Chapter 4
A video of me "causing trouble" at Victor's gate was somehow filmed and posted to the neighborhood group chat.
The next day, the property management gave me a polite but firm "warning."
Neighbors looked at me with contempt and distance.
"That's her—I heard her daughter was taken in by a big businessman, and she's still unhappy about it. Went to their gate and made a scene."
"Crazy from poverty, trying to extort money."
"Poor daughter. Finally makes something of herself, and her mom drags her down."
Rumors and gossip cut me like invisible knives.
An old colleague I hadn't contacted in ages must have heard about my situation and got me an administrative job.
The pay wasn't great, but at least it could ease my immediate crisis.
I forced myself to go to work.
But I didn't even last one full day.
Just after starting, people were whispering in the office break room.
As I walked past, I clearly heard them discussing a video.
When I returned to my desk, the colleague next to me gave me a strange look and quietly put away her phone.
My heart sank.
I searched my name on the computer, and a glaring video title popped up.
[Shocking! Teen Girl Tearfully Accuses: Ten Years of Living Hell, Autism Actually Caused by Mother's Mental Abuse!]
My hands trembled as I clicked the video.
In the footage, Smith sat on a luxurious sofa in a white dress, eyes filled with tears.
"My mother... because her life wasn't going well, she took all her frustrations out on me."
"For ten years, she often hit me, yelled at me, wouldn't let me interact with anyone outside, saying everyone out there was bad... that's why I... became autistic."
Victor and Lily held her on either side.
Victor faced the camera with a pained expression: "As her father, I failed. I let my child suffer so much. From now on, I'll give her the best compensation."
Lily gently wiped Smith's tears: "Good child, it's all in the past. From now on, you have me and Victor. No one will dare bully you again."
At the end of the video were photos of me "making scenes" at the school and villa gate, the child's terror contrasting sharply with my twisted expression.
All the blood in my body froze instantly.
"Grace Reed, come to my office."
My boss's voice came from the doorway.
The boss didn't look at me, just stared at the computer screen.
"Our company may be small, but we value our corporate image. We don't want employees with 'character issues.' You... don't need to come in tomorrow."
I frantically pulled out my phone and dialed Smith's number.
"Why would you do this? Why lie! When did I ever abuse you!"
The voice on the other end remained ice cold.
"I just told the 'truth.' You're the one who's psychologically twisted and won't admit it."
"You're lying!"
"Think whatever you want," she coldly interrupted. "Don't call me anymore. I don't want to see you again, you 'abusive psycho mother.'"
The call ended.
I didn't believe it. I couldn't believe she could be this heartless.
I rushed to her school, wanting to confront her face-to-face.
Her classmates blocked me, looking at me like I was some kind of monster.
"Smith says she doesn't want to see you. Stop harassing her."
In just one day, I became the evil mother everyone online wanted to condemn.
My personal information, home address, and workplace were all exposed.
My front door was spray-painted with red paint: "Vicious woman," "Get out."
Someone even threw feces at my door.
The landlord called, demanding I move out immediately.
My only outlet was to run to the old house about to be demolished.
It was the only inheritance my parents left me.
I clutched the inheritance deed, sitting on the dusty floor, crying my heart out.
I didn't understand.
Why would the daughter I raised with my life use the most vicious lies to personally push me into irredeemable hell?
Just then, my phone vibrated.
A text from an unknown number.
"Want to know the truth? They have a son. He's dying."
I froze, then laughed bitterly.
Another prank?
I deleted the message and curled up on the cold floor, letting the darkness swallow me whole.