Five years after my death, my parents scoured the world, searching for me like madmen. On national television, they tearfully recounted how I had supposedly eloped with a man. They proclaimed that they had forgiven me and pleaded for me to come home immediately. Three days after their public plea, there was still no word from me. Unable to find me, my parents showed up at my ex-boyfriend’s house instead. "Where is Chloe? Tell her to get out here!" "Mia is her biological sister! Donating one kidney isn't too much to ask, is it?!" So, it was for my sister again... But Mom, Dad. I died five years ago, on the very night you kicked me out. ... I floated behind my parents, watching them brazenly smash their way into my ex-boyfriend's house. Upon entering, my dad plopped himself onto the sofa like he owned the place. He started yelling into the empty air: "Chloe, don't think we don't know you're hiding here." "You ungrateful daughter. Your mother and I have been looking for you for so long, and you haven't made a single sound." "Your sister Mia is sick. You give your sister a kidney, and we'll let the past go." Seeing that I didn't obediently appear, my mom turned to the reporters they had brought along and said: "This older daughter of mine has been disobedient since she was little. She's incredibly selfish." "She ran off with a man when she was twenty and never came back. She completely humiliated me and my husband." Listening to their words, my heart felt like it was being sliced by knives. Only at this moment did I realize that even after you die, you can still feel heartbreak. My sister and I are twins. But because my sister was smaller and weaker when we were born, my parents favored her in everything. Since I was little, my mom would tell me: "You stole your sister's nutrients in the womb, so you have to yield to her for the rest of your life." And yield I did, for my entire life. At eighteen, I scored a near-perfect 1550 on my SATs. I received an acceptance letter from the top university in the country, Harvard. But a single tear from my sister softened my parents' hearts. They took my acceptance letter. My dad said: "Your sister's health is poor; she can't do heavy physical labor in the future. Let her go to college in your place." "Your mother and I have discussed it. Tomorrow, you'll go to the factory with your mom to work." I refused. But the consequence of my refusal was my parents teaming up to lock me in the basement. For those few days, I screamed for help in the basement, but no one answered. No matter how much I begged, they remained unmoved. It wasn't until the university semester started and my sister had registered in my place that my mom finally let me out. She said coldly: "This is what you owe Mia." Five years ago, I was twenty. My mom heard that the factory owner was looking for a wife for his son. The matchmaker offered a three-thousand-dollar finder's fee and a twenty-eight-thousand-dollar dowry. The two of them calculated the sum and were tempted. They tricked me into attending an engagement party. It was only when I arrived that I realized the person getting engaged was me. The owner's son was thirty-eight at the time and had Down syndrome. Countless matchmakers had failed. But my parents had the cruelty to force me to marry a man with severe cognitive disabilities. I made a huge scene on the spot. The result of my rebellion was my dad slapping me across the face in front of everyone. Seeing this, the factory owner took his son and left. Seeing their scheme fall through, my parents were furious. "You useless thing! Marrying into the Smith family means a life of luxury for you." "If you won't marry him, then get out! Stop freeloading in this house!" That day, there was a torrential downpour, and I was locked out by my so-called family. Their family of three was cozy and harmonious inside. While I was locked outside, drenched by the rain until I couldn't even open my eyes. No matter how much I begged them, they remained unmoved. My phone was ruined by the rain, and my only pocket change had long been taken by my mom to buy my sister the newest iPhone. I wandered away in the rain, lost and despondent. Only to be hit and sent flying by a speeding truck less than a few blocks from home. I died on the spot. The police contacted my family that day, but my parents thought I was just playing another trick. They hung up less than two seconds after the call connected. My mom said: "Serves her right if she dies. I don't have a daughter like her." In the end, it was my boyfriend, Ethan, who handled my funeral arrangements. I looked at Ethan. For a moment, I felt a bit dazed. I actually hadn't seen him in a long time. Right now, he was clearly infuriated by my parents. He pointed at them and said: "You are trespassing! I'm calling the cops!" My dad lunged forward and snatched Ethan's phone right out of his hand. He grabbed Ethan by the collar and demanded: "Where is Chloe? Where are you hiding her?" Ethan lost his temper too. He shoved my dad away and said angrily: "Chloe isn't here. Get the hell out." My parents exchanged a glance. My dad immediately pretended to be pushed over by Ethan, falling to the floor. My mom started wailing at the top of her lungs: "Oh, George, to think you'd be bullied at your age!" "What kind of monster did I give birth to? An ungrateful daughter ordering her man to bully her parents!" Ethan had never seen such a spectacle and was instantly at a loss for what to do. My mom looked up, glaring viciously at Ethan, and said: "If you don't find Chloe for me today, I'll go make a scene at your workplace tomorrow." "If you're not afraid of losing your job and being too ashamed to show your face, go ahead and keep helping that ungrateful daughter." Ethan sighed helplessly, finally telling the truth: "Chloe is dead. She died five years ago." Chapter 2 I floated in front of my mom, staring intently into her eyes. I was terrified of missing even the slightest change in her expression. I wanted to know if they would feel even a sliver of guilt upon learning of my death. Hearing Ethan's words, my mom's movements paused for a second. But immediately after, her attention was drawn to a notification on her phone. "Mom, did you find my sister? Is she still resenting me? Does she not want to save me?" This single message cast all her hesitation to the wind. She was absolutely certain that I had colluded with Ethan to trick them. "Mia, don't worry. No matter what, Mom will bring your sister to the hospital today." "Don't overthink things. Just rest well." I watched her rapidly type out a reply to my sister. Then, using an impatient tone, she said: "Chloe, she's really getting too big for her britches. Now she's even learned to play dead." "Did she find out Mia is sick and intentionally hid because she doesn't want to donate her kidney?" "Tell her to come out right now. We don't have the time to play games with her." I smiled self-deprecatingly. What was I still hoping for? A flash of astonishment crossed Ethan's eyes. "You think I'm lying to you?" My mom sneered: "I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice, kid. Do you think I don't see through your little tricks?" "Chloe told you to do this, didn't she? That worthless brat has been full of schemes since she was little." Ethan said in disbelief: "Why would I lie about something like this? Chloe was in a car accident five years ago..." My dad slammed his hand on the table, cutting Ethan off. "Shut up!" His face was livid, his eyes as cold as knives. "Chloe, that selfish, ungrateful daughter. She didn't listen to us back then and eloped with a man at such a young age." "Now her sister is sick, and not only is she refusing to save her, but she's also getting people to put on an act. This is sheer rebellion." "I gave her life! I need her kidney, what right does she have to refuse!" My dad paced back and forth in the living room, fuming. Suddenly, as if he spotted something, he charged toward the bedroom. Ethan tried to stop him but was held back tightly by the others. Seeing the vanity table in the bedroom, my dad flew into a rage. "And you still say Chloe is dead? Aren't these Chloe's things?" He kicked the vanity table viciously, sending the cosmetics crashing to the floor in a clatter. "Ah!" Just then, a woman's scream came from inside the room. Chapter 3 Hearing the woman's voice, my mom smiled smugly. She sneered at Ethan: "Did you and Chloe really think your little tricks could fool us?" With that, she swaggered grandly toward the bedroom. I stared blankly in the direction of the room. Seeing this, Ethan panicked. He fought desperately to break free from the hold, grabbed a broom from the floor, and charged over. "If you lay another hand on her, don't blame me for what happens next." He gripped the broom tightly, shielding the woman behind him. My mom's face instantly darkened, her gaze as sharp as a blade. "Chloe, you've gotten bold. You won't even listen to me and your dad anymore." "We just want you to donate a kidney, and you act like we're asking for your life." "Hurry up and come with us to the hospital. If you delay and something happens to your sister, I'll skin you alive." The woman shrieked in terror: "Who are you?! Who is Chloe?" "You want a kidney? Help! Organ traffickers are trying to steal my kidney!" In a panic, she grabbed things from the nightstand and threw them wildly. "You animal, how dare you hit me!" Furious, my mom was about to strike back. But the moment she saw the woman's face, she froze. "Who are you?" The woman slammed her hand on the table, her breath practically shooting sparks. She cursed angrily: "You break into my house, smash my things, beat me, and then ask me who I am?!" "You lunatics, are you tired of living and want to go to jail?!" My gaze rested on the woman. I knew who she was. Her name was Jessica, Ethan's girlfriend. In the third year after my death, Ethan met her. I watched with my own eyes as Ethan slowly fell for her. My heart was a jumble of emotions. I should be happy for him because he had stepped out from the shadow of my death. But beneath the happiness, there was an unspeakable sense of loss. I knew it was time for me to leave. After that, I became a wandering, homeless ghost. At this moment, Ethan was awkwardly explaining my parents' identities to Jessica. After listening, Jessica let out a cold scoff: "Oh, I was wondering what kind of classless people these were. Turns out they're the scum who drove their own biological daughter to her death." My mom looked back and forth between Jessica and Ethan, full of doubt and uncertainty. Just then, another voice message from my sister came through her phone. "Mom, I'm so scared all by myself. When are you coming back?" "Is my sister unwilling to donate her kidney to me? Am I going to die?" My sister's crying completely washed away my mom's reason. She grabbed Jessica by the hair, her face contorted fiercely. "Fine, Chloe must have hired this woman, thinking we'd believe this act." "Let me tell you, if Chloe doesn't come out today, neither you nor this woman will have a good end." Seeing Jessica being hit, Ethan quickly stepped in to help. Hearing my mom's shouts, the others all joined the fray. "Stop hitting! Stop fighting!" I hurriedly stood between Ethan and Jessica. But the fists passed right through me and landed on them. Ethan and Jessica were pinned to the floor by the group. My mom stood in front of Ethan, looking down at him imperiously. "How much did Chloe promise you to put on this show?" "Are you still going to be stubborn now?" Her tone was full of contempt and mockery. The next second, her voice became suddenly stern: "Speak! Where is Chloe?" Ethan looked at the people in front of him and suddenly laughed. "Fine. I'll take you to find Chloe." Chapter 4 Hearing this, my mom was finally satisfied. "If you had just said that earlier, things would have been so much easier." She signaled for the others to release Ethan and Jessica. Ethan rushed to Jessica's side, holding her and asking nervously: "Are you okay?" Jessica shook her head. "I'm fine." My mom looked at them with disdain: "Tsk tsk, so you two really do have something going on." "Chloe, that idiot. She gave up the good marriage her father and I found for her just for you. She must be regretting it now." "What a useless thing, can't even keep her own man." I stood numbly in place, listening to her cold mockery. "Hurry up and move. The car is right downstairs." My dad pushed Ethan out the door. Jessica stared at their retreating backs and spat a mouthful of bloody saliva. "Ptoey! If I don't sue you for every penny you have, my name isn't Jessica!" Following Ethan's directions, my dad drove the car incredibly fast. I floated behind their car, almost failing to keep up. Watching the increasingly familiar road, a wave of doubt rose in my dad's heart. "You're not tricking me, are you, kid? This isn't the road to my house." A mocking smile appeared on Ethan's lips: "Don't worry, Chloe is right there waiting for you." The car finally parked at the foot of a hill not far from my house. Ethan pointed toward the top of the hill and said: "Chloe is right up there." My mom's vision went dark as she looked at the hill. "That damn girl, what is she doing running off to this godforsaken place for no reason?" "She's doing this on purpose just to torment me and her dad." "When I see her, just wait, I'm going to beat her to a pulp." That might not go as you wish. I floated behind her, a mocking smirk curving my lips. Led by Ethan, the group quickly climbed to the top of the hill. My dad looked around the empty summit, grabbed Ethan by the collar, and demanded: "Where is she? Where is Chloe?" Ethan didn't speak. His gaze fell straight onto the tombstone behind my dad. My dad followed his gaze. Seeing the words on the tombstone, my dad's legs gave out, and he nearly collapsed. He stumbled over. With a trembling hand, he wiped the photo on the tombstone clean. The familiar face in the photo froze him to the spot. "George, what's wrong?" Seeing that something was wrong with my dad, my mom also walked over. The moment her eyes fell on the tombstone, her eyes widened in shock. Chapter 5 The five words on the tombstone, "Tomb of Chloe Hayes," pierced straight into my parents' eyes. My mom froze instantly; her previous arrogance and domineering attitude vanished without a trace. Her legs went weak, and she slumped heavily in front of the cold tombstone. "Fake! This must be fake!" She screamed, her voice shrill. "Chloe, you ungrateful daughter! You intentionally made a fake tombstone to trick us, didn't you?!" "Come out right now! Your sister is still waiting for your kidney to save her life!" My dad stood in place, the blood in his body seemingly drained in an instant. He stumbled a step forward, staring at my smiling face in the photo. It was a photo Ethan had secretly kept, taken on my eighteenth birthday, my eyes still carrying hopes for the future. He muttered to himself. "Impossible... How could she... She's just angry with us and hiding..." Ethan stood to the side, his face devoid of any sympathy. He pulled out a stack of documents from his backpack. And threw them forcefully onto the ground in front of my parents. The papers scattered, the death certificate with its official seal on top glaringly obvious. "Fake?" He sneered. "Five years ago, on that stormy night, you locked her out and cursed that she deserved to die. Have you forgotten all of that?" He bent down and picked up a photo. It was the scene of the car accident, washed by the rain. Though blurry, the truck that hit me and the bloodstains on the ground were clearly visible. "She was kicked out by you, and before she even walked a mile, she was hit by a truck and died on the spot." "This is the death certificate, this is the cremation certificate, and here are the police dispatch records. See for yourselves!" My mom glanced at the documents, her eyes darting away, afraid to look closely. Then she abruptly scrambled up from the ground, lunged at Ethan, and grabbed his collar tightly with both hands. "It's all your fault! You caused her death! If you hadn't seduced her back then, why would she have run away from the wedding?!" My dad stood to the side, still mechanically repeating the same words. "Impossible... Chloe wouldn't die... She hasn't given Mia her kidney yet..." Just then, my mom's phone suddenly rang. The name "Mia" flashed on the screen. Like grasping at a lifeline, she instantly switched her demeanor, the ferocity fading from her face. "Mia, don't cry, don't cry, Mom found your sister!" As she spoke, she glared at Ethan, her eyes full of threats. "She just couldn't think straight and hid for a bit. Mom is taking her to the hospital right now. Just wait a little longer, you'll be having the surgery soon!" Hanging up the phone, her facade was instantly torn away, reverting to her selfish and mean self. She took a few steps, rushed in front of Ethan, pointed at his nose, and scolded. "Where did you bury Chloe's ashes? Dig them up! Dig them up right now!" Ethan furrowed his brows tightly, his eyes full of disgust. "Are you crazy?" "I'm not crazy!" My mom screamed, a hysterical madness in her voice. "You say she's dead, show me the proof! Dig her up and let me see!" "Otherwise, who knows if you colluded with her, intentionally trying to prevent her from donating a kidney to Mia!" I floated beside the tombstone, looking at her ugly face. My chest was filled with five years of accumulated resentment and grievance. Suddenly, a gust of wind blew up without warning. It whipped up the documents and fallen leaves from the ground, smashing them hard against my parents. They instinctively raised their arms to shield themselves, their hair blown into a mess. My mom's screams were drowned out by the sound of the wind. I reached out my hand, wanting to touch them, wanting to ask them if they had felt even a shred of guilt all these years. But my hand passed right through their bodies, grasping nothing. I could only watch them helplessly. Watch my mom still throwing a tantrum, watch my dad still immersed in his own world, refusing to accept reality. Watch how, even now, they only cared about my sister's kidney, having never truly cared whether I, their daughter, lived or died.
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