A sudden chill ran down my spine.

At her age, young girls still struggled to conceal their emotions well. However, despite the faint smile on her face, Lizzy's eyes couldn't hide the malice brewing within.

For the past five years, I had been unable to comprehend why, despite meticulously planning everything, I was still discovered by my family.

If it weren't for my teacher's timely intervention, I might never have escaped this secluded village nestled in the mountains.

I would have been forced to marry an old man by my mother, condemned to a life of laundry, cooking, and childbearing, a fate sealed without reprieve.

Under the pitch-black sky, clutching my ID, I made my way out.

A soft voice echoed from behind, "Auntie, where are you off to?"

Cold sweat trickled down my back as I frantically scanned my surroundings. Only after confirming no one else was present did I exhale deeply.

As I looked at Lizzy, who I had always shielded, a pang of guilt washed over me. But I understood that staying here would mean settling for a life of mediocrity.

I approached, gently patting her head, whispering, "Be a good girl, Liz."

At that time, I still called her nickname "Liz."

Born into a family that favored sons over daughters, I could sense her sorrow.

"Liz, I'm going to university. Remember, you must persevere in your studies, okay?

"Education is our only chance to escape the mountains, our sole path to changing our fate..."

With her head bowed in the dim light, I couldn't discern Lizzy's expression, only hearing her somber words.

"Can you take me with you?"

"Sorry."

That was the only answer I could give back then.

Back then, I was just a newly adult girl, using the money I had saved from working to buy the nearest train ticket.

As for what lay ahead, I couldn't guarantee anything, especially with a seven-year-old niece in tow.

Time was running out, so I hastily bid her farewell and rushed to the train station.

But at the last moment, my parents, Tomas, and others caught up, shattering my plans entirely.

If it weren't for my teacher's timely help, I might never have left.

At that moment, I felt like I had survived a disaster. My mind was in chaos, so I couldn't continue to think about why I had been discovered so quickly.

Now I thought, "Perhaps she had a hand in this all along...

Maybe her heart has rotted long before then..."

"Auntie?"

Lizzy's voice snapped me back to reality. I forced a smile, saying, "Still remember me?"

"Of course, how could I forget Auntie?"

Every word she said was eerie.

I exchanged a few perfunctory words with her before diving into my meal.

To my surprise, no one touched that pot of oatmeal in the end.

Lizzy, like a shadow, faded into an unnoticed corner, her oatmeal left untouched as well.

As guests departed, I pretended to help tidy up, all while discreetly observing Lizzy's every move.

She silently picked up the oatmeal from the table and headed outside.

I followed quietly behind.

Lizzy poured the oatmeal into the neighbor's large black dog's bowl and grabbed a stick from the ground, striking it forcefully.

At this moment, the neighbor was still helping at our place, unaware of the commotion here.

Lizzy tactfully positioned herself, the startled black dog barking furiously and lunging towards her.

But tethered by a rope, it couldn't reach her.

The dog, unable to bite her, lost interest and caught a whiff of the aroma from the bowl, eagerly digging in.

I had seen this big black dog always barking loudly at young Lizzy before, who would freeze in fear, rooted to the spot, tears streaming down her face.

Lizzy's parents never paid her any mind. It used to be me who would run to comfort her and take her away.

But the Lizzy standing before me now, faced with the very same black dog she once feared, showed no trace of fear at all.

She shed the timid, pleasing smile on her face and wore an expression of cold indifference.

"Eat up, have as much as you want! Since those bastards won't touch it, let you have it!"

Before long, the dog let out a whimper and collapsed on the ground.

Throughout the night, the neighbor's house was filled with commotion, but all that reached our side was a simple remark, "What bad luck!"

September brought a hint of coolness in the air.

Amanda was nearing her due date, and her whole family, except for Lizzy, was on high alert, treating her like fragile glass, fearing any misstep, almost wanting to put her in a bubble for safety.

Yet Lizzy, in these past few days, stood by, eyes fixed unwaveringly on Amanda's belly several times.

She had a venomous gaze, occasionally revealing a strange smirk on her face.

I started feeling nervous, not for the child in Amanda's belly, but to prevent a repeat of the past.

In my previous life, I didn't understand Amanda well because her boy-preference attitude was akin to my mother's, and I didn't like it.

This inadvertently gave Lizzy an opportunity.

As the time frame mirrored the past, Kadee instructed me to watch over the nutritious soup she was cooking in the kitchen, telling me to take it upstairs once it was ready.

As for why I was still here, it wasn't because my mother still cared about me or preserved my room.

It was merely to have more people looking after Amanda, and I, a university student, was a free babysitter.

Lizzy appeared behind me, catching me off guard, echoing the same words as in the past life, "Auntie, Grandma said to add some walnut oil to the soup to boost the nutrition."

She smiled innocently, like a sweet, obedient little girl, endearing yet unsettling.

In the past, I didn't question her words, and with their urging, I hurriedly followed through, taking the soup to Amanda.

That night, Amanda suffered severe allergic reactions, leading to heavy bleeding and a trip to the hospital.

After treatment, Amanda survived, but the child did not.

The doctors informed us that Amanda's body was no longer fit for successful pregnancies.

Kadee slapped me hard across the face, leaving a clear imprint and blood on my lips.

The searing pain and the ringing in my ears remained unforgettable to this day.

Kadee's eyes glinted with malice as if one slap wasn't enough. She lunged forward to strike me again, only to be stopped by a nurse beside her.

"Madam, please calm down!"

Trembling, my mother pointed at me, shouting, "Claire, what have you done? How could you treat Amanda like this?

"How have we wronged you, Claire, to make you ruin our family line?

"Oh, my precious grandchild! You've deprived me of my beloved grandson!"

I covered my face, feeling bewildered and unsure how to respond.

"I had no idea Amanda is allergic to walnuts!

"And besides, it wasn't you who told Liz to ask me to add walnuts to the soup?"

Suddenly, I realize something.

I froze in disbelief, looking towards Lizzy, who stood silently on the sidelines, watching the drama unfold.

I rushed over and grabbed her shoulders tightly.

"Say it! You were the one who said to add walnut oil to the soup!!"

Lizzy's eyes welled up with tears, her face filled with a sense of injustice.

She furrowed her brow, tears pooling in her eyes.

"Auntie, what are you talking about? I clearly said sesame oil!"

"Auntie, I know you didn't mean it! Apologize to Mom, Grandma, and Dad. They won't blame you! They will forgive you...

"Fine," Lizzy turned to Kadee, saying, "It's all my fault. I misunderstood and passed on the wrong information. If you want to blame someone, blame me! I'm the one who let Mom down, who let my brother down..."