Her fake kindness made me sick
I shoved her hand away.“Don’t pretend.”
Grace stumbled,nearly falling,caught by Michael.

“You’re so naive,always thinking of others,”he said,worried.
My younger brother,Lucas,glared.“Grace stayed up all night worrying,dragged us to find you,and you curse her with an urn?”
I sighed.“It’s not for her.”
Michael sneered,cutting me off.“What,it’s for you?Only Grace would buy that.Buying an urn for pity?We’re not falling for it.”
My face paled,knuckles white around the urn.
“It’s for me,whether you believe it or not.”

As expected,no one did.
Mom pointed at the urn.“Throw it out and apologize to Grace,or you’re out of this family!”
But it was mine—chosen with Nathan,engraved with his message.
I couldn’t lose it.

“Then kick me out.I’m done being your daughter.”
Slap!
Mom’s hand struck my face,burning.
My mind went blank.
She snatched the urn,and I fought back,but she was stronger.
She smashed it on the ground,shattering it.
Still furious,she cursed,“Buy another to curse Grace,and I’ll smash it again!”
The broken pieces revealed my name.
Everyone froze,stunned.
“It’s really yours?”
I crouched,wiped tears, and picked up the shards
,ignoring the glass cutting my hands.
Blood flowed.
Michael reached to stop me.
“Get away!”I screamed,emotions erupting,pushing him.
My second brother,Ethan,stared,shocked.“Why buy an urn if you’re fine?Emily,don’t do this.Get up.”
Lucas panicked and tried to help
I stood,slashing with a shard.“Stay back!Don’t touch it!This is what you wanted,right?Stop pretending!”
The urn’s destruction snapped my last lifeline.
I sobbed and collapsed
A searing pain hit my chest.
Blood sprayed from my mouth.
“Emily!”
I fell, and the family crowded around
Michael performed CPR.Ethan called 911.Mom grabbed my hand, her eyes regretful
“Emily,hold on!I’m taking you to the hospital!”