Part 3The Twin Who Died Twice

My broken phone screen lit up.

An anonymous text gave only a location.

All these years I'd been searching for the heirloom that Colleen had sold.

I'd finally found it!

With it, whether I was Kinsley or Colleen, I could go home, right?

I'd imagined this countless times.

Because I was so tired. I missed the old days so much.

Even if they didn't love me, it was okay—as long as I had a home to return to.

So I didn't bother picking up my scattered belongings.

I got up and took a five-hour bus ride to get there.

Five years ago, that jade bracelet had changed hands several times before being bought by this family.

They'd been planning to use it as a wedding gift.

"What would it take for you to sell it to me?" I asked urgently.

The woman with narrow eyes squinted, then held up a number with her fingers.

I froze in place.

After hesitating for a long time, I finally took out the card I'd sewn into the lining of my clothes.

This money was what I'd been saving for chemotherapy.

I was just a thousand short of being able to go.

But it was okay. Once I got the jade bracelet home and told Mom and Dad about my cancer...

They definitely wouldn't ignore me.

Then I wouldn't have to hurt anymore.

I received the box with both hands, holding it treasured in my arms.

Then I took another five-hour bus ride back.

After five years, I returned to the front of the Mitchell family villa.

As soon as I entered, I saw the three of them eating dinner in the living room, happy and harmonious.

Seeing me, Dad's expression changed drastically.

"What are you doing here! You're not welcome here!"

He was about to come push me out the door.

Mom stood up, frowning, wanting to speak but hesitating.

"I found it—I found the bracelet!"

Like offering a treasure, I took the bracelet from my chest.

Hearing this, Mom and Dad's eyes lit up.

Mom excitedly stepped forward to receive it, opening the box and examining it carefully.

Seeing their happy expressions, I couldn't help feeling excited.

So I carefully told them about having cancer.

My parents' faces instantly went white.

After all, I was their biological daughter. After all, they'd doted on me for so many years.

No one could remain unmoved.

Mom even came forward, took my hand, and her eyes reddened.

"What cancer? Don't be scared—Mom will take you to get treatment!"

So warm—it made me dazed for a moment.

So I missed the darkness in Kinsley's eyes behind her.

"Are you really sick?" she spoke up, interrupting this tender moment.

"Mom, I forgot to tell you—I found this bracelet a few days ago too."

With that, she pulled out an identical jade bracelet from her chest.

In that instant, my whole body felt like it had fallen into an ice cellar.

Which was real and which was fake became obvious with a comparison.

Even Mom reacted to this.

Usually gentle, she couldn't suppress her anger and slapped me hard across the face.

Heaven one moment, hell the next.

I was knocked to the ground.

"I thought you'd turned over a new leaf! To think you'd use something like this to scam money!"

"And cancer—why doesn't cancer just kill you!" she roared.

Overcome with rage, Mom suddenly couldn't breathe and collapsed to the ground.

I tried to help her up, but Dad kicked me away.

That kick landed right on my stomach.

My stomach immediately began cramping violently, a heavy taste of blood surging into my mouth.

"People like you deserve to die! Why don't you just die!" Dad pointed at me and roared.

"Having a daughter like you is the greatest shame of my life!"

They didn't even give me a chance to explain.

Five years ago, when I explained I wasn't Colleen, they wouldn't listen.

Five years later, they'd stripped away even the right to explain.

Thinking of the joy and warmth from just minutes ago...

Thinking of the jade bracelet I'd carefully protected all the way here...

The world spun around me. I didn't even seem to have the strength to breathe.

Only one thought remained in my mind.

The money I'd saved for chemotherapy—I'd used it all to buy a fake bracelet.

It hurt so much.

"I'm really dying, Mom and Dad..."

Swallowing the blood in my mouth, my voice was hoarse and weak.

But no one was moved.

"Ha! If you died, everyone would be happy!"

Dad helped Mom to the sofa and said mockingly.

The disappointment in Mom's eyes, the hatred in Dad's eyes, the smugness in Kinsley's eyes—it all hurt my eyes to look at.

Actually, I'd known for a while that even with chemotherapy, I wouldn't live much longer.

But I just wanted to try.

Now, there was no need for that anymore.

It was pouring rain outside as I was thrown out the door once again.

Like garbage.

The doors of the Mitchell house had shut me out once more.

For the next month, they never saw me again.

But no one cared.

Because they were busy setting up a charity foundation in Colleen's name, paving the way for her future.

At the press conference, a reporter asked: "I heard you have twin daughters. Why is there so little news about the other one?"

Dad's face went cold as he said sternly:

"We only have one daughter, Kinsley. Other irrelevant people—whether they live or die has nothing to do with us!"

This completely severed any connection with me.

If I'd seen that interview, I might have been heartbroken.

But I would never see it.

Late at night, Mom woke from her sleep.

"Do you think Colleen might really be sick? That day, I found some blood on the floor."

She said worriedly.

But Dad just laughed dismissively.

"You're too soft-hearted! What could be wrong with her? Disasters last a thousand years—I think she left it on purpose to make us feel bad!"

But Dad, this time you'll be disappointed.

This disaster won't last a thousand years.

An urgent phone ring interrupted his words.

He picked up the phone.

On the other end was a police officer, speaking in an official, cold tone.

"Hello, is this Mr. Mitchell? There's a body here that needs you to come identify it."