Reborn and Relentless: She's Going Down

Owen came over, grinning while cradling the dress and necklace in his arms. "Emma, why don't you let me hang on to these for now, huh?"

Elena didn't care much for the dress, but seeing the gold heart pendant in his hands made her burst into tears on the spot.

"Uncle Owen, that's mine."

He crouched, his hand reaching for her shoulder. I yanked her back before he could touch her.

"Fine, fine. If you like them so much, take them. Didn't you say you couldn't even spare a minute for Elena's birthday? What's next? Will you be too busy for dinner too?"

The moment I gave in, Owen's eagerness flared. He couldn't wait to turn the gold into cash, and the whole brother-sister act he put on with me vanished.

"I've got business to take care of. Just wait, Emma. When I make it big, you and Herman won't ever have to lift a finger again. I'll send you money every single day."

I watched him walk away, a slow smile spreading across my face.

I couldn't tell when Owen first started turning into a freak. Back when Elena and I were staying at Mom and Dad's, I caught him more than once sneaking off to the bathroom with Elena's clothes.

When he came out, the stains on them sent a jolt of terror through me. I never imagined he'd turn into that kind of man. After that, I never took Elena back to Mom and Dad's again.

I knew he'd do something vile with that dress. That was the only reason I forced myself to choke down my disgust and call him over.

After Owen left, I gathered Elena into my arms and held her tight. Deep down, I swore I'd guard my own home, no matter the cost.

As for the Reids, they could rot and fester in the mud, for all I cared. Owen and Alex were the family's golden boys. I couldn't wait to see the expression on Mom's and Dad's faces once their fortunes flipped.

After soothing Elena, I left her at home with the TV and hurried out to have a tailor make her an identical dress. Then, I filmed Elena in the dress and sent the video to Sabrina.

Her reply came as a voice note. She was absolutely brimming with delight. "She looks gorgeous! Elena really is a little princess!"

I pulled up the security feed on my phone.

Whenever Jerome or Sabrina wanted something, Mom would come to me, insisting she was broke. That was how I ended up paying for security cameras to be installed in Mom and Dad's house.

After they were installed, I hardly ever bothered to check the feed. Anyway, I figured it wasn't a crime to watch the feed. It was Mom and Dad's house, after all. Besides, I was the one who had paid for them.

On the screen, Sabrina twirled with her hands thrown up, giddy with excitement. Alex sat hunched, swallowed by misery. His gloved hands couldn't stop scratching his own skin.

Mom and Dad turned to Alex, their hearts aching. "Is this really going to work? Why is Alex still suffering so much?"

Sabrina smiled and bent down to plant a big kiss on Alex. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Elena's about to carry this burden for you. Get some sleep now. Our family will get better day by day. Once Elena is gone, you'll be fine."

Pity lingered in Mom's eyes, but seeing Alex in agony, she set her jaw and said, "Let her die. At worst, Emma can bear another child. Let it be my sin against Elena. I'll pay that debt when I die."

I nearly puked listening to them. I never expected Mom to show such obvious favoritism for sons. Was Elena's life worth less than nothing?

This time, I longed to see which of them would be left with the rotten fate in the end.

Sabrina snapped, annoyed, "Another child? Give me a break. Emma spoils Elena rotten and won't even open her wallet for Alex. The last time I asked her to buy him a hundred-thousand-dollar piano, she refused.

"She'd be better off not having kids at all. The Reids' money should go to Alex. He's the one who'll make the family proud. And don't get me started. Owen came by last week and swiped a bottle of fine vintage wine. That was from the Linskeys. Keep babying him, and I won't tolerate it."

I was smiling at the feed when Elena's scream split the air, high and piercing. It came from her room.