Chapter 1: Your Two Years Are Up Emily heard someone say, "Number Ten, your two years are up. Your family's here to pick you up." In the dim room, the only light came from a flickering bulb on the ceiling. Curled up in a corner, Emily slowly looked up. For the first time in a long while, there was a flicker of emotion on her dirty, blank face. Ever since she arrived at this hell called St. Gabriel Reform Academy, she'd faced the "teachers'" scolding and beatings, the "classmates'" bullying and torment, and the constant fear of being backstabbed. Every day felt as long as a century. Turned out, it had only been two years. Like a lifeless doll, Emily was dragged out of the room and down a long hallway. She didn't snap out of it until the iron door behind her clicked shut and the blinding sunlight hit her face. She had spent two whole years trying to escape, nearly dying countless times. And now, she was finally out. "Emily?" a voice suddenly pulled her back to reality. She looked toward the sound and saw a young man standing in front of a flashy sports car. He wore a brown leather jacket, cargo pants, and combat boots, holding a pair of sunglasses. He stared at her in surprise. That familiar yet distant face made Emily think for a while before she remembered—this was Lucas Bennett, the one who had treated her as his sister for eighteen years. Before she turned eighteen, Emily had been the brightest girl in Cloudridge—the beloved daughter of the Bennett family. She had loving parents, a doting older brother, Andrew, and a protective younger brother, Lucas. She even had a childhood sweetheart who was supposed to be her fiancé. But everything fell apart on her eighteenth birthday. A girl named Lydia showed up with a DNA test, claiming she was the real daughter of the Bennetts, and that the nurse had switched her and Emily at birth. The birthday party Emily had been looking forward to turned into a reunion. Her parents, who had loved her for eighteen years, held Lydia and cried, promising to make it up to her. No one noticed Emily, pale and silent in the corner, even though she was supposed to be the star of the day. Her dad, Gale, said, "Since your real parents are gone, you can stay. One more daughter won't be too much of a burden." Her mom, Emma, said, "From now on, you and Lydia are both our daughters. Isn't it nice to have a sister?" Andrew and Lucas, who had always stood by her, said, "Don't worry. Even if we're not related by blood, we're still family." But when Lydia set her up, making everyone think Emily had pushed her down the stairs, they all turned against her and sent her to St. Gabriel Reform Academy—a place meant to discipline rich families' "problem" kids. Gale said, "Not just anyone can be part of the Bennett family. From now on, go by your real father's name—Harper." Emma said, "Emily, Lydia suffered so much growing up. You had all our love these years. Can't you just give her a little room?" Andrew and Lucas both said, "We don't want a sister with such a twisted heart." After they sent her away, they got rid of their problem. But they never stopped to think—a place meant for unwanted kids was never going to be a good one. "Are you really Emily?" Lucas sounded unsure. After all, the Emily he remembered always held her chin high, proud like the moon in the sky. She wore the latest designer clothes and her nails were always clean and neatly trimmed. But now, she was wearing the same ill-fitting white dress from two years ago, a little yellowed, with an old gray hoodie over it. Her nails were ragged, and the once bright face now looked blank and dull. If it weren't for her face, he might have thought he had the wrong person. Lucas frowned. His chest felt tight. This wasn't the Emily he knew. Emily snapped out of it and looked him in the eyes. But the moment their eyes met, she looked down again. Her body tensed up and she took a step back. At St. Gabriel Reform Academy, meeting someone's eyes was seen as a challenge. They would curse her, beat her, say the cruelest things to her. It had happened so many times that her reaction became automatic. But Lucas just laughed. "Looks like St. Gabriel's really worked. Finally taught you some manners. We should've sent you there earlier—maybe Lydia wouldn't have had such a hard time." Emily kept her head down and said nothing. She didn't fight back like she used to. It was like she agreed with him. Lucas put on his sunglasses, clearly annoyed. "Come on, get in. Don't make me late for my race. Lydia's really nice. If it weren't for her asking me to pick you up, I wouldn't have bothered." Emily opened the passenger door without saying a word. She had just gotten in and hadn't even buckled up when Lucas slammed on the gas. The engine roared, and the car shot forward like an arrow. Lucas looked excited. He glanced over at her from behind his sunglasses, waiting for her to scream or beg him to stop. Or maybe, like she used to, pull the big-sister card and scold him for speeding off the track. As long as Emily said something, he'd go back and tell their parents and Andrew she hadn't learned anything at St. Gabriel's—still the same spoiled brat who didn't know her place. Unless she begged him and promised to stay out of his business, he wasn't going to let her off easy. But Emily stayed quiet. She gripped the handle above the window as hard as she could. Even though her face was pale with fear, she didn't make a sound. Two years had taught her how to hide fear. Her face didn't show a thing. Only when fear was hidden would people lose interest in hurting her. Only then would they leave her alone. But her silence made Lucas livid. Like he was being challenged, he pushed down harder on the gas, making the car go even faster. No matter how fast he went, Emily just clenched her teeth so tight her temples bulged, and still didn't say a word. Then Lucas's phone started ringing. He finally slammed the brakes. The car screeched to a stop on the empty mountain road. Emily's head hit the dashboard with a loud thump. Pain and dizziness hit her all at once. Lucas didn't even blink. He unlocked his phone and answered the call. He had done it on purpose. This was payback for what Emily had done two years ago—pushing Lydia down the stairs. "Lucas, the race's been moved up. When are you getting here?" the voice on the other end asked. Lucas glanced at Emily. "On my way." He hung up and said coldly, "Get out." Before Emily could react, Lucas opened the door and shoved her out. "Call a cab or something," he said. And just like that, he left Emily on the side of the road.

Chapter 2: It Won't Happen Again Emily sat on the ground for a long time. She didn't move until the dizziness in her head finally faded. She didn't feel sad or disappointed. She searched her pockets and found only one twenty-dollar bill, two fives, and two fifty-cent coins. Lucas had told her to take a cab back, but he hadn't left her any money. He seemed to have completely forgotten that two years ago, when Emily was sent to St. Gabriel Reform Academy, the Bennett family took away everything she had. They'd said she needed to live without luxury if she wanted to change—even took her hair tie. These thirty-one dollars were left to her by the original owner of the hoodie she was wearing now. Emily clenched the coins in her hand. A sharp pain shot through her chest, and her nose started to sting. She just pulled the hoodie tighter around herself, put on the hood, slipped the money back into her pocket, and started walking down the mountain road, one step at a time. The cool wind blew as her small, lonely figure slowly disappeared at the end of the road. ***** The weather was getting cooler, and night fell quickly. Lucas had won his race easily and hung out with friends afterward. By the time he got home, it was already late. As soon as he walked in, he saw his family sitting on the couch, all looking upset. Andrew frowned at him. "We told you to pick up Emily. Why are you just getting back? And why didn't you answer your phone?" Lucas paused, then pulled out his phone and saw several missed calls. He shrugged like it was no big deal. "I told you I had a race today. If Lydia hadn't asked me to go, I wouldn't have bothered picking her up." He walked around to the front of the couch and finally noticed the angry looks on his parents' faces—and Lydia's red eyes like she'd been crying. Lucas seemed to realize something. "Lydia, did Emily mess with you again? She really hasn't changed at all. I knew two years wouldn't fix her." He rolled up his sleeves, full of anger. "Where is she? Bring her out. I'm going to teach her a lesson today!" But after his little outburst, he saw that everyone was staring at him in shock. Emma looked confused. "Wasn't Emily supposed to come back with you? We thought you didn't answer because she wouldn't let you.""She's not back yet?" Lucas was surprised. "I told her to take a cab." Andrew pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, and it all clicked. "You left her on the side of the road and went to your race, didn't you?" Lucas had always been scared of his serious brother. Though he felt a little guilty under Andrew's stare, he mumbled stubbornly, "It's not like she doesn't know the way. I made a bet on this race—I would've had to buy dinner if I lost." Lydia, eyes still red, looked at Andrew. "Andrew, the fact that Emily's not back yet... it must be because of me." Her lips trembled and her eyes filled with tears. "I should've just told everyone I fell down the stairs on my own. It wasn't her fault. This is all my fault..." She walked over and tugged on Andrew's sleeve. "Andrew, let's go look for Emily. I'll apologize to her. I'm sure we can bring her home." Seeing Lydia cry—the one he always stood up for—Lucas instantly forgot any guilt or worry he had about Emily. "You don't need to say sorry to her," he snapped. "Lydia, this isn't your fault." Now, all Lucas felt toward Emily was anger. "So she still hasn't changed at all. Just playing tricks to mess with you. "If you want to look for her, Andrew, go ahead. I'm not going. I don't believe she's really not coming back. She's just doing this for attention. "Someone like her, all about money and status—there's no way she'd walk away from our family." Just as he finished talking, a maid walked in and said, "Ms. Harper has returned." Everyone immediately saw the skinny girl standing behind the maid. After two years, seeing Emily again left Gale, Emma, and Andrew completely stunned. They couldn't match this girl—head down, hands tightly clasped in front of her—with the bright and confident Emily they used to know. Lucas suddenly raised his voice, sounding smug. "See? I knew she couldn't stay away. We didn't even go looking, and she still came running back." Gale snapped out of it and gave Emily a displeased look. "You're a girl—what are you doing out so late? Do you want to embarrass us?" His tone was harsh, and everyone expected Emily to fire back, making excuses and arguing like before. They even had speeches ready—ready to lecture her the second she opened her mouth. But Emily just kept her head down. Her voice was calm, without a trace of emotion. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again." The room fell silent. No one had expected that. In the quiet, Emma suddenly noticed something. She walked up to Emily. "Emily, you've lost so much weight. Was life hard at St. Gabriel's?" Emma's warm, soft hand wrapped around Emily's. Emily froze. No one knew how many times she'd hoped someone would care about her, ask how she was doing. And how many times that hope had been crushed. For two whole years, they had left her in St. Gabriel Reform Academy and not once looked back. She thought she had gotten used to it—accepted it. But the moment Emma showed concern, a wave of sadness rushed over her all the same. She thought, 'Isn't it obvious? In that place, where there's no dignity and "students" live worse than animals, of course life was hard.' Just as that ache started to rise, she felt another hand grab hers. Lydia looked excited and a little jealous. "Emily, you really did lose a lot of weight. If you dressed up like before, you'd look even better. "Not like me—I keep saying I want to lose weight, but nothing ever works. Mom says I'm not fat, then keeps giving me snacks and ruining my plans. "I wish I could be like you. Just slim down so easily." In just a few sentences, she made Emily's weight loss sound like a beauty goal. Emma believed Lydia and ignored Emily's pale, unhealthy face and dry skin. She let go of her hand. The warmth in Emily's heart instantly froze over. She slowly pulled her empty hands back.

Chapter 3: Just Like Her Family Always Wanted Emma gently held Lydia's hand, her tone and expression full of affection. "You're not fat at all. Why would you need to lose weight? If I saw you starving yourself, it would break my heart." Lydia leaned on her arm, acting cute. "Mom, do you think I'm the prettiest girl in the world?""Of course you are. My daughter is the most beautiful in the whole world," Emma said with a loving smile, showing no trace of the concern she'd shown Emily just moments ago. Gale's stern face softened into something more fatherly. Lucas let go of his fury and looked pleased. Even Andrew's always-serious face now showed a gentle smile. They all gathered around Lydia like a perfect, happy family. No one remembered that today was the day Emily had come home after two years away. Emily just stood in the doorway, watching the warm scene. Her empty eyes showed no emotion. She had seen this kind of scene too many times before. Each time, she had gotten angry, jealous, unwilling to accept it. She had tried to join the loving family again and again—but all she ever got were cold, annoyed looks from her parents and brothers. "Emily, why do you always have to be so petty and fight with Lydia?""Emily, you're so annoying.""Emily, can you just stay away from us?""Emily..." The Emily standing there now would never again try to force her way into a family that didn't want her, no matter how much she used to hope for their love. She lowered her head and shrank back, trying to make herself invisible—pulling away from a home that had never really been hers. No one knew how long it took, but eventually, the Bennetts remembered Emily was still there. The smiles and warmth on their faces faded one by one. Emma reached out again, her voice soft. "Emily, why aren't you saying anything? Did someone bully you at St. Gabriel's?" Emily froze. Her arm, caught in Emma's grasp, trembled without her meaning to. She used to talk a lot—always trying to come up with things to say so her family would notice her. It felt like that was the only way to be seen. But they had always found her too noisy, too clingy, too much. Not like Lydia—sweet, quiet, and easy to love. At St. Gabriel Reform Academy, the more she spoke, the more beatings she got. So she learned to keep her mouth shut. Just like her family always wanted. Emily pulled her arm back and stepped away, head still down. "Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Bennett. But no one bullied me. I was doing just fine at St. Gabriel's." Compared to the kids who never made it out, she was lucky to have walked away alive. Emma stood frozen, unsure if it was the way Emily pulled away or the fact that she called her "Mrs. Bennett" that made her eyes go red. "Emily, you..." They used to be so close. Lydia, standing nearby, was the first to notice Emma's tears. She quickly stepped up and grabbed her arm, then looked at Emily with tearful eyes. "Emily, Mom really does care about you," Lydia said. "When you push her away like that, it hurts her feelings.""If you want to blame someone, blame me. I shouldn't have come back and taken their love from you. I shouldn't have told everyone that you pushed me down the stairs. This is all my fault..." Her voice broke as she started crying. Lydia's sobs drew Emma's attention at once. Emma hurried to pull her into her arms. "It's not your fault, Lydia. Don't cry. How could it ever be your fault?" Any guilt she'd felt toward Emily was now completely replaced by pity for Lydia. In her eyes, Lydia was just too thoughtful. When Lucas saw Emma and Lydia crying, his face darkened. "Emily, you just got back and you're already picking on Lydia right in front of us. That's way out of line! Apologize to her. Now." Emily didn't understand how she had bullied Lydia. She hadn't said a single word to Lydia since walking through the door. And even the things they used to say were her fault—she still didn't get how any of that made sense. But none of it mattered. She'd walked a long way today. All she wanted now was to rest. Emily bowed toward Lydia, her voice calm and sincere. "I'm sorry, Ms. Bennett. It was all my fault. Please forgive me." She didn't know what she had done wrong, but she knew how to offer the kind of apology that sounded the most genuine—and the most satisfying. If Lydia wanted, she could give the same apology in fifty different ways. Lucas was still fuming. "I told you to apologize to Lydia and you're still making excuses! I—" But the moment he realized Emily had actually apologized, his words stopped short. His angry expression froze on his face, making him look a bit ridiculous. Not just Lucas—everyone else stared at Emily, shocked to see her bowing like that, small and quiet. No one expected her to give in so easily. Back then, even when Gale hit her with a whip, she still stood straight and insisted she hadn't done anything wrong. It was because she had pushed Lydia down the stairs and almost killed her—and had refused to admit it—that they'd sent her to St. Gabriel Reform Academy in the first place. In the silence, Lydia suddenly stepped forward and helped Emily up, her face full of emotion. "Emily, this is the first time you've ever apologized to me. Of course I forgive you. "Even though you used to always misunderstand me and did so many awful things, I believe you truly regret it this time. I'm sure you're not just pretending to back off so you can hurt me later like before." Then she turned to the others. "Dad, Mom, Andrew, Lucas—you believe Emily too, don't you?" Her words seemed to snap them out of it. They all looked at Emily with disgust. Lucas stepped forward, pulling Lydia behind him and glaring at Emily. "Lydia, why are you still believing this manipulator? "Emily, don't think I can't see what you're doing. You're trying to act like you've changed so we'll let our guard down—and then you'll go after Lydia again.""You came back so late and made us all worry on purpose, just to make it seem like Lydia was the reason you didn't come home sooner. "Now you're playing the victim to turn us against each other. Do you really think we're as dumb as you?" Faced with his angry yelling, Emily had no desire to argue. But she figured if she didn't explain this, they probably wouldn't let her go rest anytime soon.

Chapter 4: Can I Stay Here For The Night? Emily took a deep breath, then said, "St. Gabriel's is really far from here. I took several buses and walked a long way to get here." It wasn't that she came back late on purpose—she simply had no way to get back any sooner. But Lucas scoffed. "Still pretending, huh? I told you to take a cab, but you walked and took the bus instead—just to look pitiful." Emily looked at him calmly. "I didn't have any money.""That's nonsense!" Gale snapped. "You lived in this house for years. When did we ever treat you badly?" Lucas gave her a disgusted look. "Couldn't you come up with a better excuse? Even a hair tie of yours costs tens of thousands. No way you had no money." Emma and Andrew didn't say anything, but both frowned, clearly unhappy. Seeing how they had all forgotten what they'd done, Emily almost felt like laughing. She glanced around at them. "You're the ones who said I need to live without luxury if I want to change. So when you sent me to St. Gabriel Reform Academy, you took everything from me." Her eyes finally landed on Lucas. "And that expensive hair tie? You were the one who pulled it off my head," she said. Even after two years, she could still remember the pain—like it had ripped her scalp right off. After her reminder, the Bennetts finally remembered what they'd done. None of them said a word. Seeing their silence, Emily asked, "Can I go to my room and rest now?" In the awkward quiet, Andrew cleared his throat. "I'll take you upstairs." Emily lowered her head. "Thank you, Mr. Bennett." Andrew paused, turned like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just opened his mouth, said nothing, and quietly led the way up. Once they turned the corner and could no longer see the others downstairs, Andrew finally spoke. "Emily, what everyone did back then... it was for your own good. "Mom had the whole house cleaned top to bottom just to welcome you home today. They didn't go pick you up from St. Gabriel's because they were trying to make Lydia feel better. "After all, you did push her down the stairs. Mom and Dad just want Lydia to forgive you. You should try to understand, okay?" Emily stayed silent the whole time, walking behind him without saying a word. She'd heard lines like these too many times before—and never had anything to say back. Ever since Lydia returned to the Bennett family, the thing Andrew said to Emily the most was, "You should be more understanding. Emily, apologize to Lydia.""Mom and Dad feel they owe Lydia. You need to understand that, okay?""Emily, if you did something wrong, you should accept the punishment. Don't be so stubborn." He never shouted at her like Lucas did. Instead, every time after Emily explained she hadn't done those things, he would firmly tell her to admit it and say sorry. He judged her based on what he thought had happened, handed down the punishment, and made all her explanations and hurt seem like a joke. After he finished talking this time, Andrew waited for Emily to argue back—just like she used to. He even had his next speech ready, the one about "being good and understanding their parents." But even after they reached the door to Emily's old bedroom, she still hadn't said a word. She kept her head down and stayed quiet. Only when she reached out and pushed open the door did a flicker of surprise cross her otherwise numb face. The room she used to know was now neatly filled with brand-new clothes, shoes, and bags—like a fancy, well-decorated walk-in closet. But none of it belonged to Emily. Andrew suddenly seemed to remember something and looked a little flustered. He glanced at Emily and quickly said, "You know, Lydia went through a lot while she was out there. Mom and Dad feel guilty, so they kept buying her nice things. "When Lydia's closet got too full, Mom figured you weren't coming back anytime soon... so she turned your room into extra space. It was her idea—and ours too—since Lydia's room is right next door. "Don't blame Lydia. She actually said no at first...""I don't blame Ms. Bennett," Emily cut him off calmly, not at all interested in why her room had been turned into a closet. Like they'd said, she had lived in Lydia's place for eighteen years—surrounded by wealth and love. It was only right to give it all back. She wasn't going to fool herself anymore, begging for things that were never hers to begin with. All she wanted now was a place to sleep. She looked up at Andrew and asked carefully, "Can I stay here for the night?" If the answer was no, she'd have to leave while it was still early enough—to find somewhere she could hide, where she could escape quickly if something happened. If possible, she also wanted to find something small and sharp to keep with her while she slept. That would help her rest easier. "Of course you can. This will always be your home," Andrew said, pushing up his glasses. "I'll go ask Mom which room she set up for you." Emily was going to say it wasn't necessary, but Andrew was already walking off—fast, like there was something behind him he didn't want to face. Downstairs, Lydia was holding Emma's hand, her face full of guilty tears. "Mom, it's all my fault. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have sent Emily to St. Gabriel Reform Academy. You wouldn't have taken away everything she had, leaving her with no money—not even enough for a cab. She had to take the bus. "Emily's never taken a bus in her life. She probably didn't even know how the fare worked. I'm different—I used to ride the bus for over an hour just to get to school, then walk up and down mountain roads. "She must've had a really hard time getting home today." Emma, clearly heartbroken, comforted her, "How could this be your fault? It was because Emily was petty and jealous. She pushed you down the stairs and never admitted she was wrong. "Sending her to St. Gabriel's was your dad's and my decision—it had nothing to do with you." Lucas nodded in agreement. "That's right. Lydia, this was all on Emily. She's manipulative. I bet she hid something back then. Otherwise, how would she still have money for the bus? "She's clearly pretending—acting all sad to get our sympathy. That's always been her trick. She almost fooled us again." Just as he finished, he saw Andrew coming down the stairs and snapped, "Andrew, is Emily in her room? Go get her. I want to call her out right now and expose her for the liar she is." But Andrew shook his head. "She didn't go back to her room. I forgot it's been turned into Lydia's closet. Mom, where's the new room you set up for her?" Emma had looked angry just a second ago, but after hearing that, she froze. Seeing everyone looking at her, she replied, sounding a little guilty, "I—I've been busy planning Lydia's graduation party. I just... forgot. "But we have plenty of guest rooms. Just let her stay in one for now. First thing tomorrow, I'll have the staff set up a room for her—exactly like her old one. Just make sure she doesn't blame Lydia for this, okay?"

Chapter 5: She Was Starving There were a lot of guest rooms in the Bennett house, but most of them weren't cleaned up yet. Only the one in the far corner on the first floor was ready to live in. It used to be the maid's room and hadn't been cleaned either. Andrew glanced inside but didn't walk in. "You'll have to stay here for now. Tomorrow, Mom will have someone fix up another room for you..." Emily didn't catch all the long explanation. She was just instinctively checking out the layout and feel of the room. It was small—just enough for a bed, a nightstand, and a wardrobe. But there was no stinky mud or dirty water. The bed didn't have moldy boards, and the lights were bright. The bed was only half a step from the door. Compared to where she had slept the past two years, this was a huge upgrade. So when Andrew said, "Don't mind how small it is. And don't blame Lydia..." she shook her head. "I don't mind," Emily said sincerely. "I really like this room. Thank you, Mr. Bennett." Andrew suddenly stopped mid-sentence, feeling a wave of relief. Emily and Lydia were both his sisters. He'd always hoped they'd get along. If Emily had really changed and wouldn't go against Lydia anymore, that was the best thing he could hope for. "Then get some rest," he said. "Tomorrow I'll take you to see Grandpa. He's been wanting to see you. He..." As he spoke, he reached out, wanting to pat her head like he used to. But Emily flinched hard and shoved his hand away, stepping back fast. His hand slammed into the door with a loud thud, and pain flashed across his face. Anger flared up instantly. "Emily, you—" But when he looked up and saw her face, he froze. She was pressed against the wall, eyes filled with fear, caution, and a kind of wild defensiveness—like a stray dog ready to bite if pushed. Then, just for a second, she dropped her head. "S-sorry. I didn't mean to..." Her voice shook. Her hands were twisted tightly together. Her whole body was stiff, like what Andrew saw might've just been his imagination. He stood there in silence, feeling like something was stuck in his chest. The pain in his hand didn't even register anymore. He didn't know what to say. Emily really did seem different. After a long pause, he awkwardly said, "Get some rest," and left. Emily didn't relax until she heard the door shut. The moment Andrew raised his hand earlier, she'd thought she was back at St. Gabriel Reform Academy—thought she saw hands reaching for her again. Hands holding rocks, sticks, and whips. Her face turned pale. Then, something clicked in her mind, and she started searching the room. Under the bed, she found a pen—no idea how it got there. She took off the cap and gripped it tightly. Then she turned on every light in the room and curled up in the farthest corner of the bed, pressing her back hard against the wall. It seemed like only that could give her a little sense of safety. She held the pen close to her chest and lay down facing the door. If anyone came in, she'd know right away. The bright lights lit up every shadow in the room—but none of them could reach the darkness buried deep inside Emily, huddled there in the corner. ***** At dawn, the maids in the villa started getting up and working. The occasional clatter instantly woke Emily. She stared at the bright but unfamiliar room for a long time before realizing she was no longer at St. Gabriel's. She had finally left that hellish place. Emily knew she wasn't welcome here, so she got up early and slipped into the kitchen. While helping the chef, she quietly ate her breakfast. The Bennetts had light, well-balanced breakfasts with careful plating, so there were always a lot of leftover scraps. Emily wasn't picky. After getting the chef's permission, she ate the scraps for breakfast—even the two cherry tomato slices that had fallen on the counter didn't go to waste. She was starving. The last thing she ate was half a slice of bread she got in exchange for a beating the night before last. She hadn't tasted fresh, warm food like this in two whole years. Watching her shovel food into her mouth like a machine, the chef's eyes showed a flicker of pity. He made a plate of spaghetti and added a misshapen fried egg he'd planned to toss out. "Ms. Harper, have this instead." Emily quickly swallowed what was in her mouth and took the plate with both hands, full of gratitude. "Thank you." She actually wasn't that hungry anymore. After two years of eating once a day, her stomach had shrunk, and she couldn't eat much at each meal. But she'd gotten used to finishing every bite of food she got. If she didn't, someone might steal it, and she'd have no idea when the next meal would come. Only by eating as much as she could now did she have a better chance of staying alive until the next one. Emily finished the whole plate of spaghetti, not even leaving a drop of sauce. She hadn't been full in two years—she almost forgot what it felt like to eat until she was stuffed. She touched her full belly and felt like she was dreaming. Whenever she was starving to the point she thought she'd die, she used to dream about tons of fresh, delicious food—enough to make her full. "What are you, a wild animal?" Gale's mocking voice snapped her back to reality. The smile on Emily's face vanished in an instant. She looked at Gale standing in the doorway with a dark expression and instinctively tried to hide what was in her hands. But then she remembered it was just an empty plate—no one here would fight her for food—so she stood there, unsure what to do. Gale's face darkened even more. "Did you forget how much money I spent on etiquette classes for you? Thank God you're not my real daughter. Eighteen years of manners, and you still can't compare to Lydia, who only had four." Emily lowered her head and quietly took his scolding and contempt. She used to argue when Gale said she wasn't as good as Lydia, used to try everything to prove herself. But now, she understood where she stood. She had stolen eighteen years of wealth and comfort that were supposed to belong to Lydia. To the Bennetts, of course she couldn't compare to Lydia, their real blood relative. Gale frowned sternly. "Can't believe you forgot everything you were taught. Don't bother eating at the table anymore. You're disgusting to look at!" He gave a cold snort and turned to leave, like even one more glance at her was too much. The chef gave Emily a sympathetic look, let out a silent sigh, and quickly carried the prepared breakfast out. Emily stared at the empty plate in her hands. Her expression stayed calm, completely unaffected by Gale's mean words. She'd heard worse. Compared to those, this was nothing. Since Gale didn't want to see her, Emily stayed in the kitchen, silently cleaning up while listening to the laughter and chatter coming from the living room. She didn't step out until everyone had finished eating. The moment Emily appeared, the laughter in the living room suddenly stopped. Everyone froze for a second. It was like they had just remembered that she was in the house today.

Can't wait to know what's next? Tap to continue!

The story unfolds with you as the main character — play now!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Two years. That’s how long they left you in St. Gabriel Reform Academy—two years of beatings, starvation, and silence. Now you’re back, standing in the doorway of the Bennett villa, watching your family huddle around Lydia like she’s the sun and you’re just a shadow they’d rather forget.

You don’t speak. You don’t cry. You just stand there, head down, hands empty.

Lucas sneers, 'We should’ve sent you there earlier.'

Emma asks if you were bullied, but when you pull away, she forgets you even exist.

Lydia cries, claiming it’s all her fault, while Lucas demands you apologize.

So you do.

'I’m sorry, Ms. Bennett. It was all my fault.'

The words taste like ash, but they work. They freeze, stunned. You’ve never bowed before.

Andrew leads you to a maid’s room—your new bedroom. When he reaches to pat your head, you flinch like he’s going to hit you. He recoils, hurt, but you don’t care.

You lock the door, find a pen under the bed, and press your back to the wall. You don’t sleep. You watch the door.

At dawn, you slip into the kitchen. You eat scraps like a starving animal. Gale sees you and spits, 'Don’t bother eating at the table anymore. You’re disgusting to look at.'

You say nothing.

But inside, something shifts.

This isn’t survival anymore.

It’s the beginning.