When My Sister Stole My Life

My sister's birthday fell on a National Day of Mourning.

I bought a big cake and came home to celebrate with her.

She made a wish to become a famous journalist like me.

I joked that saying wishes out loud makes them not come true.

The next second, my mother shoved my face into the cake.

How can you curse your sister like that?

I knew there was no point arguing with my mother, who always favored my sister, so I stood up to wash my face.

But my sister grabbed my arm.

" Madison, Mom's just joking. Getting some cake on your face on a birthday is good luck!"

My mother scolded me for making a big deal out of nothing.

My boyfriend also urged me to sit down and eat.

But I was about to go live for the moment of silence!

The phone rang. My sister quickly answered the video call.

Millions of viewers in the livestream saw me with a face full of pink frosting.

I got cyberbullied for "disrespecting the deceased."

When I walked out of the TV station, I was killed by a bereaved family member who ran me over with their car.

The day after my death, I watched my sister, who had just graduated from college, walk into the TV station.

"Hello everyone, I'm Jessica. I will absolutely uphold journalistic ethics!"

Starting over, I stood at the front door with the cake and my boyfriend.

"Madison!"

The door flew open and Jessica threw herself at me, giving me a solid hug.

She wore the light pink dress I'd just bought her last week. Her makeup was perfectly natural, making her look innocent and pure.

"Happy birthday."

I shivered and pushed her away.

"Madison, are you in a bad mood?"

Jessica's mouth turned down.

The smell of braised pork filled the house. The dining table was already set, with a space in the center reserved for the cake.

"Madison, I've been waiting for you all day."

Jessica's tone carried a hint of grievance.

"Mom said you had to work overtime. I thought you'd forgotten my birthday."

"How... how could I? Sorry, I've been really tired lately!"

I smiled stiffly while apologizing and looked around the living room.

Everything was exactly as I remembered

The walls were covered with various artistic photos of Jessica from childhood to now.

My photos consisted of only a tiny family portrait in the corner, taken when I was in middle school.

My mother's favoritism was never hidden.

After Jessica was born, my mother suffered severe postpartum depression and almost strangled the baby in her crib.

Although she recovered, she always felt she owed her younger daughter, so she compensated with double the affection.

"Madison, guess what I'm wishing for?"

Jessica, her face lighting up again, leaned close to my ear.

I turned to look at her and suddenly remembered what she'd said before cutting the cake in my past life

"I hope to become a famous journalist like my sister!"

Back then, I'd joked, "Saying your wish out loud means it won't come true."

Then the next second, my mother had shoved my face into the cake.

"How can you curse your sister like that?"

Now, Jessica's eyes sparkled as she looked at me, waiting for my answer.

"Sorry, I can't guess."

In the dining room, Nathan had already helped set out the plates and cutlery.

My mother turned off the TV, and the room suddenly became quiet.

"Make a wish! Make a wish!" Nathan laughed and cheered.

Jessica put her palms together and closed her eyes.

A few seconds later, she opened her eyes, took a deep breath, and blew out the candles.

"What did you wish for?" my mother asked indulgently.

Jessica glanced at me, then smiled and said:

"I hopeto become an outstanding journalist like my sister!"

Here it comes.

Word for word, just like my past life.

The smile on my mother's face faded a bit. She glanced at me, her eyes full of expectation. Expectation that I would say something.

Expecting me to encourage my sister as usual.

To say "You can definitely do it," or "You're much better than me."

Nathan was also watching me.

The room suddenly became terrifyingly quiet.

I picked up the knife, cut the first slice of cake, and handed it to her.

"Then work hard."

"Madison..."

Jessica froze, then her voice became somewhat aggrieved.

"Do you think I can't do it?"

My mother's face immediately darkened.

She slammed her cutlery down on the table with a bang.

"Madison, can't you speak properly? Jessica is your sister. Can't you encourage her more?"

"I am encouraging her."

I looked up, my expression innocent.

"I told her to work hard. Isn't that encouragement?"

The atmosphere was tense.

Nathan quickly tried to smooth things over:

"Alright, alright, it's Jessica's birthday today. Let's not talk about this. Come on, let's eat. The food smells amazing."

The meal was very quiet, with only the soft sound of cutlery hitting plates.

I kept my head down eating while counting the time in my mind.

Seven thirty-five.

"I need to take a call."

I picked up my phone and walked toward the balcony.

"You have work this late?"

My mother muttered behind me.

On the balcony, I opened my phone's front camera and adjusted the angle to make sure I could see the glass door behind me through the screen.

Seven forty.

The glass door was gently pushed open, and a figure quietly walked in.

It was Jessica. She was holding the plastic base of the cake box with the remaining half of the cake on it.

She tiptoed in like a cat, approaching.

I stared at my phone screen, calculating the distance.

Three steps. Two steps. One step.

Just before her hand touched my shoulder, I suddenly turned around and swung my hand

"Ah!"

The entire cake smashed onto Jessica's face!

Pink frosting, strawberry sauce, chocolate chipsall over her face, her hair, her dress, everywhere.

She froze completely.

"Wah wah wah, MadisonI just wanted to play a joke"

Tears streamed down Jessica's face.

"Jessica!"

My mother screamed and rushed over.

Nathan followed.

"Madison! What are you doing!"

My mother pushed me aside and frantically wiped the frosting off Jessica's face.

I immediately stepped back two paces, leaning against the railing with my hand clutching my chest. My breathing was rapid, my face pale.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

My voice trembled.

"I didn't mean to... I've been followed recently. When someone approaches me from behind, it's a reflex..."

"What do you mean, followed?" Nathan frowned.

"An... an interviewee's family member."

I spoke incoherently.

"He said my report was inaccurate and ruined his family business... He's been following me for days. Yesterday he cornered me downstairs... I just felt someone behind me. I was terrified. I really..."

I covered my face, my shoulders starting to shake.

Actually, I was hiding my face to suppress my laughter.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" My mother's voice softened a bit but still carried anger.

"But you still shouldn't treat your sister like this. Look, you ruined her new dress!"

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Jessica..."

I squeezed out a few tears and cried while reaching for Jessica's hand.

"I'll buy you a new one, ten new ones... I really didn't mean it. I was so scared..."

She was still crying, but the sobs were quieter.

Then the phone rang.

I looked up at Jessica. Her face was still covered in frosting, and my mother was frantically wiping it off.

Nathan stood to the side, his brow furrowed.

After hanging up the call, I said with a crying voice:

"The station notified me. I have to go online now... I'm sorry, Mom. I'm sorry, Jessica. I'll explain everything to you later..."

I rushed into the bathroom and locked the door.

Seven fifty. The livestream started.

I and several other colleagues bowed our heads in silence before the camera.

Three minutes. Complete silence.

Eight o'clock. The livestream ended.

When I came out of the bathroom, the atmosphere in the living room was heavy.

Jessica had cleaned herself up and changed clothes, but her eyes were still red. She sat on the sofa without a word.

My mother was grimly cleaning up the mess on the dining table, the plates clanking loudly.

Nathan was smoking on the balcony, his silhouette radiating irritation.

"Mom, Jessica, I'm really sorry about earlier."

I walked over with my head down.

"I've been under too much stress lately. That person who's been following me..."

"Enough!"

My mother interrupted me, throwing the dishcloth into the sink.

"Today is Jessica's birthday! What's the point of you constantly talking about your work?"

"Mom, don't be like this!"

Jessica looked up and forced a smile.

"Madison didn't mean it. She said someone's been following her. Madison, are you okay? Should you report it to the police?"

"I already reported it, but it didn't help."

I sat down next to her and held her hand.

"Did I scare you? I'll take you to buy a new dress tomorrow. And the cakeI'll order a new one..."

"No need."

Jessica withdrew her hand, her smile fading.

"I'm a bit tired. I want to sleep early."

She stood up and went back to her room.

My mother glanced at me:

"You should go to bed early too. You look terrible. I can't handle it if something happens to you."

Nathan stubbed out his cigarette and came in. "I'll drive you home."

"No need. I want to spend time with Jessica."

He looked at me for a few seconds and nodded. "Alright then. Call me if you need anything."

After he left, the house became completely quiet.

My mother finished cleaning the kitchen and returned to her room. I was left alone in the living room.

In my past life on this day, I was cyberbullied because of the livestream incident. Three days later, I was fired by the TV station.

As I walked out of the TV station, I was killed by a bereaved family member who ran me over with their car.

The day after my death, Jessica, a new graduate with no experience, became one of the TV station's star journalists.

My phone vibrated.

It was a message from Nathan:

"I'm home. Don't overthink. Get some sleep."

I didn't reply.

Another message:

"About Jessica, I'll go smooth things over with her tomorrow. Young girls love to throw tantrums."

I looked at this message and suddenly smiled.

How did I not notice this in my past life?

That familiar, matter-of-fact tone, as if Jessica were someone important to him.

"No need. I'll handle it."

After returning home, I replied with those words.

Then I opened my contacts and found a number.

"Officer Miller, this is Madison. There's something I'd like to ask for your help with."

"Ms. Walsh? What do you need investigated? If I can help, I absolutely will!"

"Thank you. I'd like you to investigate someone for me..."

After hanging up, I opened my social media feed.

Jessica had posted half an hour ago:

"Another year older. Going to become even more amazing"

The photo showed the table full of dishes my mother made.

In the corner, you could see half of Nathan's hand.

A mutual friend commented below:

"Wow, your brother-in-law came over for dinner again?"

Jessica replied with a shy emoji.

A few days later, near the end of the workday, my phone rang. It was my mother.

"Madison, come home early today. Jessica has something to announce."

"What is it?"

"You'll know when you get here. It's good news."

My mother's tone was cheerful.

I hung up and looked at the photo on my computer screen.

Nathan's hand rested on Jessica's shoulder in an intimate gesture.

Good news?

That evening when I got home and opened the door, I smelled the aroma of food.

Jessica was wearing an apron helping my mother in the kitchen. Nathan sat on the sofa watching TV.

"Madison, you're home!"

Jessica poked her head out of the kitchen, her smile sweet.

"Dinner's almost ready!"

My mother brought out the last dish, her face beaming with unconcealed joy. "Come, everyone sit down. We're celebrating today."

"Celebrating what?" I put down my bag.

Jessica untied her apron, her cheeks slightly flushed:

"Madison, I found a job."

My heart sank, but I smiled on the surface:

"Really? What job?"

"TV station, news department, journalist position."

She looked at me excitedly.

"Same department as you."

"Same department?"

I repeated it.

"Nathan helped recommend me."

My mother beamed and gave Nathan a piece of pork rib.

"Thanks to him, Jessica got such a great opportunity. Madison, you'll have to take good care of your sister at work from now on."

Nathan smiled modestly.

"Don't say that. It's mainly because Jessica is outstanding herself. She did well in the interview."

"But someone still needs to give her the opportunity."

Jessica looked at him with admiring eyes.

I picked up my cutlery and took some greens:

"When did this happen? How come I didn't hear the station was hiring?"

"It's a special recruitment." Nathan said.

"The station has been reforming recently and wants to bring in fresh blood. I mentioned Jessica to Director Hayes, and he thought it was a good idea, so he gave her a chance."

Director Hayes.

Head of the news department. An old classmate of Nathan's father.

"Jessica has no experience. Won't going straight into the news department be too much pressure?"

I slowly chewed the greens.

"Should she start as an intern first?"

Jessica's smile faded.

My mother immediately glared.

"With you guiding her, what pressure could there be? Didn't you also start at the TV station right after graduating from college?"

"Back then, I went through campus recruitment, passed five rounds of written tests and interviews."

"Jessica also interviewed."

Nathan started smoothing things over again.

"And with you as her sister, how could she not learn? Madison, don't be so strict."

I looked at the three of them.

My mother with her "don't be difficult" face.

Jessica looking aggrieved.

Nathan with his "I'm helping you" face.

"Fine."

I suddenly smiled.

"Then welcome aboard. I'll take you to process your onboarding tomorrow."

Jessica's eyes lit up again. "Thank you, Madison!"

"But," I added,

"The news department is highly competitive with many rules. Since you're coming in through special recruitment, many people will be watching you. Perform well. Don't embarrass your recommender."

I was saying this to Jessica, but also to Nathan.

His smile didn't change:

"Naturally."

On Jessica's first day, she brought gifts for everyone in the news department. Designer lipstick for the female colleagues, phones for the male colleagues.

An expensive watch for the director.

"Just a small token. I hope everyone will take care of me."

She smiled innocently.

The colleagues naturally all said nice things.

A few female colleagues who were already jealous of me pulled her aside asking questions, comparing us in their words.

"Jessica has a much better personality than Madison. Madison always has that cold face, like someone owes her money."

"Yeah, Madison is much more likable."

Jessica looked embarrassed.

"My sister is just professional. I still have a lot to learn from her."

I sat at my workstation organizing today's interview outline, pretending not to hear.

During lunch break, the director called me into his office.

"Madison, now that your sister is here, you as her older sister should help guide her more."

Director Hayes was a bit overweight and his eyes narrowed into slits when he smiled.

"She has no experience. Please look after her more."

"I will," I said.

"Also, about next month's exclusive interview, it was originally scheduled for you. But Nathan told me he wants to give Jessica a chance to practice. What do you think..."

"Then give it to her." I readily agreed.

Director Hayes was a bit surprised.

"You agree?"

"Newcomers need opportunities, don't they?"