Chapter 3

As I slowly came to, the System's reminder flashed in my mind. Only six days left before the countdown to my erasure. I'd been out cold for two days. Just then, a figure appeared in the distance, walking steadily toward me.

When I recognized that familiar silhouette, a wave of fear washed over me for no reason. I struggled to get up, but the person pinned me back down on the bed.

"Don't be scared, Finley. It's me, Hadley," she said softly.

Hadley walked over, wearing an innocent smile, with a few medicated patches already in her hand.

"Don't be scared, Finley," she said gently, but her other hand clamped down on my wrist.

Back at the perfume workshop, while she was mixing a special chemical, she deliberately knocked it over just as I got close. Then she acted like she was affected by it and framed me, accusing me of doing it on purpose.

I knew she hated me because she liked William too, but she kept pretending we were best friends right in front of me.

She obviously despised me, yet she still put on that phony act of pity.

Seeing me tremble, a sly smile played at Hadley's lips.

"Finley, if you don't let me put this on, how are your wounds ever going to heal?" Hadley said.

I yelped, trying desperately to push her away with what little strength I had left.

To my shock, Hadley actually stumbled backward. There was no way I had that kind of strength.

William burst in at the noise, just in time to catch Hadley before she hit the ground. His eyes were full of tenderness as he looked at her, but when he turned to me, all that warmth vanished, replaced by cold fury.

"Finley. I thought after all that time locked up in the sanitarium, you'd finally learned your lesson. But clearly, you haven't changed one bit.

"Hadley came here to help you, and you not only threw her kindness back in her face, but you also almost hurt her. If I'd known you'd still be like this, I would've left you rotting in that place." William spat.

Hadley melted into William's arms, her voice trembling as she let out a soft sob.

"William, don't be so harsh. Finley's been through a lot. She's hurt so badly, of course, she's not in a good mood," Hadley whispered.

"She did this to herself. Who told her to go out into that freezing snow and end up like this? If she wanted help so bad, why didn't she just drag herself back here?" William sneered.

I let out a dry, bitter laugh.

In my weakened state, I couldn't have managed to walk 30 miles back by myself.

"She was living the good life in that sanitarium, getting fed well and taken care of. And now she can't even handle a little criticism? Still has the nerve to throw a fit?

"If you hadn't gone soft and told me to bring her back, she'd still be stuck in that place. So ungrateful," William snapped.

He thought I lived a good life and couldn't handle a little criticism.

"Mr. Carter's right. When we went to pick up Ms. Scott, she said she was already used to the sanitarium and didn't even care about coming back to the Carter Manor. We had talked her into it, or she probably wouldn't have come back.

"Honestly, Mr. Carter, you're just too easy on her. Look at Ms. Scott now. Does she look sorry at all?" Caleb said.

I glared daggers at Caleb.

I'd never had any beef with Caleb, but now he was just making stuff up to please William. Someone must've taught him how to brown-nose like that.

William, furious, yanked me off the bed.

The wounds that had barely started to heal were ripped open again, and the blinding pain made me let out a pained grunt.

He grabbed my arm and forced me upright, my face contorting in agony.

William didn't care about my pain. His grip only got harsher.

"Hadley came here out of kindness, and this is how you act? Did the sanitarium spoil you so much that you forgot who you are?

"If Hadley hadn't begged for you, you wouldn't even be standing here right now. You look totally fine, always playing the victim, acting all frail. How long are you gonna milk this?

"Hadley's been nothing but good to you, and she gets nothing in return. Are you even capable of caring about anyone?" William snapped.

With that, he tossed me back onto the bed, turned, and marched out, pulling Hadley along with him.

Just before leaving, Hadley flashed me a smug, victorious grin.

I knew exactly what she was flaunting.

The man I once longed for with all my heart, now she had got him so easily.

But if she wanted him so bad, she could have him for all I care. Not like I've got much time left in this world anyway.

When my father heard I was back, he hurried over to see me.

Looking at the silver in his hair, I couldn't hold back my tears. He wasn't the father from my original world, but his love for me was unmistakable.

As the only daughter of the Scott family, my father had always cherished me, never letting me face a single hardship.

Yet now, before I'd even married into the Carter family, I was already reduced to this sorry state.