A Sister’s Crown of Thorns

A week before the wedding, my mother was suddenly tricked into going abroad for work.

The next time I heard from her, it was news of her death—her body returned with her organs missing and a bloodstained suicide note.

I lost my mind and insisted on going to the police.

But Nathan Cole only stared at me with a cold, dissatisfied expression.

“Shakira just started an international recruitment agency. That naive girl was fooled by foreigners—she’s a victim too. And besides, your mother signed a contract when she left. Her death has nothing to do with Shakira’s company.”

“If your mother hadn’t been so greedy, insisting on going abroad to make money, none of this would’ve happened. Kristine, you’re an adult now. You should understand that.”

With that, he threw a blank check at me.

“Write down whatever amount you want and let’s end this here. The wedding is coming up—I won’t let others laugh at us.”

I looked at the man before me, his face so familiar, yet now so foreign. His expression was so cold, it sent chills down my spine.

I let out a laugh.

If this is how things are… is there even a point in holding the wedding?

——

He grew impatient at my silence, tapping his fingers on the table.

All the resentment I had buried inside erupted in that moment. I looked at him with tearful, red eyes.

“Let it go? Why should I let it go? My mother’s death was a life lost! You know she was all I had. Why should I just swallow my anger?”

“Shakira and her mother already took everything that belonged to us. Now I’m just asking for justice for my mother. And I’m not even allowed that?”

If it hadn’t been for saving up for my dowry and wedding, my mother would never have been so desperate to go abroad to earn money.

But the moment those words left my mouth, Nathan’s expression darkened.

“I’ve heard enough. Shakira is your sister. You’ve been calling her a bastard for six years, forcing her to live in shame. She’s just a young girl. Now she’s finally become independent, started her own company and got scammed. Can’t you show her some compassion?”

“Your mother went mad over money, completely obsessed. Even if it hadn’t been Shakira’s company, she would’ve gone to another agency. This has nothing to do with Shakira. And I won’t let you hurt her.”

Tears streamed down my face, hitting the floor one by one.

“Feel sorry for her? Who’s going to feel sorry for me?”

“Nathan, do you even remember what you said six years ago? What promises did you make back then?”

His brow furrowed deeply, his expression cold and terrifying.

“Who remembers what happened six years ago? What does that have to do with anything today?”

“That’s enough. You just want money, don’t you? Is ten million enough? Here’s the check—fill in the number yourself. I’ve got work to do and no time to waste on you.”

The check fluttered down and landed on my face. My voice trembled as I spoke.

“What if I say I don’t want the money? What if I want Shakira to face legal consequences?”

“You can try. But let’s see if your evidence is better than my lawyer’s.”

“The wedding is around the corner and I don’t want to marry a madwoman. Calm down and think things through.”

Just then, his phone rang—the special ringtone he had set just for her. His face immediately softened.

“Oh? A new client? Shakira, you’re amazing. I have high hopes for you.”

“Dinner tonight? I’ve got a meeting, but I’ll cancel it and come pick you up. Be good.”

Without even sparing me a glance, he slammed the door and walked out.

I collapsed, sobbing like a madwoman.

Six years ago, after my father had an affair, my mother and I were thrown out of our home.

At seventeen, I didn’t even have a hundred dollar.

On the brink of starvation, it was Nathan who took us in.

He had promised to take care of my family.

I had quietly loved him for years… and I had never doubted his words.

There were times when I even felt lucky that I hadn’t fallen into the abyss of my original family.

At first, Nathan had shared my pain. He despised Shakira and her mother.

But everything changed when Shakira turned eighteen and enrolled in the same university as me.

From that moment on, Nathan no longer monitored Shakira’s whereabouts. Even the way he spoke to her became gentler.

“This girl is a bit like you—stubborn,” he once said casually. “I heard she overturned some rich kid’s lunch and demanded an apology.”

“Kristine, maybe there was just a misunderstanding in the past. I think Shakira has a good personality. You two should try to get along. After all, we’re family now. There’s no need to make things so tense.”

All I had done was mention to my roommate that Shakira’s mother used to be a mistress.

The very next morning, a video of my mother being harassed while working parttime at a restaurant went viral on the school forum.

But still, I never doubted him.

Six years later, we successfully registered our marriage and were preparing for the wedding.

I had always believed that I held a special place in Nathan’s heart. I thought the bond we had as childhood sweethearts could overcome any challenge.

But now, the young man who once protected and cherished me without hesitation...

He had already died in my memory.

There was no longer any reason to go through with the wedding.

As I was packing my bags, the police station called.

“Ms. Raymond, your mother’s case has been dropped. Please come to collect the body.”

I froze, stunned.

By the time I arrived at the station, the case files had already been destroyed.

I dropped to my knees in front of everyone, bowing frantically.

“Please... Please don’t close the case! My mother was murdered. The truth hasn’t come to light yet. You can’t just give up!”

My hands trembled as I clutched the hem of a nearby officer’s uniform.

The man sighed and gently helped me up.

“Miss Raymond, I’m sorry... but there’s nothing more we can do. The person who ordered the case closed was your husband. We have to respect the family’s wishes.”

“Mr. Cole made it very clear. Anyone who tries to reopen this case will lose their job. We all have families to feed. We really can’t help you…”

With that, he turned and walked away.

My fingernails were torn and bleeding, but I felt nothing—no pain, no strength left to cry.

Right then, a message from Nathan came in.

[Did the police call you? I’ve already arranged everything with the funeral home. Just send Auntie there—I’ll cover all the costs.]

[I’ve said everything I need to. Don’t test my patience.]

The phone slipped from my hands, tears dripping onto the screen.

Before I could respond, he called again, this time sounding cold and demanding.

“Didn’t you see the message? Also, the waiver is in the study. I’m at the hotel—come now and have Shakira sign it.”

My chest tightened with rage. I could no longer hold back the storm inside me.

“What if I refuse to sign? Are you going to cut off my fingers?”

The call disconnected instantly.

An email notification appeared on my screen.

It was a copy of the agreement my mother had signed with Shakira’s company before going abroad.

One clause was bolded and highlighted in red.

[In the event of any danger encountered abroad, the guest voluntarily assumes all responsibility and the company reserves all rights of interpretation.]

The threat was clear.

He wasn’t giving me a choice.

The Cole Family's influence was far too strong—I had no way of fighting them.

The only option left... was to walk away.

In the end, I took the waiver and went to the hotel.

Just as I arrived at the entrance, I saw Shakira stepping out of a car.

She wore a custommade evening gown, the fabric flowing like silk, making her look as elegant as a princess.

When she noticed me, she smiled ever so slightly.

“Sister? Oh wow, it’s you? What a coincidence.”

“By the way, have you arranged Auntie’s funeral yet? Since we’re family now, I’ve been thinking of starting a funeral services business. If you need help... feel free to reach out.”

I suppressed the overwhelming urge to strangle her and demanded through gritted teeth,

“Before my mother signed the contract, you already knew who she was, didn’t you? You deliberately assigned her to the most dangerous job, didn’t you?”

Shakira smiled sweetly and shook her head with feigned innocence.

“Sister, what are you talking about? I have no idea. Customer information is confidential, you know. If I had known Auntie was struggling financially, I would’ve just given her the money myself.”

She tilted her head and sighed dramatically.

“But I doubt she would’ve taken it, right? You both… have so much pride.”

My nails dug so deep into my palms that I could feel warm blood rising to the surface. The pain nearly made me faint.

Shakira stepped closer in her designer heels, her voice soft and deliberate.

“No, if we’re talking about pride, you’re definitely worse. The last time I saw Auntie, she was washing dishes in the kitchen. I accidentally broke more than ten plates. The manager was going to deduct a month’s wages from her and do you know what she did?”

“She knelt in front of me—on the filthy kitchen floor—and begged. You should’ve seen your mother like that. It was almost pathetic.”

“I even told her to lick the soup off my shoes and she did it. Without hesitation. Later I found out she was doing all that to save money for your wedding.”

But Mom never told me any of this. Not a single word.

A whitehot fury scorched through my veins, burning away all sense of reason. Something inside me snapped.

I lunged at her, yanking her hair with both hands and slapping her across the face with everything I had.

Shakira stumbled, landing hard on the marble floor. She turned back with wide, tearful eyes, as if she were the victim.

“Sister, why would you hit me?” she whimpered. “I’ve already apologized. Isn’t it enough that I offered to compensate you with money?”

“Please… Dad misses you so much. He’s been hoping you’d come home…”

Before I could even respond, a powerful force struck me from behind.

My body slammed into the wall and a sharp pain shot through my head as warm blood trickled down my forehead.

Nathan’s voice rang out cold and sharp behind me.

“Kristine, have you gone insane?”

“Apologize to Shakira. Now!”

Shakira clutched his sleeve, tears falling as she trembled in mock sympathy.

“Forget it, Nathan. I don’t blame Sister. After all, this was my company’s mistake… I understand why she hit me.”

But his expression only grew colder.

“No, it’s her mother’s fault for not reading the contract carefully. This has nothing to do with you.”

“You want to make money and stay safe? The world doesn’t work like that. You can’t have both.”

“Greed has no limits. Kristine, are you here to extort money from Shakira? I’ve already paid you!”

I clutched the wound on my forehead, staring up at him in disbelief.

“Extort?” I whispered. “Do you really think I would trade my mother’s life for money?”

“If that’s how you see me, then why did you marry me?”

His face twitched, stunned by my question. An odd flicker passed through his eyes.

“I only believe what I see,” he said coldly. “And from what I saw today, this was entirely your fault.”

“Apologize, Kristine. This is your last chance.”

The warmth he once had for me was gone. Completely gone.

All that remained was bitter indifference.

A wave of despair swept over me. I let out a broken laugh.

“What if I refuse?”

“A murderer’s daughter. The child of a mistress. Do you think you deserve anything more?”

“You’re ungrateful. You don’t know when you’re being blessed.”

Before Shakira could say another word, Nathan’s voice cut through the room like a blade.

“Someone, make her kneel. Keep her there until she knocks her head ten times!”

“To be the wife of the Cole Family, you clearly need to be taught some manners.”

My knees refused to bend.

So the bodyguard kicked me hard.

Pain exploded through my body as an old injury flared up again.

But still, my neck stiffened in defiance. I would not bow.

“Nathan,” Shakira said softly, “maybe we should let it go. Sister didn’t mean to humiliate me...”

“Don’t speak for her!” he snapped.

“Keep going. Do I have to teach you how to punish someone properly?”

The bodyguard slammed my head down with brutal force.

The tile cracked beneath the impact.

A sickening thud echoed through the hall and blood quickly stained the floor.

My chest felt like it was being ripped apart.

But Nathan still wasn’t done.

Again and again.

By the tenth time, my legs were numb. I had no strength left to stay upright.

He casually waved his hand, signaling the bodyguard to retrieve the forgiveness letter from my arms.

After Shakira signed it with a flourish, the bodyguard yanked my hand and pressed my bloody fingerprint onto the paper.

Only then did Nathan’s expression soften.

“If you had just behaved earlier,” he said, looking pleased, “you wouldn’t have had to suffer.”

“Does your leg still hurt? I’ll take you to the hospital.”

He stepped forward to help me, reaching out with a tenderness that made me nauseous.

I slapped his hand away with a bitter smile.

“I don’t need your fake kindness.”

I turned to leave, but my body betrayed me. My knees buckled and I nearly fell down the stairs.

Nathan instinctively reached out to catch me—then stopped midmotion.

His hand hovered for a moment, then dropped.

“You stay with her,” he told the bodyguard. “Take her to the hospital and keep me updated.”

And just like that, he turned away, wrapped his arm around Shakira and walked into the hotel without looking back.

Cold sweat drenched my forehead.

It took ten minutes just to descend the stairs.

The pain was unbearable.

Then everything went black.

In the haze of unconsciousness, I drifted back six years into the past.

Mom and I were homeless, wandering the streets.

We passed by a school gate when a runaway truck sped straight toward us—toward Nathan.

Without thinking, I rushed forward and shoved him out of the way.

He escaped with barely a scratch.

I, on the other hand, suffered multiple fractures in both legs and spent half a year in the hospital.

He visited every single day.

He brought his textbooks, sat by my bed, explained lessons and helped me review.

At night, thinking I was asleep, he’d lean close and whisper softly into my ear:

“Kristine, it looks like I’ll owe you for the rest of my life.”

“It’s okay. I’ve got a lifetime to repay you.”

In the corner of the room where he couldn’t see me, I smiled.

After that, every time it rained, my legs would ache unbearably.

And every single time, he’d drop everything, come to my side, apply heat packs and change my bandages himself.

But now… everything had changed.

When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.

My phone showed a message from Nathan, sent two hours ago.

[Uncle wants you to come home for a visit. We’re getting married soon, so try to control your temper.]

[The family dinner is tomorrow night. I’ll pick you up.]

That was it.

The next day, he sent nothing more.

Until I saw Shakira’s new social media post.

She’d tagged her location: the summit of a bungee jumping site.

The photo showed them holding hands—her ring finger bare, with only a faint sunburn line where the ring had been.

[He said no matter what happens in the future, he’ll always stand in front of me to shield me from pain.

Thank you, Big Brother. Having you in this life is enough.]

Nathan liked the post and replied with a smiling cat emoji.

“There’s nothing I can do about you. I can only spoil my sister. Hope your future brotherinlaw won’t mind…”

I remembered the day I turned eighteen.

He asked what I wanted as a gift.

I told him I wanted to go bungee jumping—to feel the thrill of skimming the edge of death, just once, so I could feel alive again.

His face turned cold. Disdainful.

“Bungee jumping? That’s something only people who don’t want to live anymore do,” he said.

“It’s basically like jumping off a building. Who has time for that kind of nonsense?”

When he noticed I was disappointed, he explained—

He was afraid of heights. Always had been.

But apparently, even his deepest fears could be overcome.

Just not for me.

I closed the app, shut off the screen and booked a plane ticket.

Three days later, I’d leave this country behind.

The wedding planning company called me.

“Ms. Raymond, the venue is nearly ready. Would you like to come take a look yourself?”

“Mr. Cole’s phone is unavailable and his assistant said you can make the decisions on your own without consulting him.”

So this is what his love looks like—he couldn’t even be bothered to care about our wedding.

My heart turned cold and my voice reflected the same chill.

“If he doesn’t want to see it, I have no objections. Do whatever you like—there’s no need to contact me again.”

When I was discharged from the hospital, the doctor informed me that my prescribed medication had already been picked up—by someone else.

I headed downstairs and saw Shakira.

She waved my medicine at me with a smug smile.

“Sorry, Sister. I tripped and hurt myself, so I borrowed your medication.”

It was a treatment for bruises and sprains. But her skin was flawless. No cuts, no bruises—just a glaring kiss mark on her neck.

Right in front of me, Shakira opened the tube of ointment and dabbed it gently on her neck.

“Oh no, Brother Nathan was a little too rough… Tonight’s the family dinner. If Dad sees this, it’ll be awful.”

I knew she was saying it just to get under my skin.

“You must have inherited the habit of stealing what belongs to others.”

A flash of irritation passed through her eyes before she gave a light laugh.

“Are you talking about you and Brother Nathan getting married?”

“He already explained everything to me. That marriage certificate? Fake. He only did it to keep you off his back.”

Right then, my phone buzzed with a new message—from her.

Attached was a photo of the City Hall’s record system.

Nathan’s marital status showed just two characters: unmarried.

My entire body went cold. It felt like I had fallen into an ice cave, frozen from head to toe.

So he had been lying to me. From the very beginning.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Cry because I was a fool.

Laugh because at least—I was still free.

“What exactly are you trying to prove by showing me this?” I asked, my voice dry.

“Think you still have a shot with Nathan?”

“Well then, congratulations. You’ve won. I’ll wish you a happy marriage in advance.”

I returned home, numb.

The wedding photos we had taken together were still on the bedside table.

I threw them all into a trash bag, carried it downstairs and burned everything.

The flames roared to life just as Nathan returned.

He frowned slightly at the sight.

“What are you burning?”

“Nothing important. Just some hazardous waste.”

He nodded casually, as if it meant nothing to him and turned to go change his clothes.

When he came back out and drove away, he didn’t even glance at the ashes smoldering in the bin.

Those wedding photos—our memories—meant nothing to him.

Just like me. Worthless. Dispensable.

At the Raymond Family home, my father and Shakira’s mother had been waiting for quite some time.

The moment I stepped through the door, my father accepted the engagement gifts from Nathan, then turned to me with a scowl.

“Kristine, making your elders wait like this—is this how your mother raised you?”

I met his glare without flinching.

“At least my mother didn’t raise me to seduce someone else’s boyfriend.”

Slap!

His palm struck my face, hard.

Nathan didn’t even blink.

Soon, Shakira’s mother pulled him aside into the study for a private chat.

I forced myself to look up, meeting my father’s gaze full of contempt.

“My mother was always dignified and upright. She never owed you anything.”

“You’re the one who cheated. You brought your mistress and illegitimate daughter into our home. You’re the one who should feel ashamed!”

My father exploded in fury. He grabbed the glass ashtray off the table and raised it high above my head.

“You ungrateful wench! You think I won’t discipline you?”

But just as he was about to strike, the front door opened.

A group of relatives walked in.

In an instant, my father’s expression flipped.

He smiled graciously and greeted them like the perfect host.

“I heard Old Raymond is about to marry into the Cole Family?" one of them said with a chuckle.

“We couldn’t miss today’s engagement celebration!”

“I’ve always said Shakira is capable. Much better than that ungrateful Kristine…”

My father’s voice trailed off when he noticed me standing there. His face twisted into an awkward scowl as the words caught in his throat.

At the family banquet, everyone raised their glasses to toast Shakira and Nathan, offering their blessings for a happy marriage and a blissful life together.

The cheerful chatter and laughter echoed in my ears, each word stabbing like needles. I couldn’t help but glance at Nathan.

He didn’t say a word. He didn’t even try to explain. He simply held his wine glass with calm poise, a polite smile fixed on his lips.

Unable to stand another minute of it, I stood up and walked out into the courtyard. The evening air was cool, but it did little to numb the pain surging inside me.

Footsteps followed me. Shakira.

“Sister,” she said in her syrupy voice, “you haven’t been home in six years. How could you leave so soon? Isn’t that a bit rude?”

Then her tone turned sharp, venomous.

“You’re just like your cheap mother. Always missing the opportunity to make money when it’s right in front of you. No wonder you’re destined to be poor for the rest of your life. Pathetic.”

Anger surged through me like wildfire. I turned to face her, my voice as cold as ice.

“What are you talking about? What exactly did my mother go through before she died?”

Shakira gave a mock pout and sauntered over to the swing, gently swaying back and forth like a child. Her voice dropped low, but her words were cruel.

“Someone offered me twenty thousand dollar to spend one night with her. She refused. Wanted to go back to the country the moment she landed. How was I supposed to work with an employee like that?”

“I don’t do unprofitable deals. So I had to teach her a lesson. Who knew she had such a stubborn streak? Even after I drugged her, she didn’t give in.”

“Before she died, she was stripped, kneeling on the ground, begging me not to tell you. But I’m just so kindhearted. How could I keep something like that from you?”

She smiled at me, sweet as poison.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I lunged at her. We crashed to the ground, kicking and scratching. Her face split open, blood trickling down her cheek.

“What are you doing?! Stop it right now!”

My father stormed over and, without a word, slapped me hard across the face.

My blood boiled. I stared at him with tearfilled eyes, shouting uncontrollably:

“She killed my mother! Don’t I have the right to take revenge?”

“You knew what she did—!”

Smack!

Another slap, even harder. My head whipped to the side and I tasted blood. A tooth hit the ground beside me.

“What did she do to your mother? Do you have proof?” my father shouted.

“How dare you slander her like that? Is this the kind of upbringing your mother gave you?”

I turned to Nathan, desperate. One last time—I looked at him, silently begging for help, for even a flicker of understanding after all these years.

But he just looked at me with the same cold detachment as the others.

His voice was like a blade.

“Kristine, apologize. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Your mother’s death was her own doing. It had nothing to do with Shakira. And now you’re creating a scene—are you happy?”

His words settled over me like a cold fog.

Then came the murmurs and snide whispers from the guests nearby.

“I heard Old Raymond’s exwife has been doing odd jobs since the divorce. Looks like it’s true.”

“So her husband cheated. Big deal. What man doesn’t have a mistress or two? Just deal with it and move on. She died chasing a bit of money. That’s on her.”

“Women like that are always too emotional. And now look at her daughter—cut from the same pathetic cloth.”

I dropped to my knees. The pain in my body was nothing compared to the agony in my heart.

Nathan’s expression darkened. His patience had run dry.

“Kristine, don’t make me hit you again. Dignity is something you have to give yourself.”

My hands trembled as my nails dug into the dirt. Blood seeped from my fingertips into the earth.

Slowly, I lowered my head and knocked it once against the edge of the flower bed.

“I’m sorry.”

I said it again. And again.

Ten times.

When I finally looked up, tears blurred my vision, but my gaze was sharp as ice.

“Can I leave now?”

Nathan hesitated, clearly surprised by my sudden compliance. But whatever unease he felt vanished quickly as Shakira clung to his arm and started whining again.

“Go ahead. But don’t cause any more trouble.”

But there was no “us” anymore.

There were no taxis in the villa complex and just then, it began to pour.

I walked ten kilometers in the rain until I finally reached the funeral home.

As I watched my mother being laid to rest, the last thread of attachment in my heart snapped.

At midnight, the family banquet came to an end and a message from Nathan popped up on my phone.

“Did you get home? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“You didn’t eat tonight, so I brought you something. Wait for me, okay?”

“Your assistant told me you didn’t try on the wedding dress and threw a tantrum again. I’ll bring it back for you to try. Be a good girl.”

His tone was patronizing, like he was speaking to a pet.

And yet… I had once mistaken that for love.

I didn’t reply.

I turned off my phone and tossed it into the trash can.

Then I walked straight to the boarding gate without looking back.

Goodbye, Nathan.

Goodbye forever.