Spent All 99 Favor Cards, The Unwanted Daughter Escaped Chapter 01

Spent All 99 Favor Cards, The Unwanted Daughter Escaped Chapter 01

When I was little, Mother told me that Sabine had lost her hearing because of me. So they gave her 99 No-Refusal Cards.

On my birthday, Sabine wanted a mango cake. She pulled out a No-Refusal Card, and Mother had the cake remade with mango.

I was allergic to mangoes.

Sabine got caught fighting at school. She pulled out a card, and Mother made me take the blame.

I was bullied and shut out for the next three years because of it.

From age eight to 18, she used 96 No-Refusal Cards.

I got pushed aside 96 times.

I thought that once she used the last three, I’d finally have the same love from our parents.

Then, while helping Mother clean the house, I found a medical report from 18 years ago.

[Sabine Norwood. Congenital deafness.]

I couldn’t stop shaking.

My guilt was a lie. Her “accident” was a lie.

The only truth? My family had chosen her all along.

I didn’t confront them. I didn’t shed a tear.

I just tapped my phone, accepted my offer to Royal Ashbourne Academy, and vanished before dawn.

I couldn’t go far.

But it was far enough to get out of this house.

Far enough to leave behind the 96 times you’d let me down.

…

Deep down, I’d known for years that they didn’t love me.

I just kept convincing myself otherwise–Sabine’s disability was my fault. I was the one who had done something wrong.

So no matter how many times I felt wronged over the years, I forced myself to let it go.

But what if it had all been a lie from the very beginning?

What if I hadn’t done anything wrong at all?

Then what had all those years of pain been for?

What had those 96 times been for?

I rubbed my aching eyes.

I had barely put my phone down when Sabine’s sweet voice came from the living room.

“Mother, I graduated. I want some new clothes.”

She clung to Mother’s arm, swaying back and forth.

I’d never been allowed to act that way with her.

Maybe I was staring too hard. Mother suddenly cast me a sideways look.

“Tavia, why can’t you be more like Sabine?”

“If you want something, just say it. Stop sitting there with that miserable look on your face.”

But I had said it.

When I was five, Aunt Marina brought back two handmade chocolates from Italy.

I said I wanted one.

But Sabine said one wouldn’t be enough for her. So she got both.

When I was 10, Father brought home a limited-edition wolf pup plush.

I said I wanted it.

Sabine said she was scared at night without something to hold. So the plush ended up in her room.

When I was 13, the school rewarded top students with tickets to a music festival.

I’d already packed my things.

But Sabine said she loved that band. So Mother gave her my ticket.

Being able to ask for something and actually get it was what it meant to be the favorite.

I’d never had that.

In the end, Mother took me along on the shopping trip.

At a clothing store downtown, she held dress after dress up to Sabine, buying everything she liked.

I didn’t say a word.

Until we walked into the last store.

I spotted a dress the moment I stepped inside.

A white rose was sewn across the torso.

It was the style I’d loved for years. And it was my size.

I took a breath. “Mother, can I try this on?”

Sabine grabbed the hem and wouldn’t let go.

Then she pulled out a brand-new No-Refusal Card.

“Mother, I like this one, too.”

“I’m using my No-Refusal Card. This dress is mine.”

The sales associate politely stepped in.

“Miss, we don’t have this style in your size. We have some new arrivals over here if you’d like to take a look.”

“So what if it doesn’t fit?”

Sabine refused to budge.

“I like it. That’s all that matters. Besides, she owes me.”

Mother immediately stepped forward and pried my fingers off the dress.

Her blue wolf eyes were ice-cold.

“It’s just a dress. What’s one dress going to hurt?”

“Sabine’s ears are sensitive. When something upsets her, they start ringing. Just let her have it.”

I stood there, my fingers clenched until they turned white.

It had always been like this.

The moment Sabine pulled out a No-Refusal Card, I had to give in.

All 96 times came rushing back.

I swallowed the ache in my throat.

“Mother, if I were the one who’d lost my hearing, would you make Sabine give in to me every time?”

Mother’s eyes flickered.

Then her voice snapped up.

“Tavia, why do you have to fight Sabine over everything?”

“It’s just a dress. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?”

“You’re the reason Sabine has hearing problems. If you can’t even give her a little leeway, stop comparing yourself to her. How can you be so selfish?”

Those few words killed whatever hope I had left.

She’d rather keep blaming me for something I never did than admit the truth–She simply loved Sabine more.

Just then, Sabine stepped out of the fitting room in the dress.

It didn’t fit her.

She spun around anyway, looking pleased with herself.

As she passed me, she deliberately bumped into me.

“You’re the one who ruined my hearing. You owe me. Everything should go to me.”

I lowered my eyes.

I didn’t argue.

On the way home, I pulled out my journal.

In the 97th box, I wrote: [Let Sabine have the dress.]

Two boxes left.

I stared out the car window at the dark night.

There was nothing left to feel.

I used to count these boxes because I still had hope.

I thought that once all 99 cards were gone, I’d finally get the same love Sabine had.

Now I was still counting.

Once the last two cards were gone, I’d leave this Pack that had trapped me for 18 years.

And I’d never look back.