Knew The basement was cluttered with unused items, and the whole room reeked of mildew. That night, I cried so much that I lost my voice. By the next day, I had developed a high fever. My parents locked me in my room and ignored me. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, it was fifteen-year-old Rick who left a bottle of fever medicine and a glass of water on my bedside table. He left without a word, but I grabbed onto that lifeline, somehow finding the strength to sit up and take the medicine. After several days of suffering, I finally recovered. Rick became the bright spot of my youth, my one source of hope. If it weren’t for him, I probably would’ve died long ago. But soon, Dad awkwardly realized that no one in the family had my contact information. Neither Edna nor Mom had it, either. In the end, Dad took Edna and Mom out to dinner, while Rick stayed behind, claiming work as an excuse. Edna smiled brightly. “Rick, you better work hard so you can earn lots of money to take care of me in the future.” For the first time in a while, Rick’s face softened into a smile. “Don’t worry. The Scott family business will always be your strongest support.” Watching this, I was consumed with jealousy, but when Rick said he wouldn’t go to dinner with them, I got anxious. “Hey, Rick! You have stomach problems—you can’t skip meals! When I was alive, I reminded you three times a day to eat and take your medicine. How have you still not formed the habit?” Rick had severe stomach issues, and I often saw him in pain, his face pale. I worried about his health constantly, even though I knew he was annoyed by me. Still, I pushed myself to send him reminders every day, even though he never once responded. After they left, Rick retreated to his study to work late into the night. I stayed by his side, watching him go through documents I didn’t understand. A focused man is truly at his best, and in that moment, Rick exuded the charm of a successful man. I felt a swell of pride in my chest. See? My brother is the most handsome man in the world. Several hours later, I heard a noise downstairs. I floated out to check. When I saw their empty hands, I knew they had forgotten to bring Rick anything to eat. I started to panic. What would happen if his stomach problems flared up? But then I stopped and laughed bitterly to myself. I was dead. What could I possibly do, even if I worried myself to death? I floated back to his side to watch him work. Finally, at 1 a.m., Rick closed his laptop and stood up. Suddenly, there was a noise outside his study window. Someone was throwing small stones at the glass. Rick walked over to the window, his face cold. Curious, I peeked out too, and saw Dylan Brooks grinning like a troublemaker. “Hey, Rick, why didn’t I see Sunny come home today?” In the dead of night, his voice cut through the silence, too loud. I had always hated Dylan. He constantly bullied me. Whenever I went out to buy groceries, he would whistle at me. Even though he was the only son of the Brooks family, he spent his days doing nothing and was known around town as a spoiled brat. Rick responded coldly, “If you keep disturbing my family, I’ll tell Mr. Brooks tomorrow.” At the mention of his grandfather, Dylan’s cocky expression wavered. He muttered a few curses under his breath before leaving. To my surprise, I felt a tiny bit of warmth. I couldn’t believe the first person to notice my absence was Dylan, the guy I hated most! Rick closed the window, freshened up, and was about to head to bed. But as he passed the hallway, he made a sudden turn toward my bedroom door. What was he up to? Rick first cracked the door open slightly, but when he saw the room was empty, he pushed it open with force. He turned on the light, and the entire room came into view. A bed, a desk, and a wardrobe—this was my entire world. Rick frowned even deeper, then closed the door and turned off the light. He went to sit on the living room sofa. I suddenly felt nervous. Was he waiting for me? But as soon as the thought crossed my mind, I dismissed it. How could it be? Rick Scott, the busy and admired businessman, waiting for someone as insignificant as me?
He waited for a while, occasionally lifting his arm to check his watch. Finally, he took out his phone, staring at the screen as if trying to make a decision. Curious, I floated closer. It was our chat window. He was the only person in the family who had my contact information. The conversation was filled with messages sent only by me—reminding him to take his medication on time. After hesitating for a moment, he dialed my number. Of course, I could never answer it. Annoyed, Rick lit a cigarette, but just then, his phone buzzed with a message. “Don’t call me. I’m busy.” I was shocked. The hit-and-run driver was using my phone to message Rick! Rick smirked in anger, put out the cigarette, and immediately deleted my contact from his phone. “Ungrateful, just like a stray dog. No wonder Mom and Dad always said she couldn’t be trusted,” he muttered before heading off to bed. Hearing that felt like a dagger to my heart. I couldn’t believe it. Even my favorite brother was talking behind my back like that. The next morning, Rick came down for breakfast. As he ate, he casually asked, “Edna, why didn’t you make soup for me this morning? Are you not caring for your brother anymore?” Edna’s eyes flashed with panic for a second, but she quickly regained her composure. She put on a pitiful face and replied, “Oh, I’m sorry, Rick! I was so worried about Sunny last night that I couldn’t sleep. I completely forgot to make your soup today. You’re not mad at me, are you?” Rick gave her a soft smile. “Of course not. You work hard every morning. You don’t need to make soup next time. If you tire yourself out, Mom and Dad will be mad at me.” How shameless! I couldn’t help but curse under my breath. Only now did I realize that Edna had taken credit for my efforts. Rick had a sensitive stomach, so I would wake up early every day to make chicken soup for him. I thought that even though I never said anything, he’d know it was me. After all, Edna was never the type to be diligent, yet she managed to steal all the credit. As soon as they mentioned me, Edna continued, “I’m so worried about Sunny. You know how she’s always been a loner, with no friends and no money. Who knows where she stayed last night? What if some old man tricked her?” Mom scoffed. “Why bother worrying about her? As long as she doesn’t come back pregnant, that’s all I care about.” They joked about me like it was nothing, and Rick just sat there, emotionless, continuing to eat. Then the news came on: “Today, an unidentified female body was found in the woods on the west side of town. The victim appears to be around 18 years old. No missing person report has been filed, and authorities are working to confirm her identity.” Seeing the blurred-out body on the screen, I was overwhelmed with sorrow. Sunny Scott, you really have the worst luck. The police already know you’re dead, but the family you lived with for eighteen years thinks you’re out messing around with some man. Dad couldn’t help but sigh, “What a shame. Such a young life, gone just like that.” Mom, however, looked more alarmed. “Edna, from now on, you need to have two bodyguards with you at all times when you go out. If something happened to you, how would I go on?” Just then, there was a loud knock at the door. “Is Mr. Scott home?” a voice called. Dad frowned, clearly irritated. “What’s that troublemaker doing here? I’ve seen him hanging around outside for days. He better not have his eyes on my Edna.”
At Dad’s remark, Edna actually blushed. “Dad, don’t say that! Dylan Brooks probably has something important to talk about.” I had known for a while that Edna liked Dylan. As much as I disliked Dylan, I had to admit, his rebellious attitude and good looks made him popular with girls our age. In the end, Dad let Dylan in. Dylan scanned the living room and asked directly, “Mr. Scott, hasn’t Sunny come home yet?” Edna visibly paled. I couldn’t help but find his question odd, and I muttered, “Dylan, are you seriously here just to ask about me? Can’t you survive a day without bullying me?” Edna forced a smile, her voice rising in false sweetness. “Sunny ran off with some guy last night, Dylan. I’m not sure why you’re looking for her.” Rick, who had been quiet until now, suddenly snapped. “Edna, watch your mouth.” Edna looked hurt. “Are you doubting me, Rick? I know Sunny better than anyone—we go to the same school.” Mom jumped to Edna’s defense. “Edna wouldn’t lie about something like that. Besides, we’ve always treated Sunny well. We’ve given her food and shelter, and this is how she repays us—running off without a word.” Treated me well? I laughed bitterly. In their eyes, I probably did live in luxury. Rick had stomach issues, so I always made chicken soup for him in the mornings and reminded him to take his meds. Dad had such picky tastes that I’d spend hours researching recipes just to satisfy him. Mom loved wearing designer clothes, and it was me who hand-washed all of them. And Edna? At home, she was the innocent princess, but at school, she led the pack of bullies who tormented me daily. Dylan exploded with anger. “You ugly little liar! I know exactly what kind of person Sunny is. You don’t get to slander her like that!” Then he turned to address everyone in the room. “What’s wrong with you people? Sunny has lived with you for eighteen years! She didn’t come home last night, and instead of worrying, you make up filthy rumors about her? You don’t deserve to call yourselves her family!” With that, he stormed out, leaving Dad fuming. “I’ve spent decades in business, and now I’m being lectured by some kid? I’m calling Mr. Brooks to deal with this!” Dad yelled, slamming his chopsticks down. My heart sank. Dylan was definitely going to get in trouble tonight. Even though I didn’t like him, the thought of him being punished because of me didn’t sit well. I followed Dylan back to his house. The Brooks estate was the polar opposite of the Scott Manor. The Brooks family’s home was all understated elegance, with every piece of art on the walls worth a fortune. In comparison, our home, with its overly lavish decor, looked tacky—like a nouveau riche caricature. Dylan entered his room, kicked a chair in frustration, and picked up his phone. “Hey, Officer King, I heard you’ve been promoted recently. Can I ask a favor? I need you to find someone named Sunny Scott. She’s eighteen, and she went missing yesterday. She was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.” I was stunned by how well Dylan remembered the details. If he used that memory in his career, Mr. Brooks would be overjoyed. “No problem, Mr. Brooks,” Officer King said on the other end. “I’ll make sure to send a team out to look for her.” Then there was a pause before he added, “Wait a minute… a white shirt and blue jeans? Was she also wearing sneakers when she went missing?” Dylan’s voice grew excited. “Yes! How did you know? Have you seen her? Where is she?” Officer King hesitated. “Mr. Brooks, you’d better come down here in person.” It was clear that Dylan realized what was going on. He hung up immediately, jumped into his pink Lamborghini, and raced toward the police station.
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