Chapter 5

The atmosphere in the private room fell into deadlock because of Grandma's outburst.

"You don't believe me?"

Grandma pulled a crumpled letter from her inner pocket with trembling hands.

"This is what Alysa secretly sent to me a few days ago! Look. This is her drawing!"

She carefully unfolded the paper like she was holding a treasure.

"She said she missed home and wanted to come back to the countryside... Look how well she draws!"

On the paper was the endless field of flowers from the countryside.

In the golden sea of flowers stood four people.

Dad, Mom, Ethan, and me.

Dad was lifting me high above his head. Mom and Ethan stood on either side. Everyone's faces wore brilliant smiles.

This was the only fantasy that kept me alive after coming to the city.

But Mom didn't even glance at it.

She snatched the drawing away, her eyes full of contempt and impatience.

"Who has time for this useless stuff!"

"It's these pointless hobbies that ruined her! Instead of studying, all she does is draw, draw, draw. Can that get her into an Ivy League school?"

Before anyone could respond, she tore the drawing in half right in front of everyone.

Then into more pieces.

"The Sterling family doesn't need mediocre artists!"

"We only need Ivy League graduates!"

Her shrill voice echoed through the room.

The torn pieces of the drawing were thrown viciously into the trash bin for used plates.

When the drawing was shredded, I felt my last attachment to this family break.

Mom, I don't hurt anymore.

And I don't want another chance anymore.

My soul began to turn transparent. Even Grandma's grief-stricken cries became distant.

Just when Mom thought she'd won and successfully "educated" the disobedient old woman-

Ethan's phone suddenly vibrated frantically.

It was a video call request.

Ethan answered impatiently, planning to show off their fancy family dinner to the camera.

But when the screen lit up, he froze.

The livestream chat was filled with red text.

"Call the police now! Streamer, your sister is really in trouble!"

"I zoomed in. There's blood at the corner of her mouth! She's not sleeping!"

"Streamer, go home and check on her! She hasn't moved for three hours! Her hands have turned blue-purple!"

"We've already called the police! The address is your house!"

BANG!

The door to the private room was suddenly shoved open from outside.

It wasn't a server.

It was two grave-faced police officers in uniform.

Behind them followed a medical examiner.

The entire room fell deathly silent.

The lead officer's gaze was sharp. He scanned the room and finally settled on my parents.

He pulled out a photo freshly printed from a portable printer.

In the photo, I was slumped over the desk with blood at the corner of my mouth, my body rigid. It was a close-up.

The officer's voice was cold, each word clearly shattering the false atmosphere in the room.

"Who is Alysa Sterling's legal guardian?"

"We received numerous reports from the public that your daughter had an accident during a livestream."

"After preliminary assessment by our technical department, we've confirmed no vital signs."

"Estimated time of death: two hours ago."