Chapter 2

The police arrived quickly. When they saw the scene, they were stunned.

A girl was slumped on the floor, drenched from head to toe; a furious, well-dressed middle-aged couple stood nearby; and then there was me, a handprint on my cheek, looking calm.

Richard was the first to react. He immediately put on an expression of heartbreak and remorse.

"Officer, there's been a misunderstanding," he said. "This is my daughter. We just had a little family dispute."

The officer glanced at the red, swollen mark on my cheek and then back at him. "Just because it's a family dispute, you think you can hit her?"

Grace hurried to explain. "No, that's not it. Our eldest daughter, Sophia, tried to push our younger daughter, Emily, into the middle of the road. We were so anxious that we lost our heads."

She pointed at me and yelled, "She's crazy. She was trying to kill Emily."

Emily finally pulled herself together, clinging to Grace and pointing at me, sobbing.

She cried, "Dad, Mom, Sophia really wanted to kill me. She pressed my head right in front of the car wheels, and she was about to smash me with a rock."

The crowd around us started whispering.

"Is she really that cruel? She doesn't look the type."

"You never really know what someone's capable of. Kids these days are terrifying."

Richard's expression eased. "Officer, you can see for yourself. We had no choice. We'd rather not air our dirty laundry in public. We'd prefer to deal with this ourselves."

"Handle it ourselves?" I looked straight at the lead officer. "Officer, he's not telling the truth.

"Emily snatched my spot and embarrassed me in front of everyone. I lost my temper and just wanted to scare her.

"But my father actually slapped me. There are security cameras here. You can check them."

Richard's face froze.

Grace shrieked, "You're making things up. Emily would never take your stuff. You were the one who decided to give the internal recommendation to your sister."

"Internal recommendation?" The officer's ears perked up at that.

He turned to me. "What's that about?"

I laid everything out for them: from the school announcing I was the one who got the internal recommendation, to how Emily threw a fit, and my parents forced me to hand it over.

I left out anything about the system and just told them it was my parents' doing.

"They made me bow in front of Emily and beg her to take the spot. When I refused, they threatened to cut ties with me," I said, my voice flat.

But that kind of calm hit harder than any dramatic accusation could.

The officer's expression grew serious. He started sizing up Richard and Grace, his eyes now sharp and scrutinizing.

"Host, you're playing with fire." The system's voice was cold. "Stirring up trouble like this won't do you any good."

"Oh, really?" I replied in my mind. "Then I'll turn up the heat and make things even messier."

I glanced at Emily, who collapsed on the floor, looking completely defeated.

"Emily, can you look the police in the eye and say you didn't take my spot? Can you say you didn't mock me when I was forced to bow in front of you?" I asked.

Emily flinched, shaking all over. She couldn't meet my eyes, just shrank further into Grace's embrace.

It was clear to everyone that she was guilty. The truth was plain for all to see.

Richard was freaking out inside. If word got out at school, Emily's name would be trashed.

He growled at me, "Sophia, what are you trying to do? Is ruining this family the only thing that will make you happy?"

"This family?" I looked at him, a bitter laugh escaping me. "Ever since you brought Emily back, was there ever really a place for me?

"Your favoritism is so blatant, and now you have the nerve to question me?"

After that, I ignored them completely. Facing the officer, I spoke slowly and clearly, "I want my injuries documented. I want to hold Mr. Richard Lane legally responsible for hurting me on purpose.

"As for the dispute between me and Emily, I believe the school will give me justice."

The officer nodded. "Alright, Miss, you'll need to come with us to the station and give your side of the story."

Then he turned to Richard Lane. "Mr. Lane, please come with us too."

Richard's face went pale.