Rebirth: My Reclusive Husband Helps Me Get Revenge!-Chapter 39: Unseen, unwanted and unloved (1)

Nights always felt longer for Lixue, now she felt her drawn into this particular dream state that she couldn’t get out of, it was her 18th birthday which had turned out to be one of the saddest days in her life.

The sounds of laughter and music echoed in her mind. The grand hall of the Xiao family estate was alive with celebration, but not for her. Instead, Yu Jia, her stepsister, stood at the center of the festivities, basking in the attention of family and guests.

"Isn’t Yu Jia wonderful?" someone said. "She’s so talented, so poised. Truly the pride of the Xiao family."

Lixue stood in the corner, clutching the hem of her dress tightly. It wasn’t Yu Jia’s birthday—it was hers. Yet no one seemed to remember or even care. The ache in her chest grew heavier as the night went on, every laugh and cheer another reminder of her place in the family: unseen, unwanted and unloved.

"Lixue, don’t stand there sulking," her stepmother’s sharp voice cut through the air. "You’re embarrassing the family. Smile, for goodness’ sake. It’s a celebration."

A celebration?

Lixue’s throat tightened as she forced a small smile onto her face, her nails digging into her palms. She felt like a ghost in her own home, a shadow that no one cared to acknowledge.

Maybe she didn’t belong here, after all Yu Jia was the one with the complete family, her mother had disappeared and her father didn’t care if she lived or died.

She turned her gaze away from the crowd, unable to bear it any longer. Her eyes landed on a modest gift sitting on a nearby table. She recognized the plain wrapping paper immediately—it was from one of the servants, the only person who remembered today was her birthday.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Lixue walked over and picked up the small box, her fingers trembling slightly. She opened it quietly, revealing a simple silver bracelet with a tiny charm.

It wasn’t grand or flashy like the gifts Yu Jia received, but it was the only thing that felt real.

"Happy birthday to me," she whispered under her breath, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.

But even that small moment was interrupted.

"Oh, Lixue," Yu Jia’s voice chimed from behind her, her voiced filled with mockery. "What are you doing hiding over here? Jealous of all the attention, are we?"

Lixue’s grip on the bracelet tightened as she turned to face her stepsister. Yu Jia’s expression was smug, her perfect features twisted with the satisfaction of knowing she had stolen the spotlight.

"It’s your birthday too, you know," Yu Jia added, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "You should enjoy yourself. Oh, wait, no one’s really here for you, are they?"

The words hit like a slap, but Lixue refused to let her see the hurt. She straightened her back and met Yu Jia’s gaze with a calm she didn’t feel.

"Enjoy your party, Yu Jia and happy birthday to you" Lixue said quietly, before walking away.

She left the hall without another word, her steps quick as she escaped the laughter and music that felt like knives in her chest.

In the dream, her legs carried her to her bedroom, away from the celebration. The faint sound of music followed her as she closed the door behind her.

Sitting on her desk was a small cake she had secretly bought for herself earlier that day. A single candle flickered on top, casting a warm glow in the dark room.

She stared at it, tears pooling in her eyes as she whispered to herself, "Happy birthday, Lixue. I wish...I wish I could....i wish I could matter, even if it was just for a day."

Her trembling hand reached for the candle, but before she could blow it out, the room grew darker. The flicker of light vanished, leaving her in a suffocating void.

"No..." she whimpered in her sleep, her head twisting slightly on the pillow.

Mo Ran, who had been lightly dozing beside her, stirred at the sound. His sharp senses instantly picked up on her distress.

"Lixue?" he called softly, sitting up and leaning over her. Her face was scrunched in pain, her cheeks damp with tears. She whimpered again, her hands clutching the blanket as if trying to escape something.

"Lixue, wake up," he said more firmly, his voice laced with concern. He gently shook her shoulder, but she didn’t respond.

Her whimpers grew louder, her breathing uneven. "No...please...don’t..."

Mo Ran’s chest tightened. He cupped her face, his thumb brushing away her tears as he spoke again, this time more urgently. "Lixue, it’s just a dream. Wake up."

Her lips trembled, and she let out a soft cry, her hands flailing slightly as if reaching for something—or someone.

"Lixue!" Mo Ran’s voice was firm now, a note of desperation creeping in. He shook her lightly again, his heart pounding as her distress grew.

Finally, her eyes snapped open, wide and filled with tears. She gasped for air, her chest heaving as she tried to orient herself.

"Lixue," Mo Ran said softly, his voice steady but filled with worry. "It’s me. You’re safe. Are you okay?!."

Her gaze found his, and for a moment, she just stared at him, her breathing still erratic. Then, like a dam breaking, she reached for him, her arms wrapping tightly around his neck as she buried her face in his chest.

"Mo Ran..It was so real," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I was...alone again. No one cared. It was my birthday, but it wasn’t mine..."

Mo Ran’s jaw tightened as he held her close, his hand stroking her back in slow, soothing circles. He didn’t say anything at first, letting her cry against him, her pain spilling out in waves.

"It’s not like that anymore," he said quietly after a moment, his voice steady and grounding. "You’re not alone, Lixue. Not anymore. You have me."

She sniffled, her grip on him tightening as she tried to calm herself. "I hate that I still care," she admitted, her voice muffled against his chest. "I hate that it still hurts."

"Feelings don’t disappear just because we want them to," he said, his tone gentler now. "But they don’t define you, Lixue. You’re more than what they did to you."