Chapter 2

I was confined to the hospital for a full month.

Each time the doctor came for rounds, his eyes held deep pity for me.

Mom never once appeared.

Only Melanie came a few times.

Each time, she wore a beautiful frilly dress I'd never seen before, holding delicate snacks.

She sat by my hospital bed, eating chips and boasting about her new life.

"Lily, Dad bought me a huge toy castle, much bigger than our old house in the village."

"Mom took me to eat French food. The snails were so delicious, I bet you've never had them, right?"

Her words pierced my heart a little.

But I remained silent, just watching her quietly.

After my injuries healed, I was brought home.

It was called a home, but my room was in the attic, small and stuffy, with only a tiny skylight.

They didn't allow me to step out of the room, let alone go to school.

Every day after school, Melanie would come by my room, in her pretty school uniform and cute backpack, just to show off.

"Lily, today in art class, our teacher taught us how to draw, it was so much fun."

"Lily, my classmates invited me to the amusement park this weekend, and Mom already said yes."

I really wanted to go to school too, but from bits and pieces of the nanny's conversations, I vaguely learned about my background.

Until one day, Melanie took my hand and led me out of the attic, to Mom.

"Mom, let Lily go to school too."

"Those things were all the kidnapper's fault, they have nothing to do with Lily. We shouldn't take it out on her."

After Melanie's repeated pleas, Mom actually relented.

"Go if you want, just don't cause trouble." Mom didn't even look at me, coldly dropped those words, and left.

Even though Mom still didn't like me, I could finally go to school.

I was transferred into Melanie's elite private school, and I thought this was the start of a new life.

But on my first day, my desk was drenched in black ink.

My new textbooks were torn to shreds, paper scraps scattered everywhere.

I didn't dare speak up, silently cleaning it up alone.

During break, a group of rich kids cornered me in the restroom.

"Small-town hick! Do you even know how to use a proper restroom?"

"Look at her clothes, so tacky!"

"I heard her dad's a kidnapper, trash's kids should just die!"

A chubby girl suddenly grabbed my hair and shoved my head into the toilet bowl. I struggled desperately, but I was too weak and choked on mouthfuls of disgusting water.

Just then, Melanie appeared.

She frowned and yelled, "Don't you dare bully my sister!"

She pulled me out of the toilet.

"My sister just came from a small town, she doesn't know how to use a toilet, don't laugh at her."

"She was brought back by my mom and dad, even though… even though she doesn't really look like she belongs in our family, but for my sake, please don't bully her, okay?"

But after she finished, she suddenly covered her nose, looking at me with disgust. "Ugh, what's that smell? Didn't you take a shower?"

After her "defense," the group laughed even more wildly.

"So she's Melanie's charity case!"

"Don't worry, for your sake, we'll take good 'care' of her!"

After school, I returned home, filthy.

Mom saw my condition and frowned in disgust.

"She's a lowlife, alright. Only good for causing trouble outside."

I said nothing, dragging my exhausted body back to the attic.

Closing the door, I took out the paper and pen I'd hidden under my bed.

I'd scavenged them from the trash.

Lying on the floor, I drew a little girl on the paper.

The girl stood on the edge of a cliff, and behind her, countless unseen hands were pushing her into the abyss.