The Dream That Killed Me Chapter 03

The Dream That Killed Me Chapter 03

The gala was nearing its end.

My parents flanked Claire protectively as the whole room watched, and the second hand finally struck twelve.

My mother’s eyes were rimmed red, staring at my sister. My father didn’t blink either.

Nothing happened.

Claire still wore her crown, still beautiful as ever.

My mother cried first, pulling her into a tight hug.

“It’s broken! The dream’s finally broken!”

My father laughed and clapped his hands.

“To celebrate my precious daughter’s successful birthday gala—everyone here gets five hundred thousand dollars!”

The room’s energy surged instantly.

Everyone showered them with blessings.

I watched the whole scene and thought —

At least we haven’t turned the heat on at home lately. My body won’t decompose too fast.

I wonder—when they finally see me—will they be sad? Will they hold me like they did when I was little, and say they were wrong?

The ballroom emptied out quickly.

My mother’s eyes shone as she gathered her things and hurried my father along.

“Come on, let’s go give Lily her birthday now. We can still make it.”

“I want to see her. My heart won’t stop racing.”

Hearing her mention me, my father actually smiled—a rare thing.

“Fine, fine. When we get back, let’s take Lily out somewhere nice. Make it up to her.”

“Whatever she wants, we’ll buy it for her, okay?”

Grandma’s face, tight all evening, finally softened.

I watched them.

So… Mom and Dad do love me?

But I looked down at my own transparent hands.

Too late.

[Mom. Dad. Your love came too late.]

I watched my mother walk to a corner, smiling as she dialed my number.

Once. Twice. Three times.

No answer.

Her smile froze. She grabbed my father’s arm, panicked.

“Still no answer.”

“Let’s hurry back. This morning when I left, there was blood on her head.”

“What if something’s happened?”

My father frowned and glanced at her.

“Nothing’s happened. She’s just sulking, doesn’t want to pick up.”

My mother, still pale, opened her mouth to say something more —

Then a glass shattered somewhere.

I turned to look.

Claire had collapsed onto broken glass, her hand dripping blood.

My father’s pupils shrank. He ran to her.

“I’m sorry, Dad. I don’t know why the glass just broke.”

My mother’s hands trembled as she dialed for an ambulance.

Claire looked up at my father, tears on her face.

“Dad… if the dream’s broken, does that mean nothing bad will happen?”

“What if Lily’s still not… good? What do I do?”

“I still want more years to be good to you both.”

Claire’s face had gone white, blood soaking into her beautiful gown.

The joy of the broken dream drained out of the room in an instant.

Everyone froze.

My father stared at the cut on Claire’s hand, his voice hard, final.

“We’re not going home tonight.”

“I’ll call Ascend Academy right now. They’ll take Lily and teach her some manners.”

“Once she’s truly learned, we’ll bring her home.”

He closed his eyes, then added:

“No. In case we go soft—I’ll have them send someone to pick her up.”

“None of us are going back.”