Chapter 35

Chapter 35 They were always telling me that, if I played nice with Ashley, things would go easier for me.

But here was the thing. Ashley’s parents were gone, and mine were still around, but they chose to ignore me over her. So, what made my life any different from an orphan?

It was Christmas. I was in the kitchen filling up a pot with water when Ashley strutted in, all dressed up in her newest dress.

“Grace, do you think this dress looks good on me?”

I ignored her and tried to move past her.

But she wasn’t having it. She latched onto my arm from behind. “I’m waiting for an answer.” I frowned, trying to pull away.

She grabbed my other hand, splashed herself with the hot water, and then let out a scream. “Please no Grace!”

“What are you doing?!” I asked her.

“Who do you think Mom’s going to believe, you or me?” Ashley smirked, and right on cue, my mom walked in and saw the whole thing, just the way Ashley had set it up.

“Grace, if you’ve got an issue, you come to me,” my mom said, her voice heavy with disappointment. “Why would you do this to Ashley?”

Ashley was all teary–eyed, playing the victim. “Mom, please don’t be mad at Grace. It’s my fault.”

0.00%

0 <

Chapter 35 11 222 My brother yanked my arm. “Are you jealous of Ashley? You know we have family coming over, and you messed up her dress on purpose?”

My dad’s face was a storm cloud. “Grace, you’re grounded. You stay here and think about what you’ve done. Ashley, go change, and we’ll all head out for dinner.

Ashley looked like she was about to cry, and my mom was right there, soothing her with gentle words and a soft touch. I used to feel that warmth, but it was a distant memory from another life.

If they had just looked a little closer, only looked at me for a moment, they might have seen the burn in my hand.

But no, they didn’t. They all left, a happy little family of four, without even looking back.

As she was leaving, Ashley shot me a triumphant glance, as if to say, ‘Grace, I’ve won again!

It didn’t take much longer than two weeks for my mom’s Instagram to become a chronicle of Ashley’s adventures with our family, showcasing their delicious meals and memorable trips.

My brother even brought a cake once, but it was only for her, and they didn’t even share a slice of it with me.

It felt like I was the one who’d been forgotten. Before I died in my previous life, I posted something on Instagram too. “If you don’t love me, why did you even have me?”

But all I got was being called a “Drama Queen“. Those tw words were what pushed me to jump off the rooftop without 25.56%

O III O <

Chapter 35 a second thought.

1288 Vorchers I spent my whole high school years back then living in that unfairness.

In this life, I avoided all of them, and the absence of constant conflict with Ashley allowed a significant shift in my overall well–

being.

The release of tension and frustration brought by the absence of conflict with Ashley had a profound impact on me.

As a result, I woke up feeling more refreshed and energized each morning.I was able to focus more on my studies and witness great improvements, while Ashley remained stuck in a cycle of average grades.

No matter how much effort she put into it, she couldn’t reach my pace.

When the second semester of our senior year started, the school announced a parent–teacher conference.

This was normal, every semester, and my parents would never come to mine, but I wanted to be optimistic, so I told my mom about it.

I thought she would go, but she said, “Grace, you know Ashley has been struggling with her grades since her real parents passed away. We’ve already promised to go to her conference. You understand, right?”

Did I understand? No, I didn’t. I never understood why they had a preference for her over me.

In my previous life, I had let all of it affect me, and my grades 55.57%

C 111 <

82.31%

Chapter 35 17 288 (Vouchers were bad, and because I wasn’t doing well, my dad said it would be embarrassing for him to be there.

Now that Ashley was the one with the poor grades, they couldn’t miss it for the world.

I thought I was past feeling hurt, but I found myself saying, “Mom, could you come for me? Ashley has Dad with her.”

But my mom just frowned, “Grace, I thought you’d be more considerate. It’s an important day for Ashley, and we need to be there for her.”

Of course, it was an important day for her, not me.

They were sure to be there for their adopted daughter, and it was fine for their own daughter to go to the parent–teacher conference alone.

I must have been crazy to think that maybe, just maybe, if I did well, my mom would care about me a little more.

It turned out that some things would never change.

a