Goodbye for Ever, Dad

Actually, I could have lived longer, but I needed a lot of money.

I suddenly started to have nosebleeds. When I could not stop the bleeding, I went for a check-up at the hospital. The doctor told me that I was too late, and I was already seriously sick.

It was then that I realized the reason why I was having poor health for the past two years. I kept having various pains all over my body.

Due to unpleasant childhood memories, I did not visit a doctor for the longest time. Hence, it was too late when I finally did it.

When I was younger, Alba always liked Holly more than me, so I kept trying to copy what Holly did.

I was very happy whenever I got even a small fraction of his attention.

Holly noticed my changes.

In her eyes, I was a lousy copycat and a laughing stock. However, she pretended to not know that. Instead, she taught me a horrible lesson.

When I saw Alba taking care of Holly when she was sick, I pretended to be sick as well.

That day, it was the first time Alba treated me so gently ever since Holly joined our family. He carefully carried me to the hospital and took my temperature by putting his palm against my forehead to feel its warmth.

However, I was afraid that the thermometer would expose my lie. So when Alba was not looking, I tried to put the thermometer into a warm glass of water.

Holly suddenly appeared behind me and grabbed my hand that was holding the thermometer. She said smugly to Alba, “Shame on Paige! She’s pretending to be sick to copy me!

“Paige, this is not a good habit. As your elder sister, I can’t let you lie!”

I did not know how to put up a front when I was younger, so I froze.

Alba could tell that I was lying, so he looked at me with anger.

“Dad, it’s not like that…” I sobbed as I tried to explain myself. The next moment, I could not breathe.

It was because I saw how cold Alba’s eyes were while looking at me.

“What a disappointment you are, Paige.

“You’re as cunning as your mother. You’re lying to me at such a young age?

“Tell me, how much money do you want from me?”

I felt my blood run cold.

“No… I just want you to see me and hug me more. I’m not plotting against you!”

I cried. I could not prove myself, so I felt really wronged.

Alba stared at me in disappointment for a while before he said in a low voice, “Initially, I thought you’re not like her. Now, it’s clear that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

He turned around and walked away with Holly in his arms.

I was left alone in the hospital and cried all night.

From that day onwards, I was terrified of hospitals. They were places that reminded me of that horrible memory.

It was also from that day onwards that Alba started to distance himself from me.

I was obedient and good at my studies. I tried my best to get good grades, but he felt that I was just pretending.

When I was having a high fever and was unwilling to go to the hospital, he thought that I was feigning being sick to get his sympathy.

Regardless of what I did, I was wrong.