Girl from the Novel

My life was simple and happy until my cousin moved in.

My parents gradually came to treat her more like their own daughter than they did me. Meanwhile, my best friend admired her as if she were some kind of superstar. Even worse, my boyfriend would blush every time he caught a glimpse of her, treating her as if she were the girl of his dreams.

With just a sweet smile, she could easily take everything from me.

Later, I found out that in this world, she was known as the "center of attention."

1.

I didn't receive any gifts for my twentieth birthday.

When I returned home from shopping, hoping for a surprise. However, I wasn't greeted by the usual balloons, flowers and cake. which my family would always prepared every year.

Instead, I found them gathered around a stranger, chatting attentively.

The girl standing at the center turned around at the sound of the door opening. As she saw me, she gave a sweet smile to show her friendliness.

"Stephanie? Hi, do you remember me? I'm your Cousin, Claire."

"Crash-"

A cup shattered on the floor, its pieces scattering everywhere.

Claire stood still, and as a result, a shard of ceramic cut her bare ankle.

I sighed; she played her same old trick again.

Clothes getting cut, falling down stairs or fainting on flat ground-this was the thirteenth incident happened on her this month.

"Claire! Are you fine? Oh dear, what happened?"

Mom rushed over at the sound, panicking even more when she saw the broken pieces and Claire's bleeding ankle. She hurried to fetch the first aid kit.

"Stephanie! What's wrong with you? Can't you just be cautious with the cup?"

While carefully taking care of Claire's wound, Mom scolded me without even asking about the cause.

Even without being aware of the details, whenever Claire and I were both there, she would always put the blame on me.

"Claire dropped the cup herself. I was just passing by. It's not my fault."

I tried to explain, even knowing it was futile.

"So you mean Claire dropped the club herself?"

As expected, she continued with frown. "Then why didn't you help Claire with the cup? Don't you know she's tired? Stephanie! How could you be so selfish? Forget what I've taught you?"

I took a deep breath to suppress my fury, "Mom, I'm exhausted as well. Why is it me who has to do that? Besides, she's been resting at home all day long. How could she be tired? Can't you be a bit more reasonable?"

"Don't stir the pot, alright? I have always been reasonable! Stephanie, can't you just behave yourself?"

Mom glowered at me. "How did you become so heartless? You didn't even show the slightest bit of sympathy when she got injured."

I was shocked. "Mom! Listen to yourself! Are you serious???"

"You know, Claire is struggling with health issue, easily got tired. Since she's living with you, shouldn't you take care of her?"

Claire coughed weakly, and Mom quickly crouched down to comfort her with concern.

"Auntie, don't blame Stephanie. It's not her fault..."

Yet her expression clearly said the otherwise.

"Sweetheart, just let me have a check. Do you want to go to the hospital? Scar is not your thing!"

Mom was so distressed that she wished it were she who had been injured. I stared at Claire's minor wound, not knowing what to say.

"Stephanie! If this happens again, you'll have to make breakfast yourself!"

I stood there watching as Mom helped the frail Claire out the door, heading for the hospital for a little scratch. I was totally speechless.

Her attention was completely focused on Claire, not even once did she spare a glance at me.

"I am not kidding. I need to do something before it's too late. My mom's is getting more and more weird."

At school, I went straight to my best friend Kaelyn, recounting the whole incident in one breath before grabbing her water bottle and drinking it all.

After hearing my story, she widened her eyes. "Jesus Christ! Could she be under a spell or something? Maybe witchcraft."

I deadpanned. "I wish she were under a spell, which still got solution."

Ever since Claire moved in, my parents have seemed like entirely different people. They had always been reasonable and gentle, they go completely off the rails when it comes to Claire.

Even more bizarrely, they have become vigilant towards me, as if I were a thief or a gangster who would plot against Claire.

Since she arrived, I haven't even spoken much to her.

At first, I didn't take it seriously, but the situation has only worsened.

Apart from the matters related to Claire, everything else appeared to be normal. Mom still enjoyed playing cards, favored using chili peppers while cooking, and watched TV shows at eight every night. In terms of Dad, he still loved chess, sneaking a drink now and then, and going fishing at six every evening.

When Claire wasn't around, they treated me the same as before. Mom loved to embrace me warmly and kiss my cheek affectionately, and Dad would secretly give me money to buy things I liked.

Once, when Claire got back home, I witnessed my parents, who had been smiling just a moment before, suddenly neglected me and then warmly welcome Claire.

Even now, I still couldn't understand how they could just suddenly change their attitude upside down.

"Stephanie, where's your cousin from? Could she be from a place called Salem?"

Kaelyn leaned forward intently, her expression one of absolute conviction. "I did some research yesterday. People of Salem have the power to make you fall in love with whoever they desire and turn you into nothing more than a puppet at their mercy!

I thought about it carefully. "Probably not. Her family is from the neighboring state, and I've never seen her have any connection with this Salem thing."

She was even scared by a small spider once, and I got scolded by my parents for nothing.

"Then could she have cast some spell?"

Kaelyn rubbed her chin, frowning, lost in thought.

"This is really too bizarre. Maybe you should find someone who is familiar with occultism to conduct an analysis."

Would it be helpful? I didn't know. Before things went completely sideways, I could chalk it up to my parents simply indulging this cousin. But now, I was afraid things were running out of control.

However, before Kaelyn and I could find someone to help us make sense of their strange behavior, another incident occurred - Claire transferred to our school.

And my bestie Kaelyn, after Claire's transfer, swiftly switched to Claire's side.