Regret in Three, Two, One

When I got home and opened the familiar little room, I realized I had almost nothing of my own to pack.

I lived in the old storage room tucked in the farthest corner of the house.

What truly belonged to me were just a few pieces of old clothing.

Meanwhile, Janice had a walk-in closet the size of a living room—at least three times bigger than my entire space.

Only her unwanted old dresses and broken heels would casually be tossed into this "temporary storage space" of mine.

I had argued with Jasper about it countless times before, but he always said, "Janice was beaten and scolded by her biological father growing up. She finally has a better life in our home, so can't you give in to her a little?"

That "little" had lasted five years.

I packed my things into a tattered cardboard box when I got a call from the cemetery office.

"Hello, are you Ms. Lisa Carter? About the burial plot you viewed earlier, we can reserve it for you if you pay the deposit now. Otherwise, it'll be transferred to the next applicant on the waiting list."

It was a burial plot I saw not too long ago.

The plot was surrounded by neatly arranged roses and pine trees, and the headstone was made of light gray marble in a minimalist style.

It was the kind that looked like it belonged on one of those lifestyle Instagram accounts, where even death had to be elegant.

At the time, I thought to myself that if living was this hard, then I should at least die with dignity.

But those plans had turned into a luxury beyond reach.

I paused briefly before answering, "No, thank you."

I couldn't afford it.

Over the past few years, I had deposited all my income into our joint account. Fearing I'd "waste money on nonsense," Jasper had withdrawn it all in advance.

I couldn't even afford treatment. How could I possibly spare money to choose a pretty grave for myself?

Just as I ended the call, Jasper burst through the door.

He tossed his briefcase onto the couch and said sharply, "A grave plot? Why are you buying a grave?"

I thought that he might have overheard something, and I opened my mouth to explain.

But he merely sneered with a frown. "Lisa, do you know how embarrassing it was standing in that office? Janice was crying so hard that she couldn't breathe. The whole birthday party was ruined. Do you even know it was her 22nd birthday? Why can't you be more understanding of her?"

I wasn't understanding enough of her?

Then, who was the one who had been sidelined and humiliated all these years?

I hadn't celebrated a single birthday since she stepped into this house.

Every year on my birthday, she would either suddenly spike a fever or have a severe allergic reaction and be rushed to the hospital.

Then everyone would drop everything and fuss over her.

No one ever remembered my birthday. I wouldn't even get a single cake.

I looked at Jasper, feeling my nose tingle and my voice tremble. "I'm only one year older than her, yet you've never even spared the money for a birthday cake for me."

His eyes flickered with the slightest hesitation, but he still barked, "Can you stop being so petty?"

Just then, footsteps were heard at the door.

Casey and Janice had returned. Casey snarled, "You still have the nerve to talk about birthdays? After what you've done, you don't deserve one!"

His face was flushed dark with rage, and his gaze was vicious. "Janice cried so hard because of you that she almost needed emergency treatment! She still wants to speak up for you, and you don't even feel guilty!"

Janice stepped forward, sobbing, and forced out a weak smile. "It's alright, Lisa, I don't blame you. I just want to eat your peanut butter cream cake. Please?"

Casey immediately chimed in and backed her up. "Isn't baking the one thing you're good at? Lisa, she's already lowered herself to this to give you a way out. Don't be ungrateful."

I looked at the barely concealed triumph on her face and replied calmly, "Aren't you allergic to peanuts? Why do you want a peanut cake? Are you planning on setting me up to land you in the hospital one more time?"