[What kind of person says something like that?]

[No matter what, she is still your daughter. How can you be so blatantly two-faced?]

Even the reporter stepped in. “Mrs. Xerri, Ruby is still your daughter no matter what. How could you say such things about her?”

My mother let out a cold, derisive laugh.

“She cursed at Davina at school the very day she transferred in, blocked her in an alley with a gang of thugs, and even stole the only keepsake Davina’s parents left her, then tossed it down a sewer.

“With someone that hopeless, I would rather not have her as a child at all.”

Her words lit a fire in the livestream comments. Some classmates recognized me immediately.

[Isn’t that Ruby Xerri from our class? She is always bullying her younger sister. I have seen it myself. Honestly, no wonder her mom talks like that.]

[Wait, is this for real? She is the so-called ‘hero’ in the news?!]

The harsh words scrolled across the screen like burning brands. The reporter was at a loss for words for a moment.

That was when Mrs. Lawson wiped away her tears and lifted her head.

“Ruby's a good girl. There must be a misunderstanding. Back when I was alone at home and could barely get around, it was Ruby who bought all my groceries and daily necessities. Every weekend, without fail, she had come over to keep me company, chatting with me and taking me out to sit in the sun.

“She donates to the orphanage and plays with the children there every day.

“I know people. Ruby is nothing like what you are saying.”

I heaved a sigh. Too bad I would not be able to keep her company anymore.

Mrs. Lawson took the phone and spoke into it. “Zoey, you should come home and check on Ruby.

“She never misses a weekend with me, but she has not shown up at all this weekend. I am afraid something might have happened.”

My mother clicked her tongue in annoyance. “She has two working hands and legs. What could possibly happen to her?”

Mrs. Lawson’s eyes welled up again as though something had just occurred to her.

“The night before last, when I got up to use the bathroom, I saw someone standing outside your house. I thought it was her father at first, but now… now I cannot shake the feeling that something is wrong. I knocked on the door a few times, but no one ever answered.”

The livestream erupted again.

[Oh my goodness, could this be revenge?]

[I still cannot believe someone with her kind of character is the same ‘hero’ from the reports.]

[Forget that. If this really was revenge, she might already be in serious danger.]

Even the reporters grew tense, urging my parents to hurry home.

In the end, they did come back. I finally let out a breath when I saw them arrive; at least Chloe would be safe now.

However, my father’s expression was like a stone. His eyes swept over the scene. He furrowed his brows at the sight of the professional equipment set up outside.

My mother’s voice was still edged with ice as she cursed under her breath and unlocked the door.

“What could possibly have happened to her?”

The moment the door opened, a stench of rot rolled out, so sharp and foul it made their eyes sting.

The reporter’s brow furrowed. The stench was not right.

Then they saw what was inside.

Furniture shoved aside bore deep, jagged knife marks. On the table sat half a bowl of plain noodles, left to spoil, and on the floor, a smear of blood had long since dried.

The livestream chat went wild again: [This… this really looks like a crime scene.]

My parents’ faces had turned uncharacteristically grim.

Davina, her voice trembling with tears, threw herself into my mother’s arms.

“Mom, I am so scared. What if something really happened to Ruby? It is all my fault. If I had not asked you to take me out to relax, she would not have been home alone.”

My mother patted her back gently.

“Do not be silly. She is far too afraid of death. This is probably just another stunt to get our sympathy. She pulled the same trick six years ago.”

Six years ago… yes, I remembered.

Back then, I cornered my cousin in an alley with a few thugs. My mother, furious, dumped me in the deep mountains.

That was how I, helpless and alone, was found by a lecherous bachelor from the village.

I fought with everything I had, but lost under the crushing difference in strength.

Later, my parents took me home, but I had already been left with a crippling shadow over my mind. I slit my wrists. I climbed to the rooftop, ready to jump.

At first, they cared. It was not until Davina somehow got hold of the photos from that night when I was assaulted.

I will never forget the look of disgust in my parents’ eyes.

However, when I found myself on that rooftop again, what I saw was Chloe, cornered and crying at the orphanage, and Mrs. Lawson, sitting alone in her yard. At that moment, I stepped back and kept on living.

To my mother, my experiences were simply summed up as an act.

The reporter, looking uneasy, took out his phone to call the police.

Before the call could go through, my father snatched the phone and hung up.

“I am a trained criminal investigator. Yes, she’s faked this scene very convincingly, but…” He let out a sharp, dismissive laugh.

“It’s just another one of her elaborate lies.”

I thought suddenly of the time Davina had been kidnapped by traffickers, and my father went without sleep for days, chasing the faintest thread of a lead until he dragged her back safely.

Now, surrounded by physical evidence, he chose to look away.

Father, did you really hate me that much?

A sudden sound from the bedroom snapped every head toward it, and in an instant, the crowd swarmed to the door in a noisy rush.

My father smirked, turned the knob, and when it did not budge, he kicked the door open.

“Ruby, how long are you going to keep up this act?”

It was not me inside.

It was Chloe, trembling in a corner, clutching her head.

My father was startled for a moment.

Mrs. Lawson immediately recognized her.

She stepped forward to pull her into an embrace.

“Chloe? What are you doing here?”

Chloe’s eyes reddened the moment she saw her.

“There was a bad guy. Ruby hid me here so he would not find me.”

I could not help but smile in relief. She was finally safe.

My father’s expression faltered for just a moment at her words.

The reporter knelt and asked in a gentle voice, “Chloe, can you tell us where Ruby is?”

Chloe’s wide eyes blinked once, then she gave a small nod. Her finger lifted to point toward the space beneath the bed.

“She’s there.”

Every gaze in the room shifted to the underside of the bed, but no one moved.

From outside came the wail of sirens. Mrs. Lawson had secretly called the police.

The officers quickly sealed off the bedroom, then carefully lifted the bed frame. There I was.