Chapter 3

The taxi dropped us off at the downtown shopping district. The new designer boutique was just around the corner from the alley, bustling with people—the perfect timing for my plan.

"Seraphina, look at that store window, the styles are so unique."

I deliberately slowed my pace, gently linking my arm through Seraphina's, guiding her toward the alley entrance.

Seraphina's attention was fully on the clothes in the display. She stopped, following my lead, and nodded in agreement:

"They do look good. We'll go in and I'll pick out a few pieces for you."

The moment her words faded, a young man with a backpack suddenly rushed out of the alley.

He was clearly in a hurry, his steps quick.

Now!

I subtly hooked my foot, letting my body lean into Seraphina's side.

At the same time, I grabbed her wrist tightly, using the momentum to push her half a step towards the man.

The series of movements happened too fast for anyone to react.

Seraphina only managed a short gasp before the young man collided squarely with her back!

With a dull thud, Seraphina stumbled forward a couple of steps.

A faint gray smudge instantly appeared on the back of her white dress, and the man's backpack strap left a shallow scrape.

The young man also staggered backward, quickly regaining his balance before bowing apologetically:

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I'm really rushing for the subway, I didn't see you. Are you alright?"

Passersby were instantly drawn to the scene, gathering around, curious eyes on us.

It was exactly like the scene from my past life, when they had all stared at *me*.

According to the script of my previous life, Seraphina should have been furious by now.

But she merely paused, then reached back to pat the smudge off her dress.

She actually forced a 'magnanimous' smile, waving her hand at the young man:

"It's alright, it's alright. It's just a small thing, and you didn't do it on purpose. Please go, don't let me delay you."

Good. Oh, so good.

Your cleanliness obsession only applies to *me*, doesn't it?

Well, I'm going to tear apart your fake facade, you bitch, and make you experience *my* past humiliation in front of everyone!

Before the young man could thank her and leave, I suddenly shrieked, as if someone had just stepped on my last nerve.

My voice was sharp and piercing, instantly drowning out the murmurs around us:

"Ah—! Seraphina! How can you be like this! He touched you! He's a man! You were touched by a man! You're so dirty!"

My reaction was too violent; both Seraphina and the young man flinched in surprise.

The surrounding crowd instantly fell silent, all eyes fixed on us.

Seraphina's face changed. She tugged at my arm, lowering her voice to scold me:

"Anya! Are you crazy? Keep your voice down!"

"I'm not crazy!"

I violently shook off her hand, my eyes wide with 'terror' and 'disgust,' exactly mirroring the way *she* used to look at me in my past life.

"Seraphina! How can you be so nonchalant?

Men are so dirty! Their bodies are full of bacteria, full of filth!

You were touched by him; your clothes, your body—they've all been defiled!"

As I spoke, I stared intently at the smudge on her back.

It was as if I'd seen something utterly vile, my body trembling uncontrollably.

Seraphina's face flushed then paled, then flushed again. She wanted to maintain her composure, but I pushed her relentlessly. She could only force herself to say calmly:

"It was just a bump; it's not that serious. I'll just pat it off."

"Pat it off?"

I scoffed as if I'd heard the most ridiculous thing, my voice suddenly rising.

"Seraphina! Have you forgotten what you used to teach me? Things touched by men are never clean, even if you wash them a hundred times! How can you not cherish your own cleanliness?!"

I deliberately brought up her past 'teachings' to me, every word like a dagger twisting in her heart.

The crowd started whispering:

"That sister's reaction is a bit much, isn't it?"

"From what she's saying, it sounds like her older sister used to be really strict with her?"

"This older sister is strange too, so calm about being touched, but her younger sister is freaking out."

Seraphina's cheeks burned crimson with shame and fury, but she couldn't lash out. She could only grit her teeth and say:

"Anya, stop making a scene here. We'll talk about this at home."

"At home? No way!"

I firmly refused, my eyes resolute.

"It has to be dealt with *now*! Clothes touched by a man can't be worn again! Keeping them is just defiling yourself!"

In my past life, she had done exactly this, ignoring my pleas, tearing off my clothes in public.

This time, I would return every bit of it to her!

Before Seraphina could react, I suddenly reached out, grabbing the neckline of her white dress, and yanked hard!

*Rip!* The sound of fabric tearing was shockingly loud in the crowd.

Seraphina's dress neckline instantly tore open, revealing the lace strap of her bra underneath.

She gasped, her face turning ashen, instinctively reaching to cover herself. But I held her arm down tightly.

"Seraphina! Don't touch it! Your hands were touched by him too; they're dirty now!"

I shrieked, tearing at her dress with all my might.

I put every ounce of strength into it, my fingers white from the effort, the years of suppressed hatred exploding in that moment.

*Rip—rip—*

The expensive white dress was torn from neckline to hem, jagged rips spreading everywhere.

Pieces of fabric fell to the ground, covered in dust.

Seraphina struggled desperately, screaming:

"Anya! Stop it! You're crazy! Stop now!"

"I'm not crazy! I'm helping you!"

My eyes were red, as if I were possessed.

"Only by throwing away these dirty clothes can you stay clean! Seraphina, this is all what *you* taught me! This is how you used to 'help' me!"

With one final, powerful tug, I ripped the entire dress off her body.

I flung it violently onto the dusty ground, then stomped on it hard with my foot:

"Dirty thing! It's this dirty thing that defiled Seraphina!"

The crowd gasped. Some instinctively turned away.

Others stared with curious eyes, the murmurs instantly erupting into a cacophony of chatter.

Seraphina stood in the bustling street, clad only in her underwear, stiff and pale as a sheet.

Her hair was disheveled, her eyes filled with terror, shame, and disbelief—exactly like me in my past life.

Those strange, mocking, probing glances pierced her like needles, making her tremble all over.

Her cherished composure, her 'cleanliness' that she valued more than life itself, was utterly shredded by me in that moment.

"Ah—!"

Seraphina finally broke, letting out a heart-wrenching shriek.

She clutched at herself, sinking to the ground.

Her shoulders shook violently, tears streaming down her face like a broken dam.

The young man had long since been terrified into silence by the scene.

He stood rooted to the spot, his face crimson, unsure whether to stay or go.

I watched Seraphina's pathetic state, feeling not a shred of sympathy, only an indescribable surge of satisfaction.

This is everything you did to me in my past life, Seraphina.

You stripped me naked under everyone's gaze, subjecting me to endless humiliation.

Now, I'm simply returning the favor, exactly as you gave it.

"Seraphina, don't just crouch there."

I deliberately squatted down, speaking with 'concern' in my voice.

"The ground is even dirtier; you'll get more germs on you. Don't you value cleanliness above all else? Get up, let's go home and disinfect."

As I spoke, I reached out to pull her up, but she violently pushed me away.

"Don't touch me!"

Seraphina's voice was choked with sobs, full of venom.

"Anya! I'll kill you!"

"Seraphina, how can you say that to me?"

I put on a hurt expression, my eyes welling up slightly.

"I was only doing it for your own good! Have you forgotten? Last time, when I was touched by a man, you also threw away my clothes like this. You said it was the only way to stay clean. I'm just learning from you, helping you get rid of dirty things."

I purposely raised my voice, making sure everyone around could hear.

The crowd immediately started murmuring with understanding: "So her older sister used to do that to her?"

"No wonder the younger sister is reacting so strongly; she must have been traumatized by her sister. This is like a post-traumatic reaction, right?"

"This older sister is disgusting. So harsh on her sister, but so lenient with herself. Now she's getting a taste of her own medicine."

These comments were like sharp knives, twisting deep into Seraphina's heart.

She crouched on the ground, her head buried in her knees, crying even harder, daring not to look up, daring not to face the gazes around her.

I stood up, watching her pathetic figure, a cold, chilling smile on my lips.

I pulled out the pre-prepared alcohol spray from my bag, frantically spraying the ground around Seraphina and the area she had been touched, muttering as I sprayed:

"Seraphina, disinfect quickly! Don't let germs get on you! All these places touched by men are so dirty!"

The smell of alcohol permeated the air. People instinctively took a few steps back, their eyes on Seraphina growing even stranger.

Seraphina couldn't take it anymore. She sprang to her feet, clutching her body tightly.

She pushed through the crowd like a madwoman, running off into the distance.

As she ran, her hair was disheveled, her steps faltering, completely devoid of her usual elegance and poise.

Watching her fleeing figure, the years of pent-up resentment in my heart finally dissipated for the most part.

The young man walked up to me, a little awkwardly.

"I'm sorry. Just now... was it because of me that I caused trouble for you two?"

"It's alright,"

I tucked away my voice recorder and phone, smiling at him.

"My sister was just making a scene. She was always too harsh on me in the past, so I was forced to react this way. Please go, don't let this delay your plans."

"Okay, I'll be going then. Really, I'm so sorry."

The young man said, then hurried away.

The crowd, seeing there was no more drama, gradually dispersed.

Only the ripped white dress remained on the ground, looking utterly pathetic in the wind.

This time, it won't be me who's withdrawn and depressed, haha!