Part 1The Ghost in the Jasmine Scent

When my older sister was fourteen, she was adopted by the Sterling family, the wealthiest in New York City. The village girl transformed into a wealthy heiress overnight.

In the first year after she left, she secretly sent me a letter and a box of books.

In the letter, she told me to study hard and come find her outside the mountains. She said the world outside was wonderful, that she was living well with the Sterlings, and that I shouldn't worry.

After that, I lost all contact with my sister. I never received another letter.

Years later, I was admitted to a university in NYC to find her, only to discover that the Sterling family had no adopted daughter.

Later, I dated a boy named Julian Sterling, the beloved only son of the family.

When he was drunk one night, Julian told me a secret. He actually had an older brother who died in an accident before he turned eighteen. His parents bought a girl with a compatible horoscope to keep his brother company in the afterlife.

* * *

When the Sterlings drove their luxury car to our shack, my sister and I were chopping wood in the mountains. Our parents hurriedly called us back.

They wanted to adopt my sister, take her to the big city to live in a mansion.

My sister seemed unwilling. She pulled me in front of them. "Adopt my sister instead. She's more obedient and prettier than me."

They didn't even glance at me. Instead, they reached out and patted my sister's head, smiling faintly. "We want you."

Dad pushed my sister toward the house. "Jasmine, go pack your things."

I wiped away tears secretly. I saw them hand my parents a check for a hundred thousand dollars. Their only condition was that we were never to contact my sister again.

My parents took the check, grinning ear to ear.

"Why are you selling my sister!"

To me, this wasn't adoption; it was selling their daughter!

Dad heard me and kicked me viciously. "What does a brat like you know!"

"She's lucky to be chosen by rich people. Isn't it good to be a wealthy young lady in the city?!"

I wiped the tears from the corner of my eye and thought about it seriously. It seemed Dad was right.

Being a rich daughter was better than suffering in these mountains, unloved by parents.

The Sterlings looked at the meager belongings my sister packed, frowning slightly in distaste. "We'll replace everything with new things."

My sister got into their luxury car. She rolled down the window, reaching out reluctantly to hold my hand, tears in her eyes.

I pulled a half-finished woven bracelet from my pocket and put it on her wrist.

"Sister, this is for you. I haven't finished it yet. I wanted to give it to you for your birthday, but I might not have the chance now."

I choked up, big tears rolling down my face.

The car started. My sister stuck her head out and shouted to me, "Violet! Study hard!"

After that sentence, she seemed to say something else.

But the car drove too fast, kicking up a tail of dust.

The noise of the engine drowned out what she said after "study hard." I didn't hear her last words.