The Newman Family Villa. After Carrie was frightened away by four wolf dogs, Camryn came down from upstairs and sat on the hall sofa. Callum poured her a glass of warm water. She accepted it, thanked him, but set the glass down without drinking. Callum then went to wash and cut some fruit, arranging it on a beautiful fruit plate. He also prepared some of her favorite snacks and various small pastries he had made just for her, placing them on another exquisite plate. He brought them over one by one and set them on the coffee table before sitting down next to her again.

Callum said, “Eat something.”

Camryn replied, “I’m not hungry.”

Callum smiled gently and encouraged, “Have some snacks; you’ll feel better.”

Camryn insisted, “I’m in a good mood.”

Callum softly touched her face and playfully tapped her nose one last time. “This isn’t our first encounter; I can tell when you’re truly happy or not.” Camryn rested her head on Callum’s shoulder and confided, “I’m six years older than Carrie. By the time she was born, I had already matured. My mother was quite unkind to me during that period, yet I was still happy to have a younger sister. Before Carrie became more aware, she was fair, tender, and genuinely adorable. I love her dearly, but witnessing my mother’s affection for her, coupled with her disdain and indifference toward me, makes me uncomfortable.

“My mother also forbade me from getting close to Carrie, treating her like her most precious possession. Both she and her husband doted on Carrie, and even after they had a son named Trenton, their love for their daughter remained unwavering. I gradually came to understand that, despite being sisters with the same mother, Carrie and I are fundamentally different. She has both a mother and a father, while my father is absent from my life. Although I have a mother, she has never shown me love. As Carrie grew older, she began to bully me.”

I’m not foolish. I refused to let her bully me. Unable to defeat or scold me, she resorted to tears. Once she started crying, her mother didn’t care about right or wrong. She didn’t even ask for an explanation; she just punished me and denied me food. Every time I was punished and forbidden to eat, I had to wait for my stepfather to return home. On the surface, he treated me slightly better than my mother. He would say a few words to her and then allow me to eat. However, he was often busy with work and frequently came home late. Many times, by the time he arrived, I had already fallen asleep from hunger, tears still wet on my cheeks. I would cry until I was too exhausted to stay awake.

This situation persists. At least I can expect to eat the next day. But if he goes on a business trip and doesn’t return for days, I have to go without food. My only option then is to scavenge through trash cans for leftovers.

Callum, you know, during my hungriest moments, I would sift through the garbage for something to eat, regardless of hygiene. My hunger drove me to this desperate search. As I spoke of Camryn, my eyes reddened, and tears filled my eyes as I recalled those childhood memories.

Camryn continued, “I never understood why my mother treated me this way, but eventually, I learned that she never loved my father and didn’t want to marry him. She married him out of obligation to her elders, unable to resist their wishes. She has no feelings for him, nor for me, her biological daughter, and even harbors hatred towards me. She is indifferent to my welfare and delights in my suffering. I’ve learned to hide my abilities and bide my time, and I know…

My father died in their presence, and I lived a miserable life. The only bright spot was my aunt Azalea (Evelyn) being around. Whenever she visited, I could eat well, wear nice clothes, sleep soundly, and avoid work. However, she lives far away now. After getting married, she visits her parents’ home once or twice a year, but each visit lasts only three to five days because she doesn’t get along well with them. Her relationship with my dad was the strongest. When she came back, she would offer me advice and give me a little pocket money to buy tasty food and new clothes. But as soon as she left, my mother took everything away from me, and I returned to my old life. Carrie has seen my mother’s attitude towards me since childhood, so she never treats me like a sister.