The cold night air bit at April’s skin as she wandered aimlessly, her heels clicking unevenly on the pavement. A can of cheap beer dangled from her hand, its bitter taste doing little to numb the storm inside her. She muttered to herself, the words spilling out between hiccuping sobs.

"I should be the one," she slurred, her voice trembling with anguish. "It should have been me instead of her. I should be the one getting love from my own parents, receiving surprises. I should be the happy one. So why...why is it like this?"

Her voice cracked, and she stopped to take another long gulp of beer. The alcohol burned her throat, but she didn’t care. Her emotions were a hurricane—pain, anger, and frustration swirling so fiercely she could barely breathe. She stumbled, catching herself against a streetlamp before collapsing onto a bench on the sidewalk.

"She’s just adopted," she muttered bitterly, staring at the pavement. "I’m the real daughter. Why do they love her more? I knew I couldn’t get their love, so I thought at least I had Sen. But now...he’s taken away too."

Her voice trailed off into quiet sobs, her shoulders shaking as she buried her face in her hands. Images of Sen flashed through her mind—his warm smile, the way he used to ruffle her hair, the quiet moments they shared when she thought he cared. "Why did he act like he loved me if it wasn’t real?" she whispered.

April’s fingers clenched around the can, crumpling it as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. She sat there for what felt like hours, the world around her fading into a blur of lights and muffled sounds. Somewhere in her drunken haze, she made a vow.

"I promise you, Ophelia," she murmured, her voice dark with resolve. "I’ll make you pay. I’ll get back everything that should have been mine."

She didn’t know how long she sat there, but by the time she stumbled back to her feet, her heart was a hardened shell. The pain she felt morphed into a simmering hatred, and for the first time, she allowed herself to feel it fully. This is the last time I cry over them, she told herself. The last time.

Two days passed, and April didn’t return home. Instead, she holed up in a small hotel, avoiding her family’s calls. She spent those days replaying her life in her head, trying to pinpoint where it had all gone wrong. No matter how far back she went, it always led to the same place: Ophelia. Her misery, her parents’ rejection, her unrequited love for Sen—it all tied back to her sister. The realization only deepened her hatred.

That evening, Alex Winter stood in his study, pacing with frustration. When a servant informed him that April had finally returned home, he slammed his fist on the desk. "Finally, she’s back!" he barked. "After all the trouble she caused, embarrassing me and damaging my reputation. Bring her to me at once."

The butler nodded and left, but as he exited, Ophelia appeared in the hallway. Her delicate features were shadowed with concern, and she gave the butler a small, sad smile. "Let me go," she said softly. "I’ll bring her. I want to try and fix things with her."

The butler hesitated but eventually agreed, stepping aside to let Ophelia pass. She took a deep breath, straightened her dress, and walked toward April’s room. The soft knock she gave at the door was met with a harsh, irritated voice.

"What do you want?" April snapped as she opened the door. Her glare could have cut glass.

Ophelia flinched at the look but forced herself to smile. "Sis, I just wanted—"

"I said, what the fuck do you want?" April interrupted, her voice dripping with venom. "I am not up for any more of your bullshit!"

Ophelia swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. "I just wanted to talk—"

"I am not your sis," April spat, her voice ice cold. "Remember that. You’re just an adopted dog who gets to bark because of my parents’ money." She jabbed a finger at Ophelia’s shoulder, her eyes narrowing as she gestured to her clothes. "This! This is all their money. Don’t forget that everything you have should have been mine."

Ophelia stumbled back, her lower lip trembling as tears welled in her eyes. She looked down, unable to meet April’s piercing gaze. The tears spilled over, and she bit her lip hard to stop herself from crying out.

But April only laughed bitterly. "What’s the matter? Can’t pretend to be innocent anymore?" Her voice dripped with mockery. "Pathetic."

"Dad was looking for you," Ophelia mumbled, her voice barely audible. She wiped her cheeks quickly, as if trying to hide her tears.

"Oh, was he?" April rolled her eyes dramatically. "Well then, bye-bye, doggy." She pushed past Ophelia without another glance.

As April walked away, she could still hear Ophelia sniffling behind her. She didn’t care. For once, she felt no guilt. No remorse. The people in that house had taken everything from her—her family, her love, her happiness.

As she descended the stairs, April steeled herself for whatever confrontation awaited her. Her father might yell, her mother might scold, and Ophelia might cry, but none of it mattered anymore.

They’ll all see soon enough, she thought. I’ll make them regret underestimating me.