Chapter 3
The car sped down the endless mountin roads, twisting sharply and jolting violently at every turn.
In the suffocating darkness, I felt the world spinning violently around me.
My stomach churned violently; something acidic surged up my throat, desperate to get out.
I frantically patted the car‘ bodywork.
“Mom, I—I’m gonna throw up. Please, let me out.”
No one paid me any mind.
My head burned, my body weak and frantic as I kept hitting the metal, crying out for “Mom.”
I must not vomit in the car.
Once, when I was sick with a high fever and accidentally vomited on the floor at home, my father took a thick, heavy wooden stick and hit me hard across the back.
I had lain in bed for days, unable to even walk.
A long time later, I faintly heard my uncle Davi’s voice. “If you dare throw up in the car, forget about ever setting foot in the Miller family!”
The car still didn’t stop. It even sped up, and the jolts became more violent.
Sweat soaked through my clothes until they clung like I’d been dropped into water.
My mind flickered in and out, consciousness slipping. I couldn’t hold it anymore, and I finally vomited.
The sour, foul smell quickly filled the narrow space. My mind exploded in panic.
In utter terror, I took off my worn–out coat and frantically wiped at the mess in the darkness.
It’s not dirty, it’s not dirty…If it’s wiped clean, then it’s not dirty.
If I cleaned it up, it wouldn’t count. If it’s not dirty, I can still enter the Miller family, I can still stay with Mom.
She was all I had. Even though deep down, I knew she never liked me.
From the moment I was born, Ray Carter had only ever beaten and cursed at me and my mom.
The only warmth I had ever known was the rare times when Mom stayed by my side.
I kept scrubbing, my movements clumsy, frantic.
Maybe it was the retching. Maybe I’d strained too hard.
I felt a rush of warmth from my nose. It was blood.
I tried to lift my hand to cover it, but my fingers wouldn’t move anymore.
Overwhelmed by severe dizziness, I blacked out. I didn’t know how long had passed before a furious voice dragged me back.
“Get out!”
I jolted awake. The trunk had been flung open, and the car was parked in the driveway of a villa.
Uncle David stood outside, his face like stone, glaring at me. Ethan took one look at me, gagged, and bolted to the side to vomit.
His handsome face twisted in disgust. “So disgusting!”
Night had already fallen, but the courtyard lights shone bright.
Chapter 3
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Only then did I see myself clearly–my body and the trunk both smeared with vomit, streaked with blood from my nose.
I stammere in panic, “S–sorry. I’ll clean it. I’ll clean everything.”
Uncle David’s frown deepened. He said nothing more and ignored me.
A little girl, about my age, came running out of the villa. She wore a beautiful princess dress and had large eyes.
She looked like a real princess from a castle.
She rushed over happily and clung to y mom’s arm. “Ms. Miller, you’re back!”
Mom froze, staring blankly at her.
Uncle David explained, “This is Chloe Adams. She insisted on coming to pick you up. You held her when she was just born. You said back then that if you ever had a daughter, you hoped she’d be just like Chloe.”
Mom’s eyes reddened. She seemed lost, staring at Chloe as though in a daze.
I lowered my head, staring blankly at my own hands–covered in scars, rough, and ugly.
Chloe happily hugged my mother’s arm, he voice sweet. “Then from now on, I’ll be your goddaughter! And Ethan’s godsister!”
She and Uncle David, one on each side, supported my mother and helped her inside.
Uncle David spoke to her gentlyand pityingly. “This place is close. Stay here tonight. After you’ve rested, we’ll head back to Riverside City”
“Laura, it’s all over now. Don’t be afraid.”
He hesitated, then added carefully, “Michael said he will return to the country tomorrow. He hopes to remarry you.”
Mom abruptly interrupted him, hr voice urgent. “No!”
Uncle David froze, his body stiff.
Then, gently, he took her hand, comforting her with soft words I couldn’t hear.
But when he turned back, his eyes landed on me with naked loathing.
He lowered his voice slightlyto speak to Mom. “Don’t worry. I’ll think of a way to sen her away soon. The Millers ill not keep her.”
