"Charlotte? You're sure it was her?" Melvin's eyes turned cold.Sarah nodded firmly. She'd had many interactions with Charlotte, heard both her sweet talk and vicious words. Though she hadn't seen the attacker's face, she was certain it was Charlotte.The motive was obvious - James.He'd been acting strangely lately, coming to comfort her after her breakup with Zachary. Anyone would be suspicious of his behavior."James barely tried to stop Lucy's arrest. He must have known the truth," Melvin paused, then added, "And there's something else - Charlotte is pregnant.""How convenient," Sarah said bitterly. "Getting pregnant right after this incident. It's James's first child - his parents will protect her at any cost."Mrs. Chancer was old-fashioned. She'd constantly criticized Sarah during their three-year marriage for not having children, never knowing James had deliberately kept his distance, saving himself for Charlotte.Now that Charlotte was pregnant - not only was she James'
Scarlett shoved him away. "Get lost! Who do you think you are?""Don't be so uptight! Everyone's here for fun. I wouldn't even bother with you if you weren't pretty!" He pushed his glass against her lips. "Drink it!"Scarlett knocked the glass away. The sharp sound of shattering glass made everyone around them freeze.The noise helped clear her head somewhat. "Stay away from me! Get out!"The man grabbed Scarlett and started dragging her toward a private room, his eyes gleaming with disgusting intent.The other bar patrons ignored the scene, used to such incidents and unwilling to interfere.At the room's entrance, she started vomiting violently. The mix of alcohol and sweat made her even more nauseated.The man looked at her with disgust but wasn't willing to give up his prey. After she finished retching, he pulled her into the room, throwing her onto the couch when she had no strength to resist.After closing the door, he finally showed his true nature, like a predator baring
“No need, just leave me alone.” “Alright, alright.” The manager quickly backed off. Scarlett slumped back into her seat and grabbed a bottle of liquor, ready to drown her guilt. Steven snatched the bottle out of her hand. “What are you doing?” “Leave me alone! This is all my fault,” she muttered, still consumed by self-blame. The fear from earlier lingered, and now she teetered between anxiety and drunkenness, reaching again for the bottle. Scarlett’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes hazy as she gazed longingly at the drink. She stretched her hand toward Steven, trying to wrestle it back. Holding the bottle out of her reach, Steven stared at the empty bottles on the table, dumbfounded. “You’ve already had so much. That’s enough!” “Don’t tell me what to do!” She shoved Steven aside and called out to a passing server. “Bring me two more bottles!” Steven followed close behind, immediately countering, “Ignore her. She’s drunk—don’t bring anything.” Scarlett, lost
Unable to recall the events of the previous night, Steven noticed a faint, unfamiliar scent lingering in the room. He threw off the blanket, and to his shock, a woman’s bra fell onto the bed.He froze for a moment, staring at it, before the memories started to piece themselves together. He vaguely remembered Scarlett coming back with him the night before.Could it be…?Rubbing his temples, Steven looked down at himself—completely naked. The more he tried to organize his scattered thoughts, the clearer Scarlett’s face became in his mind. As he stood to tidy up the bed, his eyes caught something on the sheets—bloodstains. His hands trembled as realization dawned. Was this Scarlett’s first time? Did they really…?---The next day, after Sarah had woken up, Scarlett finally worked up the courage to visit her, carrying a thermal container of soup. On her way to the hospital, her mind was a whirlwind of emotions, replaying the events of the previous night over and over.She had jus
“No one is to interfere with Lucy’s situation!” a commanding voice declared.James’s grandfather, Richard, entered the house, leaning heavily on his cane. Mrs. Williams quickly stepped forward to help him to his seat.“Grandfather, you’re here,” James said, immediately setting up the tea set to prepare tea himself.Mrs. Chancer and Richard had never gotten along, and now their interaction was limited to a brief nod before silence settled between them. Charlotte, sitting cautiously to the side, was keenly aware of Richard’s disapproval of her. Her hand instinctively rested on her stomach. She couldn’t help but wonder if the child she carried would soften his attitude toward her.Lost in thought, she was startled when Richard spoke. “You’re carrying James’ child. I won’t make things difficult for you. Focus on delivering the baby safely, and there will be rewards.”Charlotte’s heart lifted. “Thank you, Sir.”She had known all along that this child would be her shield. Even someon
Lucy cried for a long time, her tears eventually giving way to anger. “I get it now! It’s all because of Charlotte! She’s pregnant, and Mom’s only protecting her! Fine, all of you—you’ve all abandoned me! None of you are coming to save me!”She ended the call in frustration, knowing full well that James had refused to help her since the last incident. Begging him was pointless; she’d have to come up with a plan on her own.Hours passed, and as evening fell, she was summoned by the police to the visitation room. To her surprise, the person waiting for her was none other than Charlotte.“Charlotte?” Lucy called out, startled at first, but her expression quickly darkened. “Why are you here? Did you come just to gloat?”“Lucy, don’t make it sound so harsh. I came to check on you because I care.” Charlotte’s smile was faint, almost mocking.If not for the officers present, Lucy would have lunged at her to tear apart that fake, self-righteous mask.Scoffing, Lucy sneered, “Charlotte, i
“Don’t get too smug just yet. I really misjudged you. I thought you were weak, but it turns out you’re incredibly cunning,” Lucy said with a bitter laugh, her voice filled with self-mockery.Charlotte covered her mouth and chuckled softly. She slowly stood up, her tone casual as she said, “Lucy, I’ll be leaving now.”“Don’t you dare leave!” Lucy screamed desperately.But Charlotte had already turned and walked out, leaving Lucy alone in her despair.---Time ticked by, and on the third day after Sarah woke up, she was discharged from the hospital. Back at the Sanders family home, Auntie Marianne had prepared a feast to help Sarah regain her strength. At the dinner table, Melvin was glued to his tablet, his brow furrowed as if preoccupied with something important.“What’s going on?” Sarah asked, her curiosity piqued.“There’s a piece of land I’ve been eyeing—Crystal Bay. If we can secure it, it’ll be a huge profit. But the current owner might not sell it to just anyone,” Melv
Zachary led Sarah through a narrow alley. The high brick walls cast long shadows, and ornate Victorian-style eaves loomed overhead. The cobblestone path beneath their feet felt cool, and wild poppies bloomed stubbornly in the corners where wall met ground.At the end of the path, Zachary pushed open a weathered wooden gate and led Sarah inside. The overgrown grass-lined path meandered through the garden, stirring a sense of familiarity within her. The backyard was well-maintained, with a majestic oak tree standing sentinel in the western corner.As they entered the main building through the backyard, Sarah's eyes widened in recognition. Heritage House?Heritage House was a prestigious antique shop, renowned for its collection spanning from medieval artifacts to early 20th-century pieces. However, given the unique nature of antiques, most displayed items were museum-quality replicas. The originals, privately owned by collectors, were only available for sale when their owners chose
"I saw the news. Did Zachary bring her here?" Melvin asked, looking displeased.Sarah shook her head. "Vivian came too, they were together."Melvin's expression suddenly turned grave. He studied Mia closely - her condition was clearly very poor, anyone could see that.So was this connected to Vivian?He couldn't be certain, but he knew there was no one else it could be.Melvin pulled some documents from his bag and handed them to her. "See for yourself."What's this?Sarah opened the file - it was the investigation report on Tina Mendes.Tina Mendes, nineteen years old, normally gentle and quiet - everyone's idea of the "perfect daughter."But she noticed the neighbor's comments: "Well, Tina was a good kid, just unlucky to have such a mother! Her mom would take out her anger on her daily, beating and yelling at her, always demanding money. How could a college student have money to give? And she had a brother too, who ran wild all day. Poor Tina - now that she's gone, I don't
In this blood-red world, she could almost smell the thick scent of iron, mingled with the lingering stench of something burning in the air. Amid this suffocating despair, a gentle hand rested on her shoulder. "Mia?" Who was calling her? Mia’s gaze was lost in a haze of confusion and agony. She could no longer see the world clearly, only the overwhelming, suffocating red that consumed everything. But that voice—it was warm and familiar. It was someone she trusted. Someone she relied on even more than her own brother. No, that wasn't right. This wasn’t just trust. It was an instinctive dependence, forged in the depths of terror. A reliance born from being trapped in the same abyss. Sarah? She turned her dazed eyes in the direction of the voice. And in the midst of the blood-drenched world, a figure appeared. A real, living person. Someone who wasn’t red. Someone who looked… normal. "Sarah…" she murmured. Sarah Sanders seemed to sense the weight of Mia’
Professor Wells furrowed his brows slightly. “Mrs. Mendes, we understand your grief, and the university is willing to provide some form of compensation for Tina Mendes’ passing. However, demanding one million is simply not possible. If you continue disrupting the school’s order at the main gate, we will have no choice but to involve the police.” Though both Professor Wells and Dean Larson appeared calm and composed, their words left no room for negotiation. For once, Mrs. Mendes fell silent, glaring at them viciously. “Fine! Call the police then!” Professor Wells didn’t hesitate—he pulled out his phone and started dialing. But just as he pressed the second digit, his phone was suddenly snatched away. “You really dare? Do you think there’s no law in this country?” she shrieked. On the other side, Dean Larson calmly raised his own phone, turning the screen toward her so she could see the number he was dialing. “Calling now—Adams University main gate. Someone is deliberatel
For a moment, Mrs. Mendes was stunned, as if she hadn’t expected Dean Larson to apologize so decisively.She clutched the black-and-white photo of her daughter tightly, her hands trembling slightly. Her expression grew complicated—this apology left her without an excuse to continue making a scene.Her face was pale. “It wasn’t you who killed my daughter—it was Sarah Sanders! Why isn’t she the one apologizing?”“Miss Sanders has already been suspended and is staying at home,” Professor Wells explained calmly. “There is no conclusive evidence proving that Miss Sanders was responsible for Tina Mendes’ death. The current suspension is only a temporary measure due to the media pressure at the school gates—it’s for Miss Sanders’ safety.”By stating this, he was drawing a clear line—if the media twisted the narrative, it would be on them.At this point, with Dean Larson’s apology, Mrs. Mendes had been pushed into a corner.She hesitated, her voice faltering. “Sarah Sanders killed my dau
Professor Wells nodded. "Not just Mrs. Mendes—the reporters are still holding their ground too."Dean Larson let out a cold chuckle. "They’re certainly persistent."Professor Wells sighed. "It’s not surprising. This is Adams University, a top institution with a century of prestige. The school has never had a scandal like this, and now that they’ve found an opening, they won’t let go easily."He paused before adding, "But it’s not just about the university. You know as well as I do—Sarah has a complicated background. People are just waiting to find something they can use against her. And now, with Mia suddenly having a breakdown right in front of the reporters… They’re practically salivating over this.""I know," Dean Larson said, cutting him off.Professor Wells hesitated before continuing, "But we can’t let this go on any longer. The board of trustees has already caught wind of it, and they want immediate action."Dean Larson’s expression darkened. "The board? Hah. Nothing ever
"A cloned license plate?" Zachary's mind stirred.For some reason, his thoughts drifted back to three years ago—another van, just like this one, had appeared, and that incident had left Mia with deep, irreparable psychological trauma.The assistant nodded respectfully. "Yes, sir. A cloned plate. There’s no way to trace it."Sarah sat beside Mia, watching her closely. It had taken so much effort just to get Mia to calm down.Vivian stood to the side, silently observing the two of them—Sarah gently comforting Mia while Zachary spoke with his assistant.She felt like an outsider.Her hands instinctively clenched behind her back, fingers digging into her palm.It was suffocating.A feeling she couldn’t describe.It came from Sarah.It came from the way Zachary and Sarah existed in a space where no one else could step in.Zachary finally turned his gaze toward Vivian. His voice was polite, but distant. "Mia’s stable now. You should head back to the company."Vivian froze for a m
"Hiring Miss Sanders as Mia's psychologist was my decision. I trust her ability. Do you have a problem with that?" Zachary’s voice was sharp, his patience wearing thin. Seeing Mia in this state, he had no energy for pleasantries with Vivian. His tone softened slightly, but his words carried an unmistakable weight. "Vivian, let me put it this way. Suppose I walk down a road and trip over a pit. Maybe I consider filling it, but for one reason or another, I don’t. But if I walk that road again, and that same pit still trips me up… I won’t just fill it. I’ll dig it wide open. I’ll clear out every rotten branch, every piece of decay lurking inside, and only then will I bury it for good." Vivian swallowed hard. "I… don’t know what you’re trying to say." "You don’t have to understand. Just remember it." The car soon pulled up in front of the Sanders’ residence. Zachary’s assistant got out and knocked on the door while Zachary immediately called Sarah. "Mia’s having an epi
Whether Mia’s condition had anything to do with Sarah or not, one fact was undeniable—despite undergoing treatment for so long, she was still not cured. Mia had suffered multiple episodes in the past, though the exact reasons remained unknown. However, most people believed that a patient undergoing treatment shouldn’t be having frequent relapses—especially not one as severe as this, and definitely not in front of a crowd. Mia’s terrified screams echoed through the air, her expression one of pure horror. Even some of the most seasoned reporters, used to witnessing intense and dramatic scenes, felt a chill run down their spines as they watched her. Mrs. Mendes desperately tried to calm Mia down, speaking softly and attempting to console her, but nothing worked. Meanwhile, at Reynolds Corporation, Zachary was in the middle of an important meeting, completely unaware of the chaos unfolding outside Adams University. His assistant, clearly flustered, burst into the conferen
Mia's mouth fell open in disbelief, her body wracked with uncontrollable tremors. The woman's screams had not stopped. She sobbed until she was gasping for air, but the men had no intention of letting her go. The torture continued. Mia's entire body convulsed, the sounds of crackling flesh from the fire filling the room with an eerie, sickening noise. The grotesque popping and hissing made her wish she could lose consciousness on the spot. But the more she wanted to faint, the clearer her mind became. Her vision was swallowed by red. Everything— her entire world—was drenched in red. She could no longer see any other color. "Help me! Help me! They're monsters! Monsters!" she shrieked, her voice breaking into hysterical screams. The man watched her reaction with satisfaction. With a casual wave of his hand, the two men behind him dragged the blood-soaked woman’s lifeless body away, leaving only him and Mia in the room. But Mia was no longer herself. Her ey