Chapter 2

Mom dumped the shopping bags onto the couch, clearly still angry.

"Joy actually snatched the popsicle right out of Cecelia's hand today."

"Before Cecelia even moved in, I drilled it into Joy's head that she has to share and set a good example."

Dad crossed his arms, his face dark with irritation.

"Exactly, Mom. I never imagined Joy could be so manipulative and vicious."

"Aren't kids raised with love supposed to be forgiving and kind?"

"We spoiled her rotten, and she still turned out rotten."

"I ran into Cecelia downstairs and found out Joy had bullied her again. It's sickening!"

"Joy Miller! Get out here right now! I'm going to teach you some manners today!"

Dad roared toward my bedroom hallway.

I shook my head frantically, desperate to explain.

"That's not what happened, Dad! I didn't steal her popsicle!"

"She threw it away and said she didn't want it! It was my favorite flavor and the only one left, so I picked it up!"

Neither Dad, Mom, nor Grandma could hear a single word.

Seeing no movement from the hallway, Mom's brow furrowed deep.

"Joy, you think playing deaf and dumb will save you?!"

She stormed toward my bedroom, but Grandma intercepted her.

"I already checked everywhere. Joy isn't in the house!"

Mom paused, letting out a sharp breath.

"Then where on earth did that kid run off to?"

Cecelia piped up in an innocent, sweet voice.

"Mrs. Miller, earlier this morning I heard Joy say she was going downstairs to play with her classmate Lily. She's probably at Lily's apartment!"

Lily was my best friend from school. Since we lived in the same building, I often went over to her place to play.

Dad let out a cold scoff.

"Throwing a tantrum and running away from home at her age?!"

"Fine, let her stay at Lily's! Don't you dare go pick her up."

Grandma sighed heavily.

"She's still just a little girl. Don't be too harsh on her. Go bring her back."

"I'll make dinner. Those chicken wings I bought for Joy last time should still be in the freezer, right?"

"I'll make her favorite sweet glazed wings!"

My heart instantly leaped into my throat.

If Grandma opened the freezer, she would find my frozen body!

Grandma was old, and she had high blood pressure. My frozen corpse must look horrifying—it would give her a heart attack!

I threw myself in front of Grandma, trying to block her, but it was useless. She walked right through me toward the kitchen door.

I watched in terror as Grandma stepped inside.

"Mom, don't bother cooking!" Dad called out, pulling out his phone. "Cecelia is here, let's just order pizza via DoorDash!"

Dad stopped Grandma just as her hand reached for the freezer handle.

Grandma paused, but concern was written all over her face.

"Call Joy to come home and eat. It's rude to impose on the neighbors like that."

Mom waved her hand dismissively.

"Mom, leave her alone! I just texted her smartwatch."

"I told her we're ordering her favorite extra-cheese shrimp pizza. In less than ten minutes, that greedy little brat will come running back with her tail between her legs!"

Hearing Mom mention it, I looked down at my wrist.

My wrist was empty. Oh no! My smartwatch was trapped inside the freezer with my body!

Mom and Dad had given me that watch for my birthday last year.

Now that it was ruined, Mom was going to be even angrier at me!

I really am a bad kid. I always make Mom mad.

Mom was right to throw me in the freezer.

I huddled into the corner behind the sofa, sobbing silent tears.

Half an hour later, the DoorDash delivery arrived.

Seeing that I still hadn't returned, Mom gritted her teeth in frustration.

"That ungrateful Joy! Just because I scolded her a little, she's actually giving me the silent treatment!"

Dad ripped open the pizza box.

"Let's just eat! Don't wait for her. It's not like Lily's parents will let her starve!"

Grandma opened her mouth to defend me, but Dad cut her off sharply.

"Mom, stop interfering with our parenting!"

"If she dares to defy her parents today, who knows what crime she'll commit tomorrow!"

"Let's eat. Nobody pay any attention to her!"

Cecelia delicately picked out the largest slice of pizza from the box.

"Mr. Miller, Mrs. Miller, Joy loves this kind. Should we save this big piece for her?"

Mom and Dad looked at her with pure adoration, gently stroking her hair.

"Cecelia is so considerate."

"Don't worry about her, honey. Let's eat. Forget about Joy!"

I watched Cecelia sit in my special chair at the dining table.

Mom, Dad, and Grandma gathered around her, happily devouring the pizza I loved so much.

It looked as if they were born to be a family, and I was just an unwanted intruder.

A sharp, agonizing pain gripped my chest, and tears streamed down my face.

Why does a ghost still feel pain? Is this God punishing me for being a bad child?

I curled up in the dark corner of the living room, trembling with grief.

Until Dad took the leftover pizza and started walking toward the freezer in the pantry.

My breath hitched in my throat.