Chapter 5

He chuckled softly, his eyes filled with absolute disdain, looking at me like I was piece of trash.

"Your grandfather? Who the hell is he to make me pay?"

"The Vance family is practically dead. It’s just you and that old man left!"

"You literally cursed your own parents to death. And your grandpa actually thought he could dump a jinx like you onto me? In his dreams!"

My pupils dilated. The words "cursed your parents to death" stabbed straight into my heart like a dagger.

On my eighth birthday, my parents were supposed to take a luxury yacht back from overseas to celebrate with me.

But a storm was brewing. The captain advised them to wait a day.

However, I had called them, crying over the phone, saying how much I missed them.

So, they braved the storm on a smaller yacht just to get back to me.

Right before they reached the dock, a massive wave crashed over them.

Their boat capsized right in front of my eyes.

That horrific scene flashed repeatedly in my mind, triggered by Julian's cruel words.

I curled up in the rocking boat, shaking violently as tears streamed down my face, mumbling incoherently.

"Mom... Dad... I'm sorry... I don't need a birthday party anymore... please come back..."

Seeing my pathetic state, Nadia clapped her hands in delight.

"I knew she was a jinx! No wonder she smells like bad luck! Julian, we need to stay away from her, or we'll get infected!"

In Paris, nobody knew about my past, so it was never brought up.

At the Vance estate, to protect me, Grandpa Arthur had ordered everyone never to mention that day, and he had even filled in all the lakes and ponds on our property.

The guilt and depression I had suppressed for years exploded all at once. For a second, I had a sudden urge to jump into the lake to join my parents.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

It was the custom ringtone I had set for my grandfather.

The sound brought a momentary flash of sanity back to my brain.

The Vance family only had me and Grandpa left. After my parents died, he had to bury his own children. His pain was no less than mine.

If I left him too... I couldn't bear to think of the consequences.

I took a deep breath, fighting the dark thoughts, and struggled to reach for my phone.

Seeing this, Nadia ordered the guards to throw rocks at me.

My hands were shaking violently from the severe panic attack. A large rock hit my wrist, and the phone slipped from my grasp, falling into the lake. It flickered twice before going completely black.

The rocks also punched two holes in the old rowboat. Cold lake water began to seep in, soaking my clothes and making me shiver.

"Seraphina Vance, didn't you want to die with your parents back then? I'm giving you that chance today. You should thank me!"

Julian crossed his arms, coldly watching the boat slowly sink.

"And as for your grandfather, when he comes, I'll make sure he joins you guys down there!"

I struggled weakly, but it was useless.

The cold water reached my chin. I closed my eyes, crying silently in my heart. "Grandpa... I'm sorry..."

But just as the water was about to cover my nose, a familiar, heavy footstep echoed from the shore.

A heavy mahogany cane slammed onto the dock.

"I want to see who dares send my family down there!"