Chapter 1 - They All Regretted It After I Died

I was dead, and the whole world was celebrating for my sister.

For twenty-two years, I had been the hardest-working but most invisible daughter in the Sterling family, forever living in the shadow of my gymnastics prodigy sister.

Running a high fever, I begged my family to take me to the hospital, only to hear: "Don't you DARE ruin Bella's award ceremony!"

When I was tricked into the abandoned equipment room and used my last breath to call my boyfriend while lying in a pool of blood, all I heard was: "Grace, quit the drama! Bella's accepting her award on stage!"

On stage, thunderous applause erupted as Bella lifted the "Young Gymnast of the Year" trophy.

And I drew my final breath.

When they returned home triumphant, thinking I had run away in a tantrum, they had no idea I was already dead right under their noses.

Grace's POV

I was dead, but nobody knew.

At this moment, my family had just returned from Bella's award ceremony, ready to celebrate at the club. And I was floating above them as a spirit, watching it all unfold.

"Where the hell did Grace go?" My brother Marcus looked around. "Didn't she say she had a fever this afternoon?"

But I couldn't answer. I could only drift silently beside him.

Marcus pulled out his phone and dialed my number. No answer. He said irritably, "Playing the disappearing act again? Jesus Christ."

"She's probably home sulking," Mom said without looking up from arranging the trophies. "That's just like her - make a big deal out of every little illness and expect the whole family to revolve around her."

Dad snorted. "Want us to babysit her at the doctor? Today was Bella's BIG day. She better not have screwed it up."

Screwed it up?

I gave a bitter smile as I watched them. Growing up, I never dared to trouble my family. When I got sick, I toughed it out alone. When I got hurt, I kept quiet, afraid of being a burden. This time, I was burning up so badly that I finally worked up the courage to ask for help just once.

Marcus shook his head. "Grace is getting more and more selfish. Look at Bella - she would NEVER pull this crap."

"Exactly," Mom immediately chimed in. "Our Bella is so considerate."

Then Bella rose from the couch, biting her lower lip. "What if something really happened to Grace? She's been emotionally unstable lately... always saying life isn't worth living, that we don't love her..."

I stared at her hard. Six hours ago, she was the one who tricked feverish me into that abandoned equipment room: "Grace, just stay here and rest quietly. Don't ruin MY big day."

Now she was putting on this worried act.

Dad's face darkened. "Threatening us with that kind of talk? That's going TOO far!"

"Using suicide threats for sympathy - that's sick!" Mom trembled with anger.

More lies. Complete and utter lies.

My thoughts drifted back to a few hours ago—

After Bella left, I was trapped in the equipment room, suffering through my high fever, when suddenly the door opened. I thought joyfully that my parents had come back, but instead I saw three drunk construction workers.

"That girl said you were stealing stuff. Told us to teach you a lesson."

I was pinned to the ground and assaulted, struggling desperately: "I didn't steal anything! Bella's LYING!"

They ignored my pleas and violated me while I begged them to stop.

I fought back with everything I had. In the chaos, my head slammed hard into the equipment rack, and blood immediately gushed out. Seeing the blood, those men panicked and fled.

I used my last strength to call my family, only to hear:

"Stop faking it! Today is Bella's day - you better not screw it up!"

Finally, I dialed Derek's number with trembling fingers.

"Derek... save me... I'm dying..."

"Grace! ENOUGH!" Derek's voice was ice-cold. "I'm at Bella's award ceremony. Can you please stop the dramatics? Today is her moment to shine!"

"I'm really dying..." I whispered weakly.

"There you go again! I told you I'd buy you that necklace to make up for it! Can you just let me have some peace?" He hung up immediately.

Marcus waved dismissively. "Forget about her. Grace is just jealous of Bella."

"Why would Grace be jealous of me?" Bella put on an innocent expression.

"Do you even need to ask?" Mom sneered. "She can't stand that you're better than her. Even Derek says you're more talented."

Bella said softly, "Maybe Grace just needs time... Coach Derek really cares about her."

What an act. If they knew she had gotten me killed, how would they react?

"Come on, don't let Grace ruin our mood," Marcus stood up. "Tonight is Bella's night."

"Right, let's keep celebrating," Dad also rose. "As for Grace, she can come home or not - I don't care."

With that, they all left together.

I floated in the air, watching them walk away. They would never know that I would never come home again.