Looking at his expression, the smile that was plastered on her pale face cracked. What was Dad talking about? What did she steal? Just as she was confused, she heard him saying,
"So you planned to give all of our family's fortune to your foster parents using fake signatures, huh? Isn't that the same as biting the hand that feeds you? If it weren't for us, do you think you'd still be alive? Good thing your sister found out about it sooner, saving all of us face. You should be grateful that we're not exposing your true nature to the world. They would curse you to death!"
Hearing him mention her sister, she could make out what happened. She had been made a scapegoat again.
The foster parents he was talking about were actually her sister's real parents. Her sister was adopted. They were initially swapped at birth, but ten years later, the truth came to light. The poor family made a fuss about not being able to take care of the girls, so her current family decided to take them both in. Especially since they could not bear to part ways with their precious daughter whom they had raised for a full ten years.
When she went back, the disparity in treatment between the two sisters was glaringly obvious. The family did not even bother to announce the return of their real daughter. She would not be surprised if no one outside the family knew of her existence. After all, as soon as she came back, her sickness became worse. She wondered if she'd ever truly been welcomed.
She couldn't help but smile wryly, a mix of sadness and resignation. Her father's accusations didn't surprise her. She knew he was biased. But the pain still lingered, especially now, when she needed compassion most. The unfairness of it all stung, and she felt a deep ache in her heart.
Seeing that she was not responding, he became furious.
"What a good daughter I have! Your silence will only prove that you're guilty. This would not be the first time you've tried to steal from us anyway, that's why you're not trying to defend yourself. Won't you say something?"
She looked at him with sadness, and the tears she was trying to hold back flowed. So he did not know. She had lost her ability to speak a month ago. The only time she had been able to force out a word with great difficulty since then was today. When she called him Dad...
"Good! So you know you're guilty. To think I let you come back to our family only for you to try and steal from us. I truly regret it. From now on, you're no longer part of our family. We can not afford to keep an ungrateful person like you!"
She watched him as he turned around in a huff and left. He also did not know that this was her last day. How would they know?They did not bother themselves even once to ask the doctors about her situation. She was about to die. When did she have the time to fake signatures?
The anguish was too much to bear. Her head started to hurt. She closed her eyes in hope that it would all just go away. She was ready to die. Only death could relieve her pain.
She had only lived 15 painful years. There was nothing much to miss. There were no people she feared to leave behind because she had always been alone. But yes, if she were given the opportunity, she would have liked to see that doctor again. At least she was able to feel a bit alive whenever he was around.
She wanted to thank him for that little bit of happiness he gave her.
Her mind grew foggy, and her awareness began to fade. She couldn't make out what was happening around her, but she felt a sudden, unexpected warmth, like someone had wrapped their arms around her. The sensation was brief, and soon, a searing pain spread through her body. Her vision blurred, and she lost consciousness.
The girl who had been a frequent visitor to their hospital and had practically become a resident was later declared dead.