The day my acceptance letter to Harvard arrived, my sister jumped into the river, leaving behind a suicide note claiming she couldn't handle the pressure. My parents were devastated. They tore my acceptance letter to shreds. Then, listening to a charlatan psychic, they locked me in a coffin for seven days without food or water to "purge my sister's resentment," all so her spirit would return on the seventh day. I screamed until my throat bled, scratched at the wood until my nails were gone. All I got in return was, "This is what you owe your sister." I suffocated to death in that coffin. Seven days later, my sister returned, alive and well. And my parents? They lost their minds. 1 Slap. A heavy hand struck my face, instantly numbing one side. My ears rang so loudly I couldn't hear anything for a second. My father's face was twisted with rage, screaming as if he wanted to devour me. "How did I raise such a vain, selfish daughter? Would it kill you not to show off in front of your sister?" "Your sister jumped into the river! Are you happy now? Are you satisfied?" My mother clutched the suicide note my sister, Chloe, had left, crying as if her heart was being ripped out. The letter was full of lies. It claimed I fought with her for everything, showed off, belittled her, mocked her, humiliated her. She wrote that she was tired, that she couldn't take my oppression anymore, so she chose to leave this world. I didn't understand. What oppression? In this house, Chloe was the treasure. My parents believed everything she said unconditionally. They wanted to give her the best of everything. Meanwhile, I got whatever she didn't want. We had two spare bedrooms. She took one to sleep in and the other for her walk-in closet. I was relegated to the damp, cramped storage room downstairs. In summer, I was covered in heat rash; in winter, my hands were full of chilblains. Mom always said that as the older sister, I stole too much nutrition in the womb, which made Chloe weak and sickly at birth. So I never complained. Even when my heart ached, I accommodated Chloe. But why? Just because Chloe failed her SATs, my acceptance to Harvard—earned through my own blood, sweat, and tears—became a sin? I looked at the acceptance letter, torn into confetti by my furious father, scattered like trash on the floor. It felt like a hole had been punched through my chest, cold and painful. I bent down, trying to pick up the pieces. Suddenly, Mom rushed at me like a madwoman, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me violently. "You jinx! You curse! You stole her nutrition in the womb, and now you bully her in life!" "Why wasn't it you who died? Give me back my Chloe!" She shoved me to the floor. Through my blurred vision, I looked up at her, helpless. "Mom, I'm your daughter too." Her eyes were bloodshot, glaring at me with pure hatred. "No, you're not. My only daughter is Chloe. You are a disaster. I regret not strangling you at birth so you wouldn't have the chance to harm my Chloe... my poor Chloe..." She sobbed uncontrollably, the disgust in her eyes as if I were something filthy. Dad walked over and kicked the paper scraps in front of me. "Ava, you are a murderer. You killed your sister, you killed my precious daughter. How do you have the face to go to such a good university? You should live in a garbage dump for the rest of your life to atone for your sins." 2 They locked me in the storage room. The next day, dizzy from hunger, the door finally opened. Dad carried me out. Mom fed me seafood porridge, spoonful by spoonful. She even ran a bath for me and washed me herself, claiming I was too weak. "Mom spoke too harshly yesterday. Let me give you a good wash, then you go have a good sleep." Her smile was stiff and forced. But my starved heart was moved. Tears streamed down my face. "Mom, I'll be good. I'll study hard and take care of you and Dad." Mom murmured a vague response, looking preoccupied. After cleaning me up, she hurried me to bed. In the middle of the night, I slept fitfully. I heard faint noises, like chanting. Someone came into the room, picked me up, and placed me in a cramped space. The smell of sandalwood was overwhelming. Fear gripped me. I wanted to move, to call for Mom and Dad, but my limbs felt heavy, like I was paralyzed. Struggling with all my might, I finally opened my eyes. I met my parents' cold gazes. And saw a wooden board sliding over my head. I looked around, realizing with horror that I was lying in a coffin. The board above me was the lid. Trembling, I tried to sit up, gripping the edge. But Dad pushed me back down by my shoulders. His eyes were manic. "The Master said Chloe left with resentment towards you. You are the cause. Only by locking you in a coffin for seven days without food or water can we purify her resentment. Only then will her soul return to see us on the seventh day." I stared at him, unable to believe he would trust such insanity. "Dad, there are no ghosts! If Chloe is dead, she can't come back!" Mom wiped her eyes, her tone softening. "Ava, be good. Your sister hasn't even visited our dreams. She must be too angry with you. Just lie in the coffin for seven days. Once her soul returns to see us one last time, we'll let you out. Mom will make it up to you." "Mom!" I screamed, tears flowing. "Seven days without food or water? I'll die!" "No, you won't. I asked the Master. He cast a spell. It only purifies your soul and removes Chloe's resentment. After seven days, you'll be perfectly fine. Once we see Chloe one last time, fulfilling our wish, Mom will let you out immediately. I'll make your favorite food. You can even have Chloe's room, okay?" "Why waste breath on her? After Chloe's seventh day, she'll be the only one left. Everything will be hers. She's probably laughing inside. We just ask her to lie in a coffin for seven days and she makes excuses. It's not like we're asking her to die. Selfish by nature. She can't compare to Chloe." Dad ignored me and started sliding the lid shut. I clawed at the wood, tears streaming. My limbs were weak from the sleeping pills they must have given me. The "care" they showed me earlier was all for this. All for Chloe. "No, Daddy, please! I'll die!" The gap narrowed. Suffocating despair crushed me. "Mommy, save me! I'll be good! Mommy..." Mom looked away, unable to watch. "Be good. Once we see your sister, Mom will make it up to you." "A scourge lasts a thousand years. If your death could bring Chloe back, that would be your blessing," Dad muttered. The lid slammed shut, sealing my fate. The air thinned instantly. The sleeping pills dragged me toward unconsciousness. I pushed weakly against the lid. The heavy wood didn't budge. "Are you sure you asked the Master? Is it really safe?" Mom asked, worried. "Of course. He's famous. It cost me twenty grand just for a few words. He guaranteed that as long as Ava stays in there for seven days, Chloe's resentment will vanish. Her soul will return. And Ava won't die; she'll even be healthier." Mom sighed in relief. "Thank God. My poor Chloe must come back." Dad patted her shoulder. "She will. Chloe is so kind and filial. If Ava hadn't pushed her, she wouldn't have left us. It's all Ava's fault." "Ava is narrow-minded and selfish. Letting her reflect in the coffin for seven days is good for her," Mom agreed. I heard their voices, my heart numb with pain. The suffocating feeling in my lungs triggered a survival instinct. I slammed my head against the lid, desperate. Bang! Bang! "This damn girl still has strength after the pills. I need to get some nails." Mom pressed down on the lid. "Hurry! If she breaks out, the spell will fail. We can't delay Chloe's return." Their cold words pierced my heart like knives. I screamed, tearing my throat. "Mom, I can't breathe! Help me!" "Stop acting, Ava! You drove your sister to death, and now you won't even help her soul rest? It's such a small request. How did I give birth to someone so heartless?" Dad returned with a hammer. The sound of nails being driven in echoed like a death knell. Bang. Bang. "Ava, you owe this to your sister. Behave. In seven days, you'll be our only daughter. Everything will be yours. You won't have to worry about Chloe stealing our love." My voice cracked into a raspy whisper. Love? Did I ever have it? After nailing it shut, they patted the lid to ensure it was secure, then left satisfied. My tears mixed with the blood on my forehead. In the pitch-black coffin, I lost track of time. My ten fingernails broke as I scratched uselessly at the wood. I had no strength left to scream. My hands dropped. I died on the third day. My eyes were wide open. Tear tracks dried on my temples, mixed with blood. I looked like a monster. 3 That night, my parents came in. Hearing silence from the coffin, Dad scoffed. "Playing dead now? You think that will make us soft? Four more days until Chloe comes back. Behave yourself." Mom scolded, "Ava, you committed an unforgivable sin. Seven days of reflection is a light punishment. Think about Chloe—she lost her life. You're just lying there comfortably. Be grateful." My spirit floated in the air, laughing bitterly. So, suffocating in a coffin is "comfort" to them. Over the next few days, they visited often. Seeing I wasn't making noise, they relaxed. Mom smiled gently. "It's good you thought it through. We love Chloe to make up for your bullying. You cut her clothes, broke her toys, tore her notebooks, made her fail her SATs. She only thought of suicide because you were too vicious." I was speechless. Chloe did all those things to me. She twisted the truth, making herself the victim and me the villain. I looked down. Salty tears filled my mouth. They never believed me. Even when Chloe spread rumors about me sleeping around, hired thugs to bully me, or tried to destroy my exam ticket. I told them. But Chloe just had to cry and claim I was framing her. Then they would scream at me, beat me with hangers and belts, or lock me out in the rain all night. No matter what Chloe said, it was gospel. My explanations were lies. I endured, retreated, compromised. But I was always the outsider. Now, I was dead. Finally free from begging for their love. On the sixth day, a smell started to seep out. I sat on the coffin lid, watching my parents arrange paper effigies, game consoles, spirit money, and pretty dresses around the coffin. All Chloe's favorite things. Mom cried, "I wonder where my Chloe is wandering. Is she cold? Hungry? Are other ghosts bullying her? She's so delicate..." Dad hugged her. "Tomorrow is the seventh day. When she comes back, we'll ask her what she needs and burn it for her immediately." Mom wiped her eyes and glared at the coffin. "Ava, your sister is coming back tomorrow. Don't make a sound. Don't upset her." I didn't respond. Dad spat. "Ava, don't be ungrateful. Playing dead? Seems you haven't reflected enough. Fine, stay in there for half a month." Just then, the doorbell rang. It was Mrs. Liang, the neighbor. "Hey, are you pickling something? It smells like something's rotting. I can smell it from my house." Dad froze, his face darkening. "There's no smell. You're imagining things." He slammed the door. "What a dog nose. Saying my house smells like rot. Bad luck," he muttered. Mom stared at the coffin, dazed. Suddenly, she got angry. "Ava, I know you're silent on purpose to spite us. Fine. Tomorrow when we open it, let's see if you can keep acting." I laughed softly. Mom, I don't need to act. I'm already dead. You'll never have to see your disgusting daughter again. 4 In the summer heat, the smell grew worse. Neighbors hurried past holding their noses. Some knocked to ask, but my parents cursed them out. They seemed to have lost their sense of smell, joyfully awaiting Chloe's soul. Day seven. My parents waited by the coffin early. I was curious too. How was this "Master" going to guide Chloe's soul back? He said he'd come at midnight. But in broad daylight, the doorbell rang. Parents looked at each other and ran to open it. They froze. Standing there, biting her lip pitifully, was Chloe. The girl who supposedly jumped into a river. Seeing them, she flew into their arms like a bird returning to the nest. "Mom, Dad... I finally see you again." Mom snapped out of her shock, face full of joy. "Chloe! Is it really you?" She touched her all over. "You're not dead?" "Mom, it's me. I jumped, but a kind person saved me. I was in a coma until two days ago. I came back as soon as I woke up because I knew you'd be worried." She coughed weakly. "Mom, Dad, after coming back from death, I realized I can't leave you. I'm so scared I won't see you again. Don't worry, I won't do it again. Even if Ava bullies me, I'll kneel and beg her, but I won't do anything stupid." Mom's heart broke. She hugged Chloe like a precious jewel. "My poor daughter." Dad wiped his eyes, comforting her while gritting his teeth. "I knew Ava was a jinx. So vicious at such a young age, driving her sister to death." Chloe looked up with red eyes. "Where is Ava? Even though she did so many bad things, I don't blame her. If she apologizes to me, I'll forgive her." Forgive? What did I do wrong to need forgiveness from a lying, vicious sister? I was suffocated in a coffin! Chloe came back alive and hopping. What about me? Did I deserve to die? She claimed she suffered, but her rosy cheeks didn't look like someone recovering from a coma. She was lying. The suicide was just a ploy because she was jealous of my acceptance letter. Only my parents would believe her. I closed my eyes, tears falling on my ghostly hand. In this house, even my sadness was seen as dramatic. My parents exchanged a weird look. Mom hesitated. "We thought you died. A Master said if we locked Ava in a coffin for seven days to purge your resentment, your soul would return." Chloe covered her mouth in feigned shock. "What? Then let her out! I'm back. Tomorrow is Mom's birthday, let's celebrate together." Dad huffed. "She's strong as an ox. Let her stay in there one more day. Wait until after your mom's birthday. Don't let her ruin the mood." The last shred of hope in my heart vanished. I smiled bitterly. What was I expecting? Even when Chloe was "dead," I was just a sacrifice. Now that she's alive, I'm even less than nothing. My presence is just bad luck.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "386386", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel