They didn’t know that my return to the Anderson family was never about fighting Sophia for inheritance. I had already built a much better life outside.

The brooch I wore carried a tracking system, a gift from Michael Carter when I left.

Michael had told me, “If you ever find yourself in danger, just press this button, and I’ll come to you.”

Naively, I thought I’d be safe in my own family’s home.

Now, I knew how foolish I had been.

I turned toward Buddy, the rabid-looking dog, who bared his teeth at me. His mouth opened, revealing sharp fangs, his growls filling the cage with menace.

I shrank back, but there was nowhere to retreat—the cage walls pressed hard against my back.

Seeing my fear, Buddy snarled louder, his foul breath hitting my face.

Then, with a sudden leap, he lunged straight at me.

I had no way to escape.

I could only fight back with all my strength.

His teeth sank into my arm, the pain searing and unbearable.

Driven by desperation, I grabbed him and, ignoring the agony, wrapped my hands around his neck.

The dog whimpered and struggled, but I knew if I let go, he’d attack me again.

So I held on tighter, pressing down with all my strength.

Soon, Buddy loosened his bite, leaving deep, bone-piercing marks in my bleeding arm.

Still, I didn’t release him. My hands tightened mercilessly around his throat.

“Claire, stop it!”

A furious scream rang out, and the next second, I saw Sophia rushing toward me.

She kicked at the cage with her high heels, but the bars kept her out.

“Claire, if you kill Buddy, I’ll kill you!” she screamed in panic.

I ignored her, my grip only tightening.

Seeing that I wouldn’t stop, Sophia frantically searched for the cage key, shouting again and again, “Claire, I swear I’ll kill you!”

By then, Buddy had gone limp, his paws stiffening in death.

I knew—I had strangled him.

And I also knew what punishment awaited me now.

Sophia’s face twisted with fury, her voice shaking with rage. “Claire, if Buddy’s dead, I’ll make sure you pay with your life!”

I stared back at her coldly, unflinching, as she screamed to the servants behind her:

“Get in here! Drag her out!”

The Anderson servants rushed forward and opened the cage.

They dragged me out of the cage and pinned me to the floor.

Across the room, Sophia knelt on the ground, clutching Buddy’s lifeless body.

When she turned her eyes on me, I saw nothing but madness and hatred burning there.

“Claire, you’re dead!” she screamed viciously.

She barked orders to the others: “Hold her down. I’m going to finish her!”

Rushing at me, Sophia slapped me twice across the face.

Pinned to the ground, I couldn’t move, couldn’t even resist.

Through the pain, I raised my head and spat out, “Sophia, if you hadn’t sicced that dog on me, none of this would have happened!”

“This was Mom and Dad’s idea,” she sneered. “They said you needed discipline. You dared to challenge my dog the moment you arrived—what’s next, fighting me for the inheritance?”

“That’s why they wanted to teach you a lesson.”

Sophia’s lips curled smugly. “Now that you’ve killed Buddy, Mom and Dad will hate you even more. Your troubles are just beginning.”

My heart sank, but before I could speak, her hand cracked across my cheek again.

I nearly blacked out.

Not satisfied, she struck me once more.

“Just looking at your face makes me furious!” she shouted.

“Mom and Dad already promised me everything. But then you show up, looking exactly like Mom when she was young! That’s the only reason they brought you back!”

“Well, I’ll fix that tonight. I’ll ruin that pretty face of yours. Then let’s see who still dares call you the Andersons’ real daughter!”

Panic flared in my eyes. I tried to resist, but too many hands held me down.

Sophia raised her heel and drove it into my face.

The sharp heel pierced my skin, agony ripping through me as I cried out in pain.

“Ha! Look at you now, Claire. Do you look like a daughter of the Andersons anymore?”

“I’ll tell you the truth—you’ll never be the real one. I am!” Sophia declared proudly, lifting her heel again.

Another stab of pain, blood spilling across my face.

The agony in my face and arm blurred into numbness, all of it inflicted by the Anderson family themselves.

I raised my head weakly, gazing toward the door with desperate hope.

Would Michael come in time? If not, I might never see him again.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. So this was the family I had yearned for.

And yet, they had become my death sentence.

“Claire, listen well,” Sophia sneered. “In this family, I’m the only daughter. Once I ruin your face, no one will ever acknowledge you as an Anderson!”

Her voice cut into me, but I could no longer speak. I didn’t even have the strength to struggle anymore.

After fighting off that vicious dog, I was already completely exhausted.

And now, pinned down by several people, I couldn’t move at all.

I lifted my head, looking at Sophia Anderson, and asked, “Sophia, where are Mom and Dad?”

At that moment, I actually hoped Mr. and Mrs. Anderson would appear.

I knew they didn’t love me, but at least I was their daughter. Maybe they would spare me, giving me enough time for Michael Carter to arrive.

But when Sophia heard me, she only sneered.

Then, right in front of me, she dialed the phone and burst into tears as soon as the call connected.

“Mom!” she sobbed, her voice breaking. “Buddy was killed by my sister!”

“She said I wasn’t really part of the Anderson family, and that even my dog wasn’t an Anderson’s, so she strangled him with her own hands!”

Sophia cried pitifully, pretending to be wronged. “Mom, if Claire doesn’t like me, then I’ll just leave the family! I’ll return everything to her!”

On the other end, I clearly heard Mrs. Anderson’s breathing grow heavier.

“Sophia, don’t cry. Don’t worry, Mom will stand up for you! In my heart, you are my only daughter. As for her, she doesn’t deserve to be called my child! Even Buddy is more important to me than she is!”

Hearing those words, my heart froze over.

I had always known Mr. and Mrs. Anderson didn’t love me, but I never imagined that in their eyes, I was worth less than a dog.

“Mom, Claire strangled Buddy to death, and I… I don’t know what to do!”

Sophia whimpered into the phone. “She even said she wants to drive me out of the family!”

“Don’t be afraid, Sophia,” Mr. Anderson’s voice came through. “Mom and Dad will be back soon. We’ll make sure you get justice!”

The bitterness in my chest deepened.

I looked up and met Sophia’s smug gaze. She smiled sweetly, but her words cut like knives:

“Claire, do you see now? In Mom and Dad’s hearts, you’re nothing! I could cripple you, toss you out, and they wouldn’t even care!”

She studied my face and sneered, “Just two scars? That’s not enough! Tonight, I’ll destroy your face completely.”

I closed my eyes. At that moment, my heart was already dead.

But then, the Andersons’ front door suddenly slammed open.

A group of men stormed inside, led by Michael himself.

When Michael saw the state I was in, his face darkened with fury.

“Who are you? This is the Anderson family’s home! What are you doing here?” Sophia shouted hysterically.

But Michael ignored her. He rushed straight to me, while his bodyguards swiftly overpowered the Andersons’ servants.

“Michael… I was wrong. I thought I could find a family that loved me. But now I know—it was all just my own wishful thinking,” I whispered weakly.