When I was brutally killed, my father, Detective David Harper, and my mother, Chief Forensic Examiner Dr. Marjorie Harper, were both cheering on my sister, Sierra, at her tennis match. The killer—someone my father had arrested years ago and who now sought revenge—cut out my tongue and then used my phone to call my father. He picked up, irritated, and answered with only one sentence before hanging up. “Whatever’s going on, your sister’s match is the only thing that matters today!” The killer sneered, “Guess I kidnapped the wrong one. I thought they’d care more about their real daughter.” When my parents arrived at the crime scene, they were shocked by the brutal condition of the corpse and cursed the viciousness of the killer. But neither realized that the person lying dead before them was their own daughter. My body was found in an abandoned building, the Maplewood Construction Site. The workers who stumbled upon me were so horrified they couldn’t stop retching as they called the police. My parents were rushed to the scene, pulled away from Sierra’s celebration at the Greenfield Country Club. Dr. Steve Norton, the forensic specialist, waited grimly and gestured for them to put on their masks. Dad, Detective David Harper, was one of the top detectives in the state, and Mom, Dr. Marjorie Harper, was the leading forensic pathologist. Even with all the crime scenes they’d seen, they froze momentarily at the sight of the mangled body. In the oppressive summer heat, my body had begun to bloat, my face smashed beyond recognition, reduced to a bloody, shapeless pulp, my features unrecognizable. My neck was barely attached to my head, and the smell of rot was overpowering. Mom closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and pulled on her gloves, beginning her preliminary examination. She looked down at my corpse with a trace of pity—a look she’d never given me in life. I watched, tensing as she slid off the bloodied ring I wore. It was part of a matching set I’d made for each of them, a gesture of love, but they’d once scolded me for trying to give one to Sierra, saying, “You’re just trying to stir up trouble, aren’t you? Bullying your sister again?” “Lena,” Mom had once said, “Sierra’s lived here for eighteen years. You’re our biological daughter, but she will always be more important in this family.” The memory of their harsh words echoed, yet I still believed they loved me enough to recognize my ring. But Mom, her expression unchanging, simply passed the ring to her assistant to bag as evidence. I should have known better than to hope. In their hearts, I’d never truly existed, even though I was their biological daughter. My brother Jack had always told me that my parents adopted Sierra because they couldn’t find me, and that I was the daughter they truly loved. But by the time I returned, there was no place left for me in that house. I was the outsider. After inspecting the scene, Dad sighed, turning to Mom. “What’s the situation with this body?” Mom removed her gloves, massaging her temples. “The victim seems to be around twenty. Cause of death appears to be a cut throat, but she was tortured for quite some time before that.” “Brutal,” Dad muttered, lighting a cigarette and drawing a long breath, his expression tight with worry. Even in death, it seemed I was a problem for them. Dr. Norton spoke up, “The killer’s still out there. Might be a good idea to keep an eye on your family. With two daughters, I wouldn’t let them out at night.” Mom’s annoyance flared. “Sierra’s usually obedient. It’s Lena I can’t control.” Dr. Norton, who knew our family well, watched Dad rub his shoulder. “You’ve got that shoulder issue again?” he asked Dad. “It’s nothing,” Dad replied. “I’ve got the heating pad Lena got me.” He stopped mid-sentence, momentarily taken aback. The rebellious daughter they complained about so much had cared enough to remember his shoulder pain. Dr. Norton patted him on the back. “You know, you should treat Lena a bit better. She’s your biological daughter, after all.” Dad shook his head. “Sierra’s tennis tournament was just the other day, and all she wanted was for Lena to come watch. But Lena ignored our calls. Sierra ended up disappointed and only took third place.” “She hasn’t been home in days,” he muttered bitterly. “Maybe she’ll never come back. She’s not like our Sierra; not the one we raised.” Hearing them blame me, I felt my spirit grow cold. I wasn’t staying away by choice. I simply couldn’t go home anymore. The ungrateful daughter they dismissed was already dead, lying here before them. My corpse, right in front of them, yet they didn’t know it.
At the case review, officers listened to Mom’s preliminary report with heavy faces. My condition was so horrific that facial identification was impossible. The Maplewood Construction Site wasn’t where I’d died; it was just the dumping ground, which complicated the investigation. Dad directed the officers to search around the site for suspicious activity. “Dr. Harper,” he said to Mom, “can you take a closer look and see if there’s anything new? Get the DNA samples to the lab right away.” Mom nodded and began examining my body as Dad left the room. They cared more about the case than they ever had about me. Mom had once stroked Sierra’s hair, saying how forensic science could be a beautiful way to honor the dead. I remembered how Sierra had rolled her eyes behind Mom’s back as if she found it ridiculous. I’d slapped her once, which had earned me a shaved head as punishment from Dad. Now, Mom gently brushed my hair back, whispering, “Dying this way…her family must be devastated.” I gave a dry, bitter smile. If my family cared about me, they’d be thrilled I was gone. Only my brother would probably feel sad. Mom’s hand moved to my back, where there was a large burn scar—something I got when I was abducted years ago. When they brought me home and saw it, Mom had remarked with disgust, “What happened to your back? Don’t scare Sierra with that.” Now, as her fingers touched the scar, I wondered if she’d recognize me. But her calm voice broke the silence, “This isn’t recent.” Suddenly, her assistant gasped, “Dr. Harper, there’s a piece of paper in her stomach!” Mom’s eyes widened, and she sighed, “The stomach acid has eroded it. Let’s see if forensics can extract anything useful.” At that moment, Mom’s phone rang with Sierra’s favorite song. Mom dashed out into the hall, her voice warm. “Sweetheart, what’s up? Mom’s at work.” “Tomorrow?” she paused and then, her voice softened, “Yes, Dad and I will be there for your match. Your brother’s still away on assignment.” Sierra’s voice echoed in my ears, playful and innocent. “You’re the best, Mom! I’d love it if Lena came to support me, too. I know she doesn’t like me much, though—it’s fair, I guess. I’ve kind of taken all the love you and Dad have to give.” Though she’d always been cruel to me, Sierra liked putting on an act of sisterly affection in front of Mom and Dad. Right on cue, Mom’s voice sharpened. “You’re our baby. Lena is just…nothing. She steals from us, bullies you behind our backs—she’s not my daughter.” “You don’t need to worry, honey. If Lena has to drag herself there in a wheelchair, I’ll make sure she attends!” Sierra chuckled sweetly. “Dad called earlier and told me to be safe. Mom, remember to tell Lena too.” “Take care of yourself, Sierra. So long as Lena doesn’t show up dead on our doorstep, I don’t care what she does.” Mom’s dislike for me was always evident. Maybe it was because I was the daughter they couldn’t shape into their ideal. When they found me, they hadn’t even changed my last name to Harper. In their eyes, Sierra was their only daughter.
After Sierra’s call, Mom got a call from my brother, Jack. “Jack, when are you back from your assignment? Your sister wants you to watch her match!” Mom blurted out before he could say a word. Jack had been the only one who showed me kindness when they’d brought me home. He’d held my hand and said, “Don’t worry, Lena. You’re home now.” On the phone, Jack hesitated. “Isn’t Lena’s math competition next month?” Mom cut him off, annoyed. “Lena, Lena! Sierra is the one who’s really your sister—how many times have I said that? Lena’s a bad influence, and she’s not fit to be a Harper.” Jack sighed, his frustration evident. “Mom, you really should give Lena a chance. She’s kind, and if you’d show her some care, you’d see it.” “She hasn’t answered my calls or texts,” he added. “Is she even at home?” Mom scoffed. “She goes wherever she pleases. I can’t tether her. Tomorrow is Sierra’s match, and if you can’t make it, no big deal.” Pausing, she added harshly, “Tell Lena if she doesn’t show up, she may as well never come back.” Just then, Dad returned, noticing her irritated expression. “Was the case difficult?” Mom shook her head, her tone exasperated. “It’s not the case. It’s Lena. I think she’s roped Jack into playing this disappearing act with her.” Dad exhaled loudly, clearly frustrated. “She knows we’re busy, and yet she pulls stunts like this. She’s so ungrateful. I’ll call her right now and straighten this out!” But call after call only went to voicemail. “She was better off never being found,” Dad muttered. “All she does is bring trouble.” Standing nearby, Dr. Norton had overheard everything. With a sigh, he murmured, “You both left your jobs for a year to look for her when she was taken. How did it come to this?” I wanted to smile, but bitterness filled me instead. They had found a version of me that didn’t fit their expectations. I was just a kid from the backwoods who didn’t know her place. When I came back at fifteen, the house was grander than anything I’d ever known. Mom and Dad were coddling Sierra as she cried. I stood there in patched clothes, staring down at my worn shoes with the torn toe. Sierra had looked up, pausing her tears to smirk, “Who’s this little street rat?” Mom and Dad’s faces had darkened, but not because of her words—they were disappointed in me. “Detective Harper, Dr. Harper.” A police officer approached with the incident reports. “No missing person reports over the last few days. The family didn’t notice she was gone. Do they not have a good relationship?” “Hard to believe some parents care so little,” someone muttered. I could feel the sadness wrapping around me like a heavy blanket, suffocating. They were heartbroken that some parents didn’t care about their kids, but not one of them thought to ask if I was safe during my disappearance. Years ago, they would have dropped everything for me. But now, they suspected my absence was a ploy for attention. Maybe I never should have come back. This was Sierra’s home, not mine. The years they should have spent loving me were already taken, and whatever love they had left was no longer mine.
Mom handed the partially digested piece of paper to Dr. Norton. Rubbing her sore back, she muttered to Dad, “I hope this can give us something. Did you remind Sierra to lock up?” Dad nodded, but there was a hint of unease in his eyes. “Marjorie, Lena’s not picking up her phone, and Jack hasn’t heard from her either. You don’t think…maybe I should get someone to check up on her?” Mom cut him off with an impatient sigh. “You know her—she’s probably hiding, waiting for us to come looking. This isn’t the first time.” “She’s just avoiding Sierra’s match. By tomorrow, she’ll be crying on the phone, begging for forgiveness.” The last time I’d gone “missing” was over the summer, when Sierra locked me in the school bathroom. I’d called for help until my voice was hoarse, and by the time I got out, my ankle was swollen, and I was covered in dirt. I went home, limping, hoping for a bit of comfort. But Dad had only hit me with a hard slap, with Mom shouting, “Sierra saw you sneaking off with some delinquent. How could I have raised someone so shameless?” I couldn’t speak for myself, only standing there while Sierra watched with a smug, hidden smile. Later, Jack had gently helped me clean up, saying softly, “It’s not that they don’t love you, Lena. They just don’t know how to show it.” But I knew better. Compared to Sierra, who was perfect, I would never have my parents’ love. The scales of their affection were always tipped against me. If I were still alive, I’d probably be at the station right now, bringing homemade soup for Mom and Dad when they had to work late. But this time, I couldn’t apologize to them like they expected. After all, I was dead. The forensics department quickly examined the paper. It turned out to be a receipt from a small shop. The killer had forced it into my mouth with contempt, taunting, “A little present for your mom and dad? Bet they’d just throw it in the trash.” Dad squinted at it. “Where’s this from?” Dr. Norton frowned, looking closer. “Looks like it’s from a place that sells charms and trinkets.” When they arrived at the shop with other officers, the store owner looked startled by their badges and uniforms. She took the crumpled receipt, checking the order number. “That was a young girl,” she recalled. “She said it was a gift for her parents, because of how dangerous their jobs are. I remember her well. She never picked them up, and she didn’t answer any of my calls.” The shopkeeper then brought out two small, red good-luck charms, explaining softly, “They’re for health and safety, long life and peace.” Dad took them, exhaling deeply. “Do you still have the security footage?” The shopkeeper nodded. “That girl spent so much time picking these out. Very quiet, very polite. I’d recognize her anywhere.” The security footage played on the small monitor, and the room fell silent. Mom swallowed hard, staring at the screen. “She…looks like Lena.” “Lena?” the shopkeeper replied. “That was the name on the order slip!” Dad’s face tightened, his voice low as he forced himself to stay calm. “It’s just a coincidence. I’m sure Lena’s somewhere laughing at us right now.” “Ma’am, did you and Lena plan this together? You know that obstructing police is a serious offense?” Just then, Mom’s phone rang again. Her voice wavered as she answered. “Julie?” It was her colleague, lab technician Julie Lee. “Dr. Harper, the DNA results on the victim are back,” Julie said urgently.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “294884”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #浪漫Romance #擦边Steamy #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #玄幻Fantsy
Leave a Reply