Chapter 18

The online community wasn't wrong; Amanda had claimed credit for work that wasn't hers. Now exposed, she got what she deserved. She shouldn't have done it. Everyone was praising Nicole's beauty and talent. Promoting Nicole without spending money on trending topics seemed perfectly acceptable, didn't it?

She took Nicole's hand. "Nicole is going to be a world-renowned painter, a name remembered for ages."

"Mom's right," Nicole agreed. "Amanda brought this on herself. The worse she looks, the more perfect I seem. Controversy only boosts visibility and gets my name out there. In the future, I'll shine even brighter."

My reputation was smeared even after my death. My family eagerly exploited me to clear the path for Nicole.

When I painted, my mother called me irresponsible and selfish, saying I ignored the Kennedy family's future and wasted my time on pointless things. Now, she couldn't be prouder of Nicole, boasting about her successes even at my expense.

It turned out she didn't hate painting; she just preferred Nicole. Everything Nicole did was perfect.

Betrayed by someone I loved, the betrayal from my own family cut deepest.

Nicole glanced at Chase. "Chase, what do you think? Should we take down the trending topic? After all, she's your wife; if she sees it in Cloudville, she might get upset."

Chase felt a twinge of discomfort, but his eyes hardened when he thought of my quiet departure to Cloudville.

"Upset? She has no one to blame but herself. Leave it up. If she's embarrassed, she should hurry back!"

His chilling words showed no concern for me. After years of childhood friendship, this was the end. He blamed me for my misfortune.

Both our families had the power to suppress the trending topics, but they willingly sacrificed my reputation for Nicole.

Is this what family is supposed to be?

Curled in a corner, I listened to their harsh words, watching them revel in their happy family moment. I realized I was the one who should disappear.

I didn't know how much time passed before I looked up and saw the scenery had changed. Chase and the Kennedy family were gone. I found myself in what felt like a basement—dark, damp, and unfamiliar.

I stood in a long corridor, the cracked stone walls hinting at the passage of time. Candlelight cast a faint glow, but my shadow was absent. The silence was eerie, and I was alone.

A stone chamber appeared at the corridor's end. I hurried toward it. In the distance, I saw a stone bed with a woman lying on it.

Who would lie in such a place? The closer I got, the faster my heart raced. My vision cleared, and I saw her—the woman who had long since passed, lying still, eyes closed. It was me.

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