Chapter 4

Vivian was only frightened and slightly anemic, but my parents refused to let her leave the hospital and wanted her to have a good rest. No one cared if I lived or died.

On Thanksgiving, my father rushed to the hospital to accompany Vivian after he finished his rescue work.

My mother specially adjusted her operation time just to go home and make Vivian''s favorite food.

In the ward, Vivian smiled sweetly as she fed a slice of cake to Mom. "Mom, it''s a time of family reunion. I wonder where Yvette is."

My mother''s smile froze. "Don''t worry about that unfilial daughter. Even if she dies, no one will go collect her body."

Vivian frowned, looking sad. "I just want our family to be together on an occasion like this. Yvette must still be mad at me."

My father looked at her disappointed expression and took out his phone. He contacted me for the first time in years. The only response he got was the cold tone of an unanswered call.

After making several calls, he threw the phone on the table, breathing heavily. "That rebellious girl, how dare she not answer my call? Vivian, don''t be upset. I''ll tell Yvette to apologize to you when she shows up."

Vivian seemed to particularly enjoy hearing my parents belittle me. She pretended to be nervous. "Could something have happened to Yvette? I''m worried about her."

My mother sneered, "Troublemakers live for a long time. What can happen to people like her? Forget about her. That ingrate doesn''t deserve it. Your health is more important than anything else."

They did not believe I was dead. Even though I had disappeared for several days and even though Nicole had seen my body with her own eyes, my parents still thought I was just being sulky and throwing a tantrum.

On the night of Thanksgiving, my parents were in the hospital, taking care of Vivian. My body was lying in the cold morgue, unclaimed.

"Have you heard? There''s a female corpse in the morgue. She died during the flood, yet no one has claimed the body yet."

"Looks like she has a bad relationship with her family. The deputy said that the police will come over to conduct a facial comparison tomorrow."

Two young nurses gathered together and chatted.

My mother frowned and tapped the counter. "Are you that idle? What family doesn''t love their children? She must have done something wrong if no one has come to claim her."

My heart tightened and ached. I pondered, ''Mom, I did nothing wrong. Why don''t you love me anymore?''

The young nurses lowered their heads somewhat awkwardly.

My mother was about to turn around and leave, but she looked back and asked, "The lady who was killed in the flood—how old was she?"

One of the young nurses paused for a moment. "About 25 years old."

My mother raised her eyebrows, took a deep breath, and pursed her red lips.

Watching her walk toward the morgue, I took a deep breath and thought, ''Mom, we''re finally meeting.''

Vivian''s voice suddenly rang out. "Mom, I''m having a hypoglycemic episode, and my head is dizzy. Accompany me back to lie down for a while."

My mother held Vivian without hesitation and said with concern, "I''m here with you. Don''t be afraid."

Looking at their affectionate mother-daughter bond, I laughed at myself mockingly. Even after I died, my parents still would not choose me.

My father had just finished a rescue mission when he received a call. "Hello, is this Mr. Hector Ford? Please come to the hospital to claim your daughter''s body."

My father sighed and hung up. "There have been so many scam calls recently. How dare they curse Vivian?"

He regarded Vivian as his only daughter. I was just an ingrate who he wanted to cut off ties with, but when my father arrived at the hospital and mentioned the call, my mother''s face turned pale. "I also received the same call! Could something have happened to Yvette?"