Chapter 5

Back home, the moment the door closed, the tight string in my mind finally snapped.

My legs gave out, and I almost collapsed, but Mom firmly caught me.

Her warm embrace carried a comforting scent.

The thought of how the story unfolded before I awakened my memories sent shivers of fear down my spine.

I couldn’t hold back anymore; the pent-up grievances and fears erupted.

“Mom… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

I cried heartbrokenly, my words incoherent, my body trembling uncontrollably.

Mom hugged me tight, her voice also choked with sobs.

“My silly girl, it’s Dad and Mom who didn’t protect you well enough, making you suffer so much…”

Dad silently offered me warm water, his eyes filled with heartache and unfocused rage.

His voice was hoarse with anger.

“I’ll go to school tomorrow and demand an explanation! We don’t need this school. I will not let my daughter endure this kind of treatment again!”

Mom tried to remain calm, wiping away my tears, then patting Dad.

“Robert, don’t scare our child.”

“Alice, it’s okay now. Mom and Dad are here.”

They surrounded me, without a hint of disdain or doubt.

Only complete trust and unreserved heartache.

In that moment, memory and reality formed a cruel contrast.

Julian’s chilling voice seemed to still echo in my ears.

“Alice, your parents think you’ve shamed the family.”

“They don’t want you anymore. Only I want you.”

“Because of you, your family is ruined. Where else can you go but to rely on me?”

Those words had repeatedly tortured my already shattered nerves at the time.

Yet now, Dad was trembling with anger, but his concern was that he might scare me, might upset me.

How could they think I was a disgrace? They only feared they hadn't protected me enough.

Julian had systematically removed all my support, intending to turn me into a helpless, clinging vine, utterly dependent on him.

My parents insisted I rest at home for a few days, not going back to school for now.

They carefully guarded my emotions, and the warmth of home almost made me succumb.

But I knew Julian wouldn't give up so easily.

Sure enough, on the third night, my phone screen lit up with a text message from an unknown number.

“Want to know the whole truth? Tomorrow night at eight, meet me under the old oak tree in the alley.”

“Come alone.”

My heart lurched.

Julian couldn’t wait.

It was almost identical to my memories.

Only the time was earlier, and the method had changed from a subtle note to a direct text message.

In the original story, driven by a desperate longing for the truth, I foolishly went to the meeting.

What awaited me wasn't the truth, but another carefully orchestrated "accident" and "rescue."

Then, under his repeated "benevolent" protection, I completely fell for him, destined for ruin.

This time…

I took a deep breath, my fingertips rapidly tapping on the screen.

“Okay.”

I knew another meticulously planned trap awaited me under that old oak tree.

But this meeting, I had to take.