Chapter 2

“Eat it.”

My dad kicked a plate of maggot-infested meat toward my mom. He stood there, pristine in his tailored suit and polished leather shoes, his hair neatly combed. Everything about him screamed elegance—everything except the blood-stained, damp basement that reeked of iron and rot.

In stark contrast, my mom sat huddled in the corner, chained like a dog. She wore a tattered red dress, her thin, gaunt face lifted toward him, eyes wide with fear.

“Luke, I… I’m not hungry,” she stammered, her voice trembling.

Luke narrowed his eyes, his tone chilling. “Are you defying me, Anna?”

Anna bit her lip, her gaze darting to me as I stood silently in the doorway. The same pleading look I’d seen a hundred times before—the one that always tore me apart.

“Lila…” she whispered, her voice breaking.

In my last life, I’d fallen for that look. Every single time.

She never begged outright. She never asked me to intervene. Instead, she’d put on a mask of despair, murmuring things like, “Lila, don’t worry about me. As long as you’re safe, I can endure anything. It’s just a few bugs—it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Then, she’d reach for the plate, her hand trembling as if summoning every ounce of willpower to make the sacrifice. But before she could touch it, she’d start retching, tears streaming down her face as she gagged and sobbed.

And every time, I’d break. My heart would twist with guilt, as though her suffering was my fault.

And like the fool I was, I’d always fight for her.

In my last life, on this very night, I’d snatched that plate of rancid meat from her and made her a bowl of noodles instead.

Luke hadn’t said a word. He’d simply turned and walked away, his cold indifference like a knife to my chest.

The next day, Anna was allowed out of the basement. She wore an apron and greeted me with a radiant smile as she served me a plate of braised ribs.

“Lila, I made this just for you. Try it!”

I’d eaten every bite, beaming at her, grateful for even the smallest sign of normalcy.

For a moment, sitting at the dining table with both my parents, I’d allowed myself to hope—maybe, just maybe, we could be a real family.

But then, Anna covered her mouth, giggling as she leaned into Luke’s chest. Her smile was wide and triumphant, her voice dripping with amusement.

“Of course it’s delicious,” she said, grinning from ear to ear. “You’ve been taking care of that dog for a whole year. Its meat is so tender!”

Her laughter was like the chime of a bell, each note slicing into me like a blade.

I stared at her, frozen in disbelief.

She swayed her hips as she left the dining room, returning moments later with a blood-stained pelt—a dog’s pelt. It was perfectly skinned, the features intact, almost lifelike.

“Luke’s knife skills are impeccable,” she said, holding up the pelt for him to admire. “Look at this! It’s almost like it’s still alive!”

The hollow eyes of my dog, the same one that had been wagging its tail at my feet just the day before, stared back at me.

I clutched my stomach and ran to the sink, vomiting until there was nothing left.

Luke finally glanced at me, his expression cold and mocking.

“Lila,” he said flatly, “kindness without strength always comes with a cost.”

Anna, emboldened by his words, chimed in.

“She’s right, Luke. She ate so much of it—clearly, she enjoyed it. Why pretend to be disgusted now? Such a hypocrite.”

The feel of soft fur against my leg jolted me from the memory. I looked down to see my dog, Scout, wagging his tail and nuzzling against me.

I scooped him up, holding him close as I looked at Anna. She was already putting on her usual act, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Mom,” I said, my voice cold as ice, “Dad works so hard every day. The least you could do is eat what he gives you without being so dramatic.”

Luke’s expression shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing in approval.

But Anna froze, her face twisting in shock. She hadn’t expected this. Not this time.

Her lips quivered as she forced herself to look pitiful, her voice trembling.

“Lila, you’re my only daughter. I’d do anything for you! If you want me to eat it, I’ll eat it.”

She picked up a piece of the rotting meat, bringing it to her nose. The stench made her gag, and she hesitated, her fingers trembling.

She wasn’t eating. She was waiting—waiting for me to crack, for me to snatch the plate away and protect her like I always did.

But this wasn’t my first life.

I’d seen this too many times before. Her fake tears, her empty promises of love. I’d tasted the maggot-infested meat myself, forcing it down my throat while she stood by, pretending to care.

This time, I simply stroked Scout’s fur and looked away.

Luke’s patience finally snapped. He grabbed Anna by the hair and shoved the meat into her mouth, piece by piece.

She choked and gagged, tears streaming down her face as bits of meat and maggots spilled onto her clothes and crawled over her skin. Her face twisted in agony, but Luke’s expression was one of satisfaction, almost ecstasy.

He gently brushed the crumbs from her shoulders, his voice soft and loving.

“Anna, I love you. I’d never treat anyone else like this. This… this is how you know you’re special to me.”

Anna’s tear-filled eyes glowed with a disturbing intensity, her lips curving into a trembling smile.

It hit me then.

She liked it.

She wanted it.

They deserved each other.