They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System

Chapter 2: Her Last Breath

From the dining room, Ebere's voice rang out again, sweet and melodious, masking her cruelty. "But, Mom, she's my sister, and today is her sweet sixteen, too. I know she's always hated me, always trying to hurt me, but I like her," she said with a mock innocence that earned a chorus of approval. "You all continue here. I'll go and give her some cake."

The room erupted into cheers of praise.

"You're too kind, Princess!"

Ebere left the dining room, a faint smirk tugging at her lips as she made her way toward the storage room.

From her place beneath the stairs, Nnenna felt her heart sink. 'Cake? Giving cake to someone severely ill?'

She wanted to lock the door, to keep Ebere out, but her body refused to move. She was too weak. Her muscles wouldn't obey her commands. All she could do was listen to the sound of Ebere's approaching footsteps.

The door creaked open. Ebere didn't bother to knock, of course. She stepped inside, closing it firmly behind her, and turned to face Nnenna with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Sister, I brought you some cake. How are you feeling?"

Nnenna stayed silent, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.

In the past, she might have tried to muster the strength to respond, to maintain a facade of civility. But after everything, Ebere's sabotage, her lies, her cruelty, Nnenna refused to waste her energy.

"Don't be like this, sister," Ebere chided, setting the plate of cake down on a small table and pulling up a wooden chair. "It's my birthday, after all."

but her words dripped with mockery. She tilted her head, studying Nnenna's pallid face, her twisted

seems you won't last much longer," Ebere continued, her voice dropping to a whisper. "That's good. I'll finally be

face contorted, the mask of sweetness giving way to

laced in every word. "I never liked you. When Father brought you home that

favored daughter of his fallen sworn brother." She sneered, her lips curling

were daggers, stabbing into Nnenna's

you'll never reclaim that title. Even if you could, I would never let you. Never. You would be dead

a cruel smile. "You can die peacefully now...

brushing imaginary dust off her dress as if to cleanse herself of Nnenna's presence. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to tell them why. I'll

"Happy Sweet Sixteen, sister."

onto the stony bed, the icing smearing across

paused. Her face grew calculating, her movements precise. Ebere reached up, scattering her perfectly styled

princess gown, creating jagged rips along the edges, and added shallow scratches

her handiwork, she

is wrong with

room, tears welling in her eyes

this time. He lifted her into his arms, allowing

Ebere stammered between gasps, her voice muffled against his tunic. "She suddenly sprang up and... and

He hated noise, and the chaos surrounding this situation grated on

gasping at the sight before them. Servants flooded the cramped space, pulling Nnenna's pale, lifeless body from the cold,