Chapter 3
Jordan’s cries for help drowned in the chaos.
She watched helplessly as Maxwell’s figure disappeared into the crowd, feeling as if someone had physically torn her heart open.
The woman dragged her out of the theater, continuing to beat her mercilessly.
Jordan curled up on the ground, consciousness fading, until the woman finally lifted her matted hair.
“Oh my God! It’s not you!” The woman panicked. “Who said you were the thief? I’m so sorry!”
From a distance came another shout: “The thief is over there!”
The woman hastily stuffed some money into Jordan’s hand before running off.
Jordan pulled herself up against the wall, her body covered in bruises, blood seeping from her split lip, and limped toward the hospital.
In the emergency room, the nurse applied ointment to her wounds, asking sympathetically, “Where’s your family? How could they let you get hurt like this and not come with you?”
Jordan remained silent, her gaze drifting to the adjacent examination room.
Maxwell was kneeling beside Vanessa, carefully applying an ice pack to her ankle, his brow furrowed as if she’d suffered a grave injury.
“I don’t have any family,” Jordan finally said, her voice eerily calm.
The nurse followed her gaze and sighed, “That officer really cares about that girl, doesn’t he? All that fuss over a
simple sprain…”
Jordan’s lips twitched into something resembling a smile, but she said nothing.
Ye, he did care. Enough to make her finally, completely give up.
After receiving treatment, Jordan returned home alone.
For the following days, she locked herself in her room, quietly waiting for the start of the school term.
Until Vanessa’s birthday arrived-
Early that morning, the house buzzed with activity.
ཁྐྲ ོ་:
Her parents bustled about preparing a feast, and the living room overflowed with presents for Vanessa.
Jordan stood at the landing, watching their joyful expressions, a heavy weight pressing on her chest.
Today was her birthday too.
She and Vanessa were twins, yet their fates couldn’t be more different.
From childhood, her parents had decided that Jordan had stolen Vanessa’s nutrients in the womb, causing her sister’s delicate health. From that point on, all their love went to Vanessa, while Jordan became virtually invisible.
“Jordan! What are you standing around for? Come down and help!” her mother snapped upon noticing her.
Jordan silently descended the stairs and helped set the table.
One dish after another appeared-all Vanessa’s favorites.
Seafood, mushrooms, chives… Jordan was allergic to every single item.
‘Jordan, why aren’t you eating?” Vanessa asked sweetly, though her eyes held a challenging gleam.
Her mother glanced at her irritably. “Stop looking so miserable on such a happy day! Eat something!”
Maxwell finally noticed Jordan and casually placed some shrimp in her bowl. “Here.”
Jordan stared at the shrimp and suddenly smiled.
She slowly removed the shrimp from her bowl and said quietly, “I’m allergic to seafood.”
Then, pointing to the dishes on the table, she added, “To all of these, actually.”
Instantly, an uncomfortable silence fell over the table.
Her mother’s face darkened. “Why didn’t you say something earlier?”
Jordan didn’t answer.
Say something earlier?
She had mentioned her allergies hundreds of times over the years, but not once had anyone remembered.
She set down her fork and returned to her room. Behind her, the laughter quickly resumed, as if she had never existed.
In the middle of the night, Vanessa’s screams shattered the silence:
“My necklace is gone!”
The entire housing complex lit up in an instant.
Jordan was awakened by the commotion. Opening her door, she saw everyone searching for the necklace-Maxwell’s expensive birthday gift to Vanessa.
“Have you found it?”
“No! We’ve searched everywhere!”
“You don’t think…” Someone looked meaningfully toward Jordan’s room.
