Chapter 2
At my parents' funeral, Richard and Charles brought back a girl named Chloe Frost.
She had just turned 19.
Her parents had also died in that same crash.
Before I could even hug the girl who'd lost everything just like me, Charles slapped me so hard that I hit the floor.
He said a phone call had caused the pile-up.
And I was the one who'd made it.
Just as I opened my mouth to defend myself, the two men who'd once doted on me wouldn't let me speak.
Despite my two-month pregnancy, they forced me to bow and apologize to Chloe in front of my parents' memorial tablets.
They said I had to spend the rest of my life atoning for my parents' deaths. And for Chloe's parents, too.
Since then, Charles cut off all my financial support. Richard took all my company shares. They let Chloe move into my old room.
Chloe got all the love that used to be mine.
*****
Ding—my phone buzzed.
[Happy birthday, my precious princess! May you always be happy!]
The vibration jolted me from my daze.
[Grandpa finally nailed that cartoon dance you and Lily love! Aren't you happy?]
On my screen, there was Grandpa—usually so serious—in a goofy cartoon mascot suit, dancing his heart out.
My heart felt numb, like someone had taken a knife and kept stabbing holes in it.
Grandpa had been at a retirement home abroad since he retired.
After my parents died, afraid he'd get hurt all over again, I'd kept everything Lily and I went through bottled up all these years.
At that moment, I finally broke down.
I called him back and started rambling, spilling all the pain and hurt I'd kept inside for so long.
After some time, I finally cried myself out and grew calm.
Just as I was about to explain that I'd gotten overwhelmed, he simply said, "It's okay, sweetheart. Don't be afraid. Grandpa's coming to bring you home."
Before I could reply, he'd already hung up.
I wandered the streets in a daze, clutching Lily's urn to my chest—like a despised stray.
Suddenly, my vision went black.
Rough hands grabbed me, yanking a blindfold over my eyes and shoving something in my mouth.
They stuffed me into a van.
No idea how long we drove. Eventually, the van stopped.
They dragged me out and slammed me onto the ground.
I held Lily's urn tight, making sure it didn't fall.
When the blindfold was torn off, I gasped at the sight.
Chloe sat on Richard's lap in an elaborate princess dress, her brows furrowed as she sniffled and sobbed.
Charles stood there, sleeves rolled up with a nasty look on his face, gripping a black leather whip.
When they saw me fall to my knees, Richard quickly patted Chloe's back.
"There, there, Chloe. I brought that bitch right to you.
"Do whatever you want with her. Don't go easy on her."
"Yeah, Chloe, don't hold back at all. The shrink said your anxiety's through the roof—you need to let it out if you want to get better," Charles urged.
With a performative dab at her tearless eyes, Chloe gave a little nod.
"Okay, I'll do whatever you say," she replied, her voice trembling with fake innocence.
Then she stood and walked over, her voice dripping with smugness. "Sorry, Emily, but your comment really triggered my anxiety again.
"The doctor said I'll only get better if the real culprit—meaning you—gets punished.
"So I guess I'll have to put you through a little."
"Just do it. She deserves no sympathy," Richard and Charles said in unison. "Chloe, you're way too kind. She's a menace—no matter what you do to her, she just keeps going."
"Well then..." Chloe's lips curled into a vicious smile, hidden from the two men. "Oh, I heard you love playing piano, Emily. Guess we'll have to start by breaking one of your hands."