Part 2I Forgot Them All

Fiona was nothing like me. She was always frail and delicate, her eyes perpetually misty. If anyone spoke even slightly louder, she could shed tears at any moment.

On the first day, I made Fiona cry.

Because I called out "Mom," and fragile Fiona immediately thought of her deceased parents. Under my mother's reproachful gaze, I stumbled backward two steps in panic.

Within the first month, I "caused" Fiona to fall into the lake.

Behind the Summers family mansion was an entire garden with a lake in the center. Beside the lake stood a treehouse my father had specially built for me when I was little. It was my favorite place.

Fiona cried constantly. Mom said it was because she missed her parents too much.

Mom told me to take Fiona to play in the treehouse together. I didn't want to.

In my heart, the treehouse belonged to me alone. I had too many beautiful memories there. Whenever I was unhappy, I would go to the treehouse to look at the stars, and Julian would always find me there and gently wipe away my tears.

I said reluctantly, "Can't we go somewhere else?"

Fiona's voice was soft: "It's okay, Mrs. Summers. If Aurora doesn't want to, I won't go."

My mother's voice rose, leaving no room for negotiation: "Aurora, is this how I raised you?"

I had no choice but to take Fiona to the garden. By the lake, I looked at the distant treehouse, feeling unhappy, but still tried to patiently prepare to take Fiona inside.

But just then, Fiona stumbled and crashed into me, and we both fell into the lake together.

By the time someone discovered us, Fiona and I had struggled until we lost all strength.

Through my haze, I saw Julian swimming toward me to save me. In my heart, I called out silently: "Julian, save me, please save me."

But from the shore, Mom's voice rang out sharp as a hammer, making my head spin.

"Julian! Save Fiona first! Fiona's health is poor! If she dies, how will I answer to the Matthews family?"

In my despair, I watched Julian glance at me with guilt before turning to swim toward Fiona instead.

I opened my mouth, wanting to call out to my brother, but the bitter lake water surged into my stomach as if trying to fill the void left by the love I was about to lose.

In all the chaos, a security guard pulled me out.

Fiona woke up quickly, but because I had been submerged too long, I remained unconscious for three full days before waking.

When I woke up, everything had changed.

Mom looked at me with utter disgust: "How did I give birth to such a vicious daughter?"

Dad was so disappointed: "Aurora, your father always taught you to be kind."

Julian looked at me with guilt and confusion: "Fiona hasn't affected you at all. Why would you push her into the lake?"

That's when I learned that Fiona had woken up three days before me.

After she woke, she tearfully claimed that I had pushed her into the lake, and said that only if she disappeared would I be happy.

I protested loudly: "That's not true!"

"I didn't push her! She pushed both of us into the lake!"

But no one believed me. The more I explained, the more powerless I felt.

From that day on, in everyone's eyes, I transformed from a pampered princess into a vicious person.

I don't know why, but I kept doing things wrong.

Whenever I encountered Fiona, everyone seemed to think I was targeting her.

When my parents returned from business trips, they only remembered to bring gifts for Fiona, but forgot about me.

After enduring six months of accumulated emotions, I finally exploded: "Mom, Dad, who's actually your daughter? This is so unfair!"

I saw a flash of guilt in my mother's eyes, but it quickly transformed into self-righteousness: "Fiona lost her parents. Of course we need to take extra care of her. Why are you being so petty? You're nothing like me."

Dad looked guilty: "Dad will give you a card, Aurora. Go buy whatever you like, okay?"

But Fiona was crying again, her voice low but impossible to ignore.

Everyone looked over. Fiona said softly: "I'm sorry, Mom, Dad. It's all my fault. I don't want any gifts. Give them all to Aurora."

Mom immediately grew angry: "Aurora, when did you become like this? Your father and mother are very disappointed in you!"

I watched Julian wipe Fiona's tears, and suddenly felt that something seemed to be drifting further and further away from me.

I was panicked, uneasy, disappointed, and sad.

But all I could do was bite my lip and say: "I don't care anyway!"

Then I ran back to my room.

I wouldn't cry. When I was little, Dad said Aurora was a princess, and Aurora's tears were pearls—I couldn't cry easily.

I tossed and turned in my room, growing more and more confused.

Why?

Was Fiona really more likable than me?

Sourness traveled from my chest to my nose, making it hard to breathe.

But I refused to admit defeat. My pride wouldn't let me bow my head.

I thought, since Fiona had stolen everything from me, I would just take it all back.