The Daughter Who Was Supposed to Die Chapter 04

The Daughter Who Was Supposed to Die Chapter 04

Mom’s face immediately stiffened. Her eyes dodged. She ducked her head and fussed with the dishes on the table.
“She… she went to bed early in her room.”
Grandma stared at her without moving, eyes sharp as moonlight in the trees.
“Asleep?” she asked slowly. “I’ll go check on her.”
“But Mother, Annie… she was throwing a fit, so I put her in the basement to calm down.”
Grandma froze.
The room instantly turned cold.
“Did I hear it right? You locked Annie in the basement?”
Under Grandma’s icy stare, Mom went stiff and tried to explain, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Tomorrow is Millie’s—I didn’t want Annie upsetting her. Just for a little while…”
Grandma suddenly raised her hand.
Then she knocked Mom’s hand away—hard—so hard that Mom stumbled back.
“How dare you, Sasha!”
Tears burned in Grandma’s eyes, but her voice remained fierce.
“Millie is your daughter. And Annie isn’t?!”
She muttered, “I know the elders’ prophecy. I know you ache for Millie, want to pile every good thing in front of her, want her to leave without regret!”
Her tears streamed down while saying, “But what about Annie?!”
Her voice trembled as she continued, “She’s your daughter too—your own flesh and blood! She’s grown up wearing old clothes, eating leftovers, and hasn’t even heard one full bedtime story! Your love, your warmth, your attention—when has she ever gotten even a scrap?!”
Mom dropped into a wooden chair, covered her face with both hands, shoulders shaking. She couldn’t say a word.
Grandma’s voice turned hoarse.
“Both girls are good. Both carry the blood of the pack!”
She snapped, “But you two as parents—your favoritism is brutal. It’s ruthless!”
She gritted her teeth. Tears were still flowing. “And now, on Millie’s last day, you won’t even let the sisters see each other one last time?”
Finally, she could no longer hold back her anger. “You’re really sending Millie off without letting her see her own sister?!”
Head down, Mom sobbed so hard she trembled, still unable to speak.
Dad stood at the side, his head lowered, his shoulders quivering.
Grandma looked at this numb, selfish couple and let out a long sigh. All that was left in her eyes was fatigue and disappointment.
She didn’t keep arguing. Didn’t keep scolding.
Instead, she just turned and walked, slow and steady, to the cold wooden door of the basement.
She crouched, leaned toward the crack under the door, and spoke in the softest, gentlest voice.
“Annie, your grandma’s here to see you. Don’t be afraid.”
I hovered right in front of her, tears falling without a sound.
All night long, these were the first words that were truly meant for me.
Not for Millie. Not to make up for anything. Not out of gritted-teeth patience.
Just simple and real—Grandma was hurting for me. She stayed with me too.
Outside, the night faded, moonlight sinking back into the woods.
The first pale-gold light threaded the treetops and touched the cabin’s windows.
At last, Millie’s fifteenth birthday arrived.
Grandma stood, then walked to Millie’s door. She lifted her hand and rested her fingertips against the wooden door for a long moment before gently knocking.
“Millie, time to wake up.”
A faint rustle inside. A moment later, the door eased open.
Millie stood in the doorway, still pale, but steady on her feet. Her breathing was even. Not a hint she might collapse.
She looked up at Grandma and gave a small, uneasy smile.
“Grandma. Dad. Mom.”
Mom rushed forward and hugged her tightly, like she wanted to press Millie into her own bones.
“Millie… my Millie…”
Tears poured down her face as the words tumbled out.
“You’re okay. You’re really okay…”
Dad came over too. His hand trembled as he smoothed Millie’s hair. His eyes were red from crying.
A wild joy painted on their face at getting their daughter back, relief that the prophecy hadn’t come true, the fear that had haunted them for years finally seemed to disappear.
Only then did they remember me, locked in the basement.
“Oh, Moon Goddess! Annie!” Mom suddenly pulled away from Millie. “Annie’s still in the basement!”
“We need to let her out now. Her sister’s fine—this is good news!”
Dad answered at once, a smile still hanging on his face, and strode for the basement.
He grabbed the doorknob and yanked hard.