Reborn,My Adoptive Sister's Schemes Turned Against Herself

Just as I was about to go downstairs and ask my parents, Eva appeared, holding a glass of red wine, slowly making her way up the stairs.

"Sister," she sneered. "Were you looking for your life-saving money? Sorry, I forgot to tell you-I've already transferred it."

"Dad and Mom gave me all their bank passwords, so I made the transfer in no time." She smirked. "As for your treatment... forget about it. I'm going to make sure you lose everything, everyone will turn their backs on you. You'll just sit here and wait to die."

Rage exploded inside me as I grabbed the wine from her hand and splashed it across her face.

The others, noticing Eva hadn't come downstairs, rushed in just in time to witness the scene: me throwing the wine at her, and Eva tumbling down the stairs, her body crashing onto the floor. Blood pooled around her, the wound on her head splitting open.

Her pale face grabbed the sleeves of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, her adoptive parents. "Mom, Dad, Emma pushed me down the stairs."

Mr. and Mrs. Smith were livid, their faces twisted with rage as they glared at me, their hatred so intense I could feel it piercing my soul. And then Philp, the one person I thought cared, slapped me hard across the face.

"How could you do something so vicious? If anything happens to Eva, we'll hold you responsible!"

I sank to the ground, tears blurring my vision, my body shaking with pain and despair. I looked up at John, but all I saw in his eyes was cold disappointment. Without a word, he scooped Eva up and rushed out, leaving me all alone.

Alone, with nothing. No one believed me. The money for my treatment was gone, and Eva had stolen my parents, my brother, even my most beloved John.

I coughed up blood, my body curling into itself on the cold floor. I could barely move, and my mind began to haze. I had a feeling-today, this was it. My last day.

But I couldn't die like this. I couldn't let them think I was lying. I had to make sure the truth came out. I had to expose Eva for who she really was. Then maybe, just maybe, they'd regret this. Regret all of it.

I opened my eyes, only to realize I'd passed out on the cold floor for hours. Now, before me stood my family-and John.

Seeing me wake up, their expressions shifted from worry to fury.

"Emma! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Emma, Eva's condition is critical! She needs a rare white blood cell antibody-only you have it in your body! We need you to come with us to the hospital and extract it to save her!"

Before I could even respond, I was roughly shoved into a car, and the wheels screeched as we sped toward the hospital.

A cold needle pierced my vein, and I trembled with anxiety. Meanwhile, my parents, my brother, and John were all gathered around Eva's bed, anxiously waiting for her to wake.

"Eva, are you feeling better?" they asked.

Eva, with a look of gratitude, collapsed into their arms, and they showered her with affection, their fingers running through her hair.

I stood in the corner, feeling like a stranger in my own family. I forced myself to stand, step by step, but as I made my way toward the door, my body gave in and I collapsed.

When I woke up again, I was lying in Doctor Brandon's office.

"Where have you been, Emma? Don't you realize your condition is worsening? If you don't get treatment soon, you'll only have a month left to live!"

"And how could you donate white blood cells in your state?"

After a long silence, I simply shook my head weakly.

"I. I have no money."

Doctor Brandon's face was full of disbelief. The Smith family was wealthy, how could they not even have the money to treat their own daughter?

Family? At the sound of that word, tears began to spill uncontrollably from my eyes. Without realizing it, I had walked to Eva's hospital room.

The door was slightly ajar, and when I peered inside, I saw my parents and brother had already left. Only John remained, sitting by Eva's bed. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, I accidentally brushed against the door.

The moment he saw me standing there, John quickly pushed Eva aside and rushed out after me.

John grabbed my arm. "Emma, it's not what you think."

"What exactly do you think I'm thinking, John? Have you forgotten? I'm your fiancée."

"I haven't forgotten. But Eva is too weak right now. She can't handle any more stress."

"So, all the promises you made to me... none of them matter anymore?"

. From the moment we were five, we had been inseparable, like two halves of the same soul.

We had shared so many firsts: planning surprise birthday parties, celebrating each other's successes, comforting each other in times of failure.

When my family began to favor Eva, only John had stood firmly by my side. That day, when I fell ill during a heavy downpour, he didn't hesitate to carry me through the rain, trudging through the mud to the hospital. And I, in turn, had stood up for him in front of the teacher, accepting the punishment meant for him. At that moment, I had been certain-he was my one true love.

But now, all those memories felt like they belonged to someone else.

But now, those sweet promises still echoed in my ears, while I watched him take Eva's hand before my very eyes.

I could see the disappointment in John's gaze, but he didn't offer any more explanations. Instead, his eyes hardened as he spoke coldly, "The Emma I promised to love was the pure, innocent, kind-hearted girl."

"Have you ever stopped to reflect on what you've become?"

I stared at him in disbelief, my heart breaking with every word. John simply closed the door behind him. "Eva needs rest," he said, leaving me no room for argument. All I could do was turn and walk away in despair.

Just as I reached the door, I was met with the slap of my brother, Philp's hand across my face.

"I know you're jealous of Eva," he spat, his voice full of venom. "Jealous that she has everything you don't, that Mom and Dad spoil her more than they ever did you. I'm telling you, stop dreaming!"

I never imagined that the brother who had once been my biggest protector could turn on me like this. I couldn't hold it in any longer, and I called out to him, my voice trembling.

"Philp, you used to love me the most, remember?"

"When I was little and got bullied, the guy was so much taller than me, but you didn't hesitate to rush in and fight him. You ended up breaking your leg and spent six months in the hospital."

"How did we end up like this, Philp?"

"Because you're not worth it!"

Not worth it...

The day Eva was discharged from the hospital, the entire family, including John, came to pick her up. As they walked through the door, Eva had John's arm linked through hers, and he was holding a bouquet of deep crimson roses, his face lit with a smile. Philp led her upstairs, while the rest of the family gathered around me.

Seeing my pale face, John immediately came forward and took my hand.

"How is it that in just a few days, you've lost so much weight?" he asked, his tone soft, almost affectionate. He reached into a bag at his side and pulled out a bracelet. "I got this for you. Do you like it?"

I was utterly confused. I had no idea what game they were playing, but I stood there, helpless, as he carefully placed the bracelet around my wrist.

At dinner, Eva didn't come downstairs. But surprisingly, this time, my parents and Philp didn't insist on waiting for her before eating. Sara herself had cooked an entire spread of food, and the family eagerly urged me to eat.

At that moment, I was overwhelmed by a strange mix of emotions. After all these years, it felt like I was finally feeling the warmth of family again. I glanced down at the table-most of it was dessert. The next second, Sara cut me a piece and placed it on my plate.

"Emma, eat more," she encouraged, her voice full of concern.

"Emma," she continued, her tone suddenly more serious, "Eva may have been discharged, but the doctor says her depression is still severe."

"All these years, Eva's been living under our roof, hiding her feelings. We've been unfair to her," Sara said softly.

"She's so in love with John, she can't live without him. If we forced you two to marry, it might break her heart."

"So you want me to delay my wedding with John?"

"No, the wedding will go on as planned, just. with Eva as the bride."

d I turned to John, my voice shaking, "So, you agree with this?"

John was speechless.

Philp, growing impatient, cut in. "This is everyone's decision. We're not asking for your opinion, we're telling you."

In a fit of rage, I smashed the cake onto the floor, watching it shatter into pieces.

"Do you even know? I'm lactose intolerant!" I shouted.

"All my life, I've had to give in to her. She takes my limited edition pens, tears up my prize-winning artwork, and when I'm sick in bed, you're too busy planning her birthday party! At school events, you're always with her, leaving me alone. She hates my succulents and you throw them away without a word!"

"Do you even realize that you're my parents, my brother, my fiancé?"

"Emma, you have everything. Let Eva have this one thing."

"We've made up our minds. You will let her have it, whether you like it or not."

At that moment, I felt my heart break completely.

Soon, they were busy planning John and Eva's wedding, ignoring my pain. Alone in my room, I coughed up blood again and again. The painkillers had long run out, and no matter how hard I slammed my head against the wall, it didn't ease.

Before the ceremony began, no one even noticed I was missing. To them, as long as the wedding went smoothly, everything would be fine.

The ceremony started, and Eva walked towards John, the crowd's eyes on her.

John walked toward her too, but his mind was on me. He must've been imagining what it would be like if I were the one in that wedding dress.

John didn't notice the time passing until the priest reminded him, and only then did he take Eva's hand.

As the priest began reading the vows, the door suddenly burst open. John's assistant rushed in, panic on his face.

"John, something's wrong! Eva is at the beach-she-"

Meanwhile, I stood on the shore, feeling the sea breeze, the first true relief in ages. I had let go of everything. No more pain, no more sadness.

"I have cancer. A cancer that could have been cured, but you gave up on me."

"Dad, Mom, this is the last time I'll ever call you that. I forgave you over and over, but you always hurt me the most. I don't know if you'll regret never giving me love after today. But it doesn't matter anymore, I don't need your love anymore."

I wiped my tears and smiled bitterly.

"Brother, you used to love me the most, but since Eva came into our lives, you've changed. All your love, all the best for her. It's fine. From now on, you only have Eva as your sister. Are you happy now?"

Shakily, I stood up, took off the bracelet John had given me, and threw it into the air.

"John, we grew up together. You said we'd never betray each other. I really loved you, more than anything, hoping we'd spend our lives together. But my love for you ends today."

I walked toward the deep sea, knowing this life would end in pain. With open arms and closed eyes, I whispered,

"As you wished, I'm dying."

"If there's another life, I don't want to be the Smith family's daughter, or Philp's sister, and I don't ever want to love John again."

And with that, I leaped into the ocean.