Chapter 1

The year I started elementary school, a new teacher joined our small-town school.

During the first class, my sister made me draw our mom in my notebook, chained up.

The next day, squad cars with flashing lights swarmed our place.

They restrained my yelling dad and smashed open the rusty padlock on my mom's bedroom door.

I watched Mom take Melanie's hand and rush towards the impeccably dressed man, a smile on her face I'd never seen before.

Dad lay in a pool of blood, eyes closed. I begged Mom to save him.

But she just shoved me away.

"Don't call me! If it weren't for Melanie, why would I have ever given birth to you, you little monster!"

I froze. Melanie, didn't you say if I gave the drawing to the teacher, Mom would finally hug me?

Nothing in front of me matched my fantasies.

The incredibly distinguished man, whom Mom clutched tightly, stared at me with intense fury.

He kicked my unconscious dad several times before turning to me.

A large hand shadowed the sunlight, and I quickly shut my eyes in fear.

"Don't…"

It was Mom's voice.

She tugged on the man's sleeve, giving me a complicated look.

My heart fluttered with a tiny spark of hope. So Melanie hadn't lied. Giving the drawing to the teacher would make Mom like me.

My sister, Melanie, wriggled out of Mom's embrace and pointed at me, sobbing.

"Mom, it was her! The kidnapper loved her the most!"

"He always gave her the best food first, and called her his little treasure!"

"Her kidnapper dad made us suffer so much, why shouldn't we teach her a lesson?"

Mom's body stiffened, and her eyes, fixed on me, hardened instantly.

The man, whom Mom was holding back, seemed provoked. His gaze on me was filled with murderous intent.

Bang!

He kicked me, sending me sprawling to the ground.

The hard sole of his shoe slammed into my chest, making me feel like my insides had been scrambled.

"Mommy… Mommy…"

I cried out for Mom, but she just kept holding Melanie, never once looking back at me.

For some reason, hearing me call her Mom seemed to enrage the man even more. He relentlessly punched and kicked my curled-up body.

The pain choked me, and my vision blurred.

Mom, didn't you just like me a moment ago? Why don't you like me anymore?

Officers in uniform finally pulled the man away, and I was saved.

My dad, covered in blood, was handcuffed and taken away in a squad car with flashing lights.

As he passed me, he actually smiled faintly, muttering something I couldn't quite hear.

I knew that those who were handcuffed never came back.

Mom and Melanie were also preparing to leave. I screamed and cried, grabbing Mom's leg, falling to my knees and begging her.

"Mom, please don't leave me. I'll be good. I promise."

Mom hesitated, but then Melanie started crying.

"Mommy, I'm scared. I don't want to see her again."

Even though Mom and Robert didn't want to take me, the officers insisted, and they reluctantly brought me into the car.

The car seats were soft, but I didn't dare move, afraid my dirty clothes would stain them, and they'd abandon me again.

I gradually felt dizzy, and on a sharp turn, I couldn't hold it in anymore and bumped into Melanie.

Melanie burst into tears.

"You bullied me enough before, and now you're bullying me again! I hate you! I never want to see you!"

In the end, they found a thick rope. One end was tied to my wrist, the other fastened to the back of the car.

I was dragged along behind their car like trash.

By the time the car stopped, I was a bloody mess.