Second Life: Turning Down My Sister's Fortune

Everyone froze when they heard Mom's words. But since this was Winona's funeral, no one spoke up for me.

However, I sneered. "Mom, Winona has just died. Yet, you want me to marry her husband right away. What kind of logic is that?"

Mom instantly dropped her act of grief and said with a smile, "Don't we always say, 'a life for a life?' If you marry Kenneth in your sister's place, won't that be the best of both worlds?"

"The best of both worlds? For who? For Winona and Kenneth, I suppose," I mocked inwardly.

I was just about to refute Mom's self-righteous claims, but a man's voice cut me off.

"Amber sees the big picture. Now that Winona is dead, it's perfect for Stella to marry me. She is Sonny's aunt, so she'll take care of him better than anyone else."

Kenneth was dressed in flamboyant, flashy colors. He rushed in from who-knew-where and shoved Sonny toward me.

Even though Sonny was still young, I could already see a vicious look in his eyes. It wasn't a look a seven-year-old child should have. In fact, he had been malicious since he was little. Winona brushed it off, saying he wasn't like other kids and would become a powerful person someday.

But once he entered kindergarten, he bullied his classmates all the time. At first, he ripped the girls' dresses. Later, he even stabbed one of his classmates' eye with a pencil.

As he grew up, I became more and more unsettled. But Mom claimed he simply lacked motherly love since Winona died when he was so young.

When Kenneth tried to beat Sonny, I stood in front of him valiantly. Because of that, Kenneth had dragged me into a room and beaten me up instead.

To keep Sonny in school, I did my best to put up with Kenneth and worked to pay for his education. However, he took what I did for granted, claiming that I owed it to him because I caused Winona's death. He did as Kenneth did, beating and cursing me however he pleased, like I was his slave.

Because of my guilt toward Winona, I had endured it all in silence.

The day Winona returned, Sonny abandoned me instantly without hesitation and clung to Winona's arm affectionately. Sometime later, he spread rumors online that I had killed Kenneth to steal his assets.

Winona had long known about Sonny's violent tendencies. She had faked her death to escape the abusive Kenneth and Sonny, leaving me behind to suffer in her place.

Hearing Mom and Kenneth speak so matter-of-factly, I couldn't help but laugh aloud.

Everyone was startled by this unexpected reaction from me.

Mom looked delighted as she asked, "Does this mean you agree to marry Kenneth?"

"No. I'm just happy for Winona," I replied.

Confusion spread across the room.

I went on, "Winona has barely just passed away. If she knew you couldn't wait to shove her husband and son to someone else, she might come back to life and burst out of her coffin in rage."

Mom jolted in fright upon hearing my words. "What nonsense are you spouting? Winona is as dead as a doornail!"

I ignored her and grabbed the coffin lid to yank it open. Then, I looked inside and gasped dramatically. "Where's Winona? Did she really climb out of her coffin?"