An Asphyxiating Life

My stepsister falsely accuses me of causing her allergies to act up. My three brothers stuff me into the cramped cellar and chain the door shut.

I pound on the door and beg them to let me out. My eldest brother, an outstanding businessman, snaps, "It's bad enough that you keep bullying Lori. How could you make her eat seafood when you know she's allergic to it? Isn't that just murder? Stay in there and reflect on your mistakes!"

My second brother, an award-winning singer, and my third brother, a genius painter, scoff contemptuously. "It's unbelievable that someone as evil as you is making excuses to garner pity. You can stay in there and repent for your sins!"

After that, they take our shuddering stepsister to the hospital.

The oxygen in the cellar soon runs out, and it gets difficult to breathe. Ultimately, I die in there.

My brothers only remember me three days later when they bring our stepsister back from the hospital. Unbeknownst to them, I've already died of asphyxiation.

I died in a cellar due to asphyxiation.

By the time I woke up again, I found that my soul had reappeared next to my three older brothers. The three of them had just returned to our huge villa.

The eldest, Ian Haldeman, and the second eldest, Will Haldeman, were holding our stepsister, Lorelei Surridge's hands. In a kind voice, one of my brothers began, "Thank goodness we got you to the hospital just in time. Otherwise, it might take you a longer time to recover."

Harry Haldeman, my third eldest brother, sounded really concerned. "The doctor has said that you're still weak. You need to gain more nutrients by having nutritious meals."

He scooped a big piece of meat onto Lorelei's plate while saying that.

A maid standing at the side could no longer bring herself to stay silent. "Mr. Ian, Ms. Rebecca has been locked inside the cellar for three days now. She hasn't made any noise for an extended period…"

Ian snorted and cut her off, "We're celebrating Lori's discharge from the hospital today. Why are you bringing that girl up?"

The maid wanted to say something more, but she stopped upon receiving Will's and Harry's stony gazes.

"That awful wench must be aware that Lori has a seafood allergy. So, she purposely made that seafood porridge!"

"I thought she was finally going to learn to accept Lori's presence now. It turned out she had come up with this nasty scheme!"

Lorelei adopted a fearful expression and said hesitantly, "Rebecca was punished because of me. Wouldn't she be angry about having been locked inside the cellar for so many days when we let her out later on?"

Ian had a frigid look on his face.

"Don't worry, Lori. It's our fault for spoiling her too much and not educating her properly in the past. She won't bully you anymore after we've punished her this time."

He took his phone out reflexively and started refreshing the chat window with my name on it. However, only messages from three days ago and older were shown in our chat history.

During the past three days, I had not sent Ian a message nor given him a call. His eyes burned with rage.

"That awful wench! It's been so many days, and she hasn't even sent a message to ask about Lori's condition!"

Lorelei held Ian's hand and said in a choked voice, "I don't want Rebecca to misunderstand me instead. I just wanted to have her company. I wasn't trying to steal anything from her."

Ian quickly put down his phone and patted Lorelei's head gently. He replied, "Lori, you're so kind. Unlike Rebecca, who's utterly heartless and ungrateful."

Will's eyes shone with a cold light as he thought of me. "Exactly! She harmed her family just because she wanted more attention for herself. That's absolutely vicious!"

Harry nodded in agreement and scoffed. "She's been confined in the cellar for three days. If she won't admit her mistakes and kneel before Lori to offer an apology, I'm going to kick her out of the house."

Standing to one side, I merely found it ridiculous as I listened to my brothers' remarks. However, no one in the room could see my soul or what I was doing.

My parents passed away due to illnesses when I was still young. Since then, my three older brothers had given most of their attention to me.

At some point, I wanted to have someone of similar age to be my playmate. So, my brothers eventually found Lorelei at an orphanage for that purpose.

I had treated Lorelei with nothing but sincerity ever since she came to our home. However, she lied to my brothers and slandered me time and time again, making my brothers grow distant from me gradually.

It was the same at that time. My brothers locked me inside the tiny, narrow cellar without giving me a chance to explain myself.

I pushed against the door with all my might, yet I could only feel the air inside the cellar growing thin.

I pounded on the cellar's door and begged my brothers desperately to let me out. Yet, my brothers scolded me expressionlessly instead.

"What are you shouting now for? You got what you deserved! If it weren't for what you did, Lori wouldn't have had to suffer from an allergic reaction."

"It's because we've been too nice to you that you keep bullying Lorelei. You should stay in there and repent for your mistakes!"

Will tied the chains around the door himself, whereas Harry placed a heavy object to block the door. They removed the slightest bit of possibility I had at self-preservation.

Looking at Lorelei, who had a fake smile plastered on her face, I smirked as disappointment set in.

My dear brothers, you had killed the sister who loved you the most in this world with your own hands!