hapter 4 Chapter 4 My mother passed away when I was twelve . Because she couldn't guess what size I'd be as an adult , she must have altered that final , handmade wedding dress a hundred times , In the end , she had no choice but to add adjustable seams to the bust and waist . It was the last gift my mother ever gave me . But I almost couldn't even keep that . The same year my mother died , my father brought a little girl home . He said she was the daughter of an old army buddy , and her name was Stella . On his deathbed , his friend had entrusted the child to his care . " Felix , Aurora , from now on , this is your little sister . You must get along with her, understand ? " I think I understood , but Stella clearly didn't . I had never , ever met a child like her . One second she'd be snatching a doll from my hands with a snarl , and the next she'd be bursting into tears in front of my brother and Gideon . Did people just instinctively sympathize with and trust the one who seemed weaker ? I didn't know . I only knew that the two boys who were once on my side slowly began to tip the scales of their affection in Stella's favor . " Aurora , you can't be like that ! Poor Stella doesn't have a mother or father ! " " Yeah , Aurora , you need to go easy on her . You still have your brother , and you have me . Stella has nothing . " I had lost count of how many huge fights we had . Every single one ended with them yelling at me for " not being half as sweet or gentle as Stella . " Eventually , I didn't even have the energy to argue anymore . But my surrender only made Stella more brazen . She even tried to take the wedding dress my mother left me . When I saw her dragging that white gown on the stairs , I completely lost my mind with rage . For the first time ever , I hit her . She stormed into my room with Felix , a bright red handprint blazing on her cheek . I was still carefully dabbing at the dusty hem with a damp cloth . " Felix , please don't be mad at Aurora . It was all my fault for upsetting her , that's why she hit me . I deserved it ! " The look Felix gave me then , I remembered it as clearly as if it were yesterday . Disappointed , confused , and even tinged with disgust . He said , " Aurora , I never thought you could be so vicious . " " Stella's never seen a dress so beautiful before . She just wanted to look at it . How could you be so cruel ? " My hands were shaking with anger as I tried to argue with him . The commotion drew our father to the room . He looked at Stella's tear - streaked face and coaxed her gently , " Stella , don't cry . Daddy will have someone make you an even more beautiful princess dress , okay ? " After he had calmed her down , he turned and noticed me still standing there , his face flushing with embarrassment . " Ahem , you'll both get one . We'll have one made for Aurora , too , alright ? " Watching him and Felix carefully wiping away Stella's tears , a belated realization dawned on me . It was as if I were the outsider . I didn't ask for a new dress . As for the gown , I carefully hid it away in a locked wardrobe . It was on that day that I suddenly understood : there was no one left in this world who loved me . " Aurora , we're here . Let me come in with you , just in case that two - faced bitch tries to pull something . " Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!