Chapter 6
“Mira, I’m here to get you p>
Ethan’s figure was backlit as he approached, his tone warm and familiar.
Mira squinted, momentarily dazed.
Ethan, twelve years her senior, had always been more of a father and mentor to her than just a brother.
When she was young, her father was always busy with work and her mother had her own responsibilities, leaving little time for Mira.
It was Ethan who filled that void, guiding her as she grew up.
He taught her to write, showed her how to defend herself, told her stories, walked her to school, and always stood up for her when other kids picked on her.
If she feared and respected Adrian, she relied on and trusted Ethan with her entire being.
So when she noticed his gaze falling on her less and less, she grew terrified.
She had tried everything to win him back.
He said a young woman should be quiet and graceful, so she reined in her lively personality, no longer laughing loudly or bouncing with energy.
He told her to study hard and keep up with her training, so she dedicated every spare moment to her books and practice.
He said she needed to be strong and independent, so she suppressed the urge to confide in him, bearing her burdens alone.
She strove to become the perfect sister Ethan described, only to overhear him telling Mara, “You’re wonderful just the way you are. Always be yourself— spontaneous and genuine p>
The irony was crushing.
Mira slowly got to her feet and walked, step by step, toward Ethan, who stood bathed in light.
Then, her face a blank mask, she walked right past him.
This time, she wouldn’t be the one chasing him anymore.
Ethan froze for a second, assuming Mira was still angry. He frowned.
Then, he sighed.
*Well, I’ve spoiled her,* he thought. *I’ll just have to be stricter with her from now on p>
Mira stepped out of the basement.
The bright lights stung her eyes, making her pause.
She squinted to get her bearings before heading upstairs to her room.
Ignoring her hunger and exhaustion, Mira dragged her weary body into her room and immediately grabbed her laptop.
After entering a password, a few quick taps on the keyboard were all it took to hack into the butler’s account.
She had learned her hacking skills
her past life from a computer genius, back when her family and
the outside world had pushed her to the brink.
Just as she suspected, the surveillance footage was still there, saved in a dedicated folder by the butler.
Mira downloaded the video to her computer and phone, grabbed a micro-projector, and headed back downstairs.
Ethan was still waiting downstairs,
talking on the phone. He looked
up,
saw Mira, and frowned. “Why haven’t
you changed or cleaned yourself
up p>
Mira didn’t answer, walking straight past him toward the banquet hall.
*Clean up for what? To keep up appearances p>
*Change clothes? They bought Mara a dress worth a fortune, while I was completely forgotten. No matter what i wear. I’ll just be a prop. It’s y better this way. It makes me look more pathetic p>
“Mira, what happened to you? Why do you look like this p>
“Mira, some people were talking trash, saying you pushed Mara down the stairs
yesterday. I nearly started a fight with them p>
“That new sister of yours… she looks shady. Did she do this to you p>
Seeing her good friends, Liora Bennett and Celine Ward—friends since childhood
and her classmates—Mira nearly burst into tears.
“Watch what you’re saying! How could Mara possibly be shady p>
Ethan couldn’t stand to hear it any longer.