I felt my throat tighten, a lump forming that I couldn’t swallow.

Quietly, I opened my phone, double-checked the flight details and prepared to check in online. But before I could complete the process, Nora’s curious voice interrupted me.

“Hannah, where are you traveling to?” she asked, her tone light, but her eyes glinting with something far less innocent.

At her words, both Gerald and Daniel turned their heads sharply, their expressions darkening.

“Traveling? You must be joking,” Daniel snapped, his voice dripping with authority. “We still have several videos to shoot. Where are you finding the time to go on a trip?”

“Hurry up and cancel the ticket,” Gerald added coldly. “From now on, any trips you take have to be approved by the company.”

I stared at them for a moment, the weight of their demands crushing down on me. Resigned, I closed the check-in screen on my phone and gave a perfunctory response.

“Okay.”

Ever since their video channel skyrocketed to fame, my life had ceased to be my own. Every decision, every step, was dictated by their needs.

To the world, it seemed like they had “created” me, gifting me a life envied by millions. A life of glamour, wealth and popularity.

But in reality, I was a puppet, dancing to their every command. They made me feel as though I owed them everything and leaving them was an impossible dream. I should just obey—play the role they had assigned me.

By the time we got home, it was late at night.

Since graduating, I had been living with them. Once upon a time, I thought it was because they wanted me close, to spoil me like they always had. Back then, I truly believed I was the happiest woman in the world.

But then Nora entered the picture and everything changed.

They forced me to give up my spacious, sunlit room for her and shoved me into the small, freezing north-facing one instead. Every day, I watched them laugh and play together right in front of me, while I was reduced to little more than a servant in my own home.

“I’m starving, Hannah! Hurry up and make us something to eat,” Daniel barked as soon as we stepped inside.

The three of them flopped onto the sofa, leaving me to stand there, weary and ignored.

Once, I used to cook for them willingly, going out of my way to learn their favorite dishes. I wanted to make them happy, repay their kindness.

But over time, my efforts became their expectation—a routine they never questioned. In their eyes, cooking, cleaning and taking care of them was simply my duty.

Tonight, however, I’d had enough.

“I’m tired,” I said flatly, grabbing my makeup remover and heading toward the bathroom. “I don’t feel like cooking.”

Daniel’s temper flared instantly.

“Tired? What are you tired of?” he shouted, his voice rising with frustration. “If it wasn’t for your incompetence today, we wouldn’t have had to reshoot so many times! We’ve spoiled you so much and now you think you’re some kind of princess, don’t you?”

He gestured toward Nora. “Nora has a sensitive stomach. Are you really going to let her starve because of your selfishness?”

Spoiled me? The absurdity of his words made me laugh bitterly.

The only "favor" they showed me these days was the carefully constructed illusion they put on for the cameras. Behind closed doors, all that remained were orders, criticism and disdain.

I took a deep breath and swallowed the urge to argue. Soon, I reminded myself, none of this would matter. I’d be gone, far away from all of this.

But before I could retreat to the sanctuary of the bathroom, Nora sauntered in, a smug smile playing on her lips.

“Hannah, are you upset?” she asked, her voice honeyed with fake concern.

I glanced at her coldly. “No.”

“Oh, but you are,” she continued, lowering her voice as she leaned closer. Her gaze sparkled with open mockery. “You’re angry at me, aren’t you? Angry because I stole your two bamboo horses?”

I didn’t reply, but my silence seemed to amuse her even more.

“Hannah,” she whispered, her tone dripping with condescension, “have you ever heard the saying? ‘A childhood friend is never worth mentioning in the face of destiny.’”

She tilted her head, her smile growing sharper. “Everything you have right now—it’s all because of them. Your fame, your lifestyle... it’s all theirs to give. And just as easily, they can take it all away.”

Her words cut deep, each one a deliberate blow.

“All you have to do,” she continued, “is stay obedient. Keep playing the part they’ve crafted for you. Otherwise…” She paused, her eyes glinting with malice. “If the facade crumbles, you’ll be the one to suffer. You’ll lose everything.”

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to remain calm.

Nora’s smile turned triumphant. She knew she held all the cards. As the company’s major shareholder, she had the power to decide my fate.

And she wanted me to know it.

But I simply smiled back—cold, distant and unbothered.

She didn’t realize that soon, none of her threats would matter. Soon, I would be free.

These days, the ones most afraid of "collapsing the house" are not me but them.

Gerald and Daniel have carefully crafted my image as the happiest woman in the world. But in reality, it’s just a ploy to mold themselves into the most affectionate men—a facade they wear to keep their audience hooked.

“Do you think I care?”

Nora’s words were sharp, aimed to provoke me. But my calm response seemed to throw her off.

My lack of reaction chipped away at her smug demeanor and she snapped. “Why do you always pretend so much? If you’re angry, just yell at me already!”

“You obviously want to scold me, don’t you? Don’t you ever get tired of pretending?”

I ignored her rant, focusing on packing up my belongings. There was no point in engaging with someone like her—someone so needlessly petty.

But just as I was about to leave, Gerald walked in.

The moment she saw him, Nora’s entire demeanor shifted. Her eyes welled up with tears and she plastered on an expression of pure vulnerability.

Gerald’s concern was instantaneous. His brows furrowed as he rushed to her side and wrapped a protective arm around her.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

Nora pointed at me, tears streaming down her face. “I just asked Hannah if she could kindly make us some food…”

She sniffled dramatically before continuing, “I even humbled myself, but she scolded me—said I’m useless, that I can’t even cook for myself.”

Her voice quivered as she tried to move toward the kitchen, muttering in a broken tone, “I’ll prove I’m not worthless. I’ll cook something, no matter what.”

I stood there, stunned at the performance. With acting skills like hers, she could easily land leading roles.

Predictably, Gerald pulled her back, his face dark with anger as he turned to me.

“Hannah, are you out of your mind?” he snapped. “What’s the point of berating Nora over something so trivial? Apologize to her right now!”

I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve hated unnecessary drama. I’ve never been one to shout or argue; it’s just not in my nature. All my anger, when it comes, is swift and decisive.

I fixed my gaze on Nora, who continued to cry pitifully. Suppressing my frustration, I muttered a cold, indifferent, “Sorry.”

Her tears dried almost instantly and a victorious smirk flickered in her eyes.

As I turned to leave, she leaned in close, her voice barely above a whisper.

“See? This is how things should be. You can’t fight me. Gerald and Daniel only have room in their hearts for me. You don’t deserve them.”

I clenched my fists but refused to give her the satisfaction of a reaction.

***

The next day, I walked into the police station with my immigration documents in hand.

The staff member at the desk glanced at me, a bit hesitant. “Are you sure you want to do this? Once your account is canceled, your identity will no longer exist in this country. You won’t be traceable.”

“I’m sure,” I replied firmly. Without a moment of hesitation, I signed the papers, erasing every official trace of myself from this place.

It was a clean break—a final step toward freedom.

When I returned to the company, I barely had time to process what was happening.

“Bang!”

The sound of two celebratory cannons echoed around me, showering me with confetti. Cheers erupted as employees clapped and whistled.

“Welcome back, our star!”

Daniel stood at the center of the room, leading the applause. His grin was wide and animated, a signal for everyone to cheer even louder.

Before I could react, Gerald gently placed his arm around my shoulders and guided me toward the stage. Photographers flanked us on both sides, snapping away from different angles.

Looking at the entire setup—the decorations, the applause, the cameras—it was obvious this was just another performance. All of it was for show, designed to dazzle their audience.

On stage, Daniel grabbed the microphone, his voice booming with exaggerated enthusiasm.

“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s hear it for our greatest contributor—Hannah! Without her, this company wouldn’t be where it is today.”

I forced a polite smile, matching the role they expected me to play.

But then something unexpected happened.

Even after the cameras stopped rolling, Gerald’s smile didn’t falter. He turned to me, his expression unusually soft.

“Hannah,” he said gently, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “I know you’ve been unhappy lately. You probably think everything we’ve done for you is just for the cameras—just an act for the audience.”

His words caught me off guard, but I kept my expression neutral.

He continued, “But it’s not just for show. You mean more to us than you realize.”

I stared at him, trying to gauge the sincerity in his eyes.

For a moment, I almost wanted to believe him.

But then, I remembered the past few months—the cold indifference, the constant demands and the relentless manipulation.

And just like that, whatever flicker of hope his words had sparked was snuffed out.

“But you’ve misunderstood us,” Gerald said softly. “Spoiling you isn’t just for show. We truly mean it.”

As his words lingered in the air, Daniel suddenly appeared, pushing a cake cart toward me with a flourish.

“Do you know why we scheduled this celebration today?” he teased, grinning. “It’s because you, being the scatterbrain you are, forgot something important—your own birthday!”

“Happy Birthday!”

The room erupted into song and the lively atmosphere felt almost infectious.

Daniel led the employees in a cheerful chorus while Gerald clapped along with a smile, his gaze soft and warm. For a fleeting moment, it felt like the past—the days when their care and attention felt genuine.

I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d been too quick to judge them. Maybe I’d misread their intentions.

As the crowd cheered and celebrated, Nora approached me with a gift box in hand. Her smile was radiant, her tone syrupy sweet.

“Hannah,” she said, her voice dripping with sincerity. “I’ve always seen you as my closest sister. Today is your special day, so I prepared a gift just for you. I hope you’ll like it.”

The entire room fell silent as I opened the gift. All eyes were on me, their expressions a mix of anticipation and envy.

But as the lid came off, the atmosphere shifted.

Inside was a pair of green high heels.

The room erupted into laughter.

“Hannah, these shoes suit you perfectly!” Nora exclaimed with feigned excitement, her voice loud enough to incite the crowd further. “Go on, try them on! They’ll look stunning on you!”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief, the provocation unmistakable. The laughter around me grew louder, turning crueler with each passing second.

Green high heels. The insult wasn’t lost on me. A symbol of mockery, meant to humiliate.

I instinctively glanced at Gerald and Daniel, searching for some sign of solidarity. But what I saw instead made my chest tighten.

They were laughing too.

Not just laughing—they were enjoying the spectacle, like spectators entertained by a cruel joke.

The warmth and kindness they’d shown moments ago evaporated in an instant, replaced by smug amusement.

Daniel was the first to break the tension, clapping Gerald on the shoulder as he roared with laughter. “Look at her face! Did she actually think this was her birthday cake?”

“She really took it seriously!” He doubled over, gasping for breath. “No, no, this cake is for Nora. She’s the true star of this company, after all.”

The laughter felt like needles pricking my skin, each sound sharper than the last.

Gerald smirked and turned to Nora. “Nora, looks like we won this bet.”

Nora’s face lit up with triumph. “Alright, fine. I’ll admit it—you two were right!” she said, her voice laced with mockery. “I didn’t think Hannah would fall for it so easily. But I guess if you shine just a little bit of light on her, she’ll bloom like a flower.”

“She really can’t leave you two, can she?”

Both men grinned, their egos swelling with satisfaction.

Daniel leaned back, crossing his arms. “Of course not. We’ve treated her like a queen all these years. How could she ever survive without us?”

Gerald nodded in agreement, his tone patronizing. “Exactly. So don’t worry, Nora. No matter how upset she gets, she won’t dare to challenge us. She’s too dependent.”

My stomach churned as their words sank in.

This was all a game to them—a bet between them and Nora. They’d gambled on my loyalty, my inability to stand up for myself. They thought I was so used to their control that I’d never be able to break free.

For a moment, the world around me blurred. My chest felt tight, my breaths shallow. The laughter of the crowd roared in my ears, blending into a cacophony that made my head spin.

It wasn’t until I felt the sharp pain of my nails digging into my palms—so hard they broke the skin—that I snapped back to reality.

I told myself to stay calm. Now wasn’t the time to lash out.

Throwing a tantrum or screaming at Nora would only play into their hands. I’d look like a fool—a shrew unable to keep her composure.

No, I needed to bide my time.

I clenched my fists, inhaled deeply and forced a bitter smile.

“Thank you, Nora,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “The shoes are... lovely.”

Her smirk widened and the crowd’s laughter continued.

But I was done being their punchline.

Deep down, I knew one thing for certain: they may think they’ve won this battle, but the war was far from over.