Ivana ran away from the men chasing her, who were dressed in black suits. There were dozens of them, and they were carrying weapons in their hands. Ivana ran until she didn't realize it. She was now at the edge of a cliff and surrounded, while behind her was a steep sea cliff.
"Ivana, surrender and come back home with me!" Saga's words could no longer make her obey. The woman was already very tired and even fed up.
"I will change, Ivana, I promise." The words of the 30-year-old man could not calm her down. She just wanted to know what it felt like to be free.
"I always want to ask the world, why are you so cruel to me when I've never even received real love, is that how you see me? Am I also a burden, or do you still think that I killed my sister? Just take my heart and give it to your new girl. I don't want to live if I know it's like this, you see all the wounds on my body. You torture me just because I don't obey. You won't even let me leave, not even for a single step. Do you think I don't feel pain? I'm human too, Saga. I'm human too." Ivana's words were so heartbreaking and tragic. The 26-year-old woman stretched out her arms, laughed for a moment as if all her burdens had vanished, and took a few steps back. "Don't, Ivana, I beg you. We can still talk this out." Saga was truly terrified. Every time he took a step forward, Ivana would take two steps back.
"You know, Saga, sometimes I envy Oliv. Because he gets all your love, and everyone else's too. But what about me? What am I, just a worthless stepping stone in the eyes of all of you?"
Ivana took a step forward, there was no longer any distance between the cliff and herself, the woman spread her arms and surrendered herself to the open sea.
"Splash!" The sound was loud as the woman jumped into the sea, and everyone fell silent.
"IVANA, IVANAAAAAA." Saga's scream echoed from the edge of the cliff.
"I am Ivana, the foolish woman who didn't die after surviving the accident. I should have died with my brother. Because I feel that would have been much better." Ivana thought to herself with a heavy heart.
Six months ago...
A beautiful woman was watering flowers in her yard, humming happily to herself. Her singing sounded melodious, accompanied by the rhythm of jazz music.
"Ivana,"
"Where are you?" asked a woman named Olivia.
"Sis, I'm here." Olivia approached her sister, who was watering flowers at that moment.
Seeing her sister so happy with the flowers made Olivia happy too. She loved her sister more than anyone else in the world.
"Ivana, I have a gift for you." Olivia gave Ivana a jewelry box. She even opened the box and put a diamond necklace on her sister.
"Do you like it?" Olivia asked, and Ivana nodded in response.
"Hmm, I love it. It's really sweet, I like it. You're the best." Ivana hugged her sister. Behind them, there was a man watching the two of them. He was also very happy about it.
"Oliv, Ivana," the man called out as he carried the gift.
Seeing the man calling her name, Olivia immediately let go of her sister's embrace and rushed over to hug the man.
"Saga," Saga reached out to embrace the woman and hugged her warmly.
"Saga, I've missed you so much." Ivana's words made Saga so happy that he hugged her even tighter.
"I missed you too, dear. Look, I brought your favorite chocolate." Hearing this, Olivia's eyes widened with joy, sparkling as if she had received thousands of diamonds.
"Oh my god, this chocolate is the best. You really understand me, thank you, Saga," Olivia then turned around and showed the chocolate to Ivana.
"See, sis, I really got the best from this nice guy. Try to find a boyfriend before it's too late." Olivia deliberately teased her sister.
"Hmm, okay. Besides, no guy would want me anyway," Ivana said without looking at either of them.
"Come on, Ivana, you're beautiful. Why are you so insecure?" said Arga as he approached his future sister-in-law.
"Yes, Oliv. You should always be grateful. It's rare to find a guy like Saga." Hearing Ivana's words, Oliv cupped her hands together as if to pray, and looked up to thank God.
"Yes, God. Thank you for loving me so much that you have given me all this happiness, you have given me the best sister and the best husband in the world. I am truly grateful for that." Hearing Oliv's words, both of them were touched. Ivana even cried listening to her sister's words.
"Stop crying, here, take this!" Saga gave Ivana a gift.
Ivana took the gift given by Saga, which contained chocolate.
"Chocolate?" Ivana asked, and Saga nodded. Ivana's face turned sour. She gave the gift back to Saga.
"Why are you giving it back?" Saga asked, and Ivana shook her head in annoyance.
Olivia, who knew about it, immediately pulled Saga away from her sister.
"What's wrong with her?"
Olivia exhaled roughly.
"Saga, she hates chocolate. She's allergic to chocolate and shrimp, so don't give her chocolate or she'll get angry because she can't eat it." Hearing this, Saga felt sorry for Ivana. He then picked a flower and placed it in Ivana's right ear. Ivana, who knew this, suddenly turned her head, confused as to why Saga did that.
"I'm sorry, Saga didn't know about your illness." Saga stroked Ivana's head and remained silent. She then looked at Saga, his handsome face seeming to amaze the 26-year-old woman.
"Saga, let's go! You said we had to check the dress, right?!" Hearing that, Saga immediately turned around.
"Yes, dear, just a moment."
"Saga, I'll go first, don't forget to eat." Ivana was truly touched by that warmth; she had never felt it before. Saga turned around, took his girlfriend's hand, and walked with her toward the car. The man even opened the car door for Olivia. A sweet smile appeared on Olivia's lips; she had truly found a good man, and even the best one.
After they got in, Olivia rolled down her car window and waved to Ivana.
"Ivana, go ahead. Don't forget my advice. Hurry up and find a boyfriend so you won't be single anymore," Olivia said before rolling up her window. Ivana waved back at them.
"Okay, Saga. Drive carefully," said Ivana, waving for a moment before lowering her hand.
"Ivana, don't ever fall for that guy. You can't like him." Ivana smiled, a beautiful smile appearing on the corner of her lips.
Ivana turned around and went to turn off the water hose.
"Finally finished."
"Ivana." The familiar voice made her pause for a moment.
"This voice, it's... Mama?" Ivana thought to herself.
"Ivana." Call the woman again, and now Ivana really turns her head. A middle-aged woman in a fashionable and glamorous dress approaches her. The woman is around 50 years old and she is the lady of the house. She is the mother of Olivia and Ivana. She is Mrs. Emalia Wingston.
"Mama" Ivana immediately ran to her mother, wanting to kiss her hand. However, the old woman rejected her outright.
"Where is your sister?" Ivana remained silent, lowering her head at that moment.
"You useless child, mama asked you a question. Where is Olivia?"
Without looking at her mother and still keeping her head down, Ivana answered her mother's question.
"My sister is out with Saga."
Hearing that answer, Emalia was very happy, she was truly delighted.
"That's my girl. She's really dependable. Oliv is the best, unlike you. You're a failure who only spends money on your illness." Emalia said as she walked into the house. Those words really hurt Ivana. It felt like being sliced and cut by thousands of knives.
"Mom, when will you consider me useful? I'm your daughter too, I'm Ivana. I'm your daughter." Ivana wiped away her tears. Her body was already weak from heart disease, she didn't have to waste her tears on something meaningless.
"Ivana, cheer up. Your mom needs proof, come on. You can do it!" Ivana encouraged herself.
Ivana entered the house and looked up at her mother, who was upstairs chatting with some friends. Apparently, when Emalia returned, she wasn't alone; she was with some socialite friends, who were also her colleagues.
Ivana climbed the stairs, and they looked at her with contempt. This was in stark contrast to her sister, Olivia Wingston. Even though they lived under the same roof, the way they were treated was different. Olivia was often considered a burden because of her weak heart, while Olivia was gold, the pride and joy of her parents.
Ivana looked down, not daring to meet their condescending gazes.
"Ivana, it seems like every time I come here, you're always at home. Aren't you ashamed of being a burden to your parents?" said Aunt Marsha, and it really hurt Ivana's feelings.
"You forgot, didn't you? Ivana is a fragile girl. She can't do anything because she's always sick," Emalia said.
Ivana could only remain silent. She didn't dare to look up and kept her head down, as if her body had turned to stone. Her mother, who was supposed to be her protector, was now bullying her. She felt hurt, but she didn't make a sound. Ivana dared to look up and saw everyone laughing at her.