Chapter2

The phone screen flashed frantically, I’ve gotten lots of texts from unfamiliar numbers.

"You little slut, how is your body so hot and your tits so big?"

"You play pretty wild in private, spreading your legs wider than anyone else. How much for a night?"

Every single sentence a vicious slut-shaming attack for me.

Tears welled up in my eyes uncontrollably. I bit my lip hard, fighting back the tremors as I mechanically took screenshots, secured the evidence, and then blocked every single number.

The door was shoved open roughly. My mother said : "I've asked for a long leave of absence for you. Richard is negotiating a major deal right now. You will stay in this room for now. Don't go anywhere!"

Today, I had to go out. I had to go back to the company in person to sign the final non-disclosure agreement. As long as I signed it, I could escape this place for good.

I decided to leave quietly, with no intention of telling her about my departure abroad. She never had time for me anyway; even if I vanished completely, she probably wouldn't notice.

The air conditioning at Lighthouse Labs headquarters was bone-chilling. Even though the photos had been deleted, almost everyone around me knew what had happened.

The glances cast my way were filled with scrutiny and mockery, accompanied by blatant, unapologetic whispering.

"You couldn't tell. She looks so innocent normally, but she's such a slut behind closed doors. Who knows how many men she's slept with."

"Who knows. Don't get too close to her, she might have some disease."

A massive wave of shame and fear enveloped me once again.

Fighting the suffocating feeling, I signed the papers. My heart tightened painfully, and I have no idea how I managed to walk out of the company.

Walking down the street in a daze, three burly white men suddenly blocked my path.

The bald leader pulled out a phone displaying my intimate photos, his greedy, disgusting gaze sweeping over my chest and thighs.

"This is you in the photos, right? Your body is fucking amazing in person."

"You play so wild in private, why act like a virgin?"

"Play with us boys today!"

My body stiffened, my scalp prickling with sheer terror. I took a half-step back: "What do you want!"

The men exchanged glances and laughed lecherously. Ignoring my struggles, they grabbed my hair and dragged me forcefully into a dim alley.

They pinned me down with sinister grins.

"Get off! Don't touch me!"

I screamed in despair, but my hands and feet were pinned down so hard I couldn't even muster the strength to struggle.

The sound of tearing fabric echoed in my ears. The freezing air bit into my exposed skin, and I could only watch helplessly as they reached out their filthy hands toward me.

"Stop struggling! No one is coming to save you!" the bald man sneered, pressing down on me viciously. "If you serve us well, we might go easy on you later!"

Extreme terror pushed me to the verge of a breakdown. I bit my lip so hard that the metallic taste of blood spread in my mouth.

Taking advantage of the moment they impatiently started unzipping their clothes, I reached into my backpack and quickly pulled out the folding fruit knife hidden inside.

"Don't come any closer..." The hand holding the knife trembled violently.

When I was twelve, the first time I was bullied and had my clothes torn, my mother didn't comfort me. Instead, she blamed me: "Who told you to dress up so provocatively? You're never wearing dresses again!"

But what I wore that day was just my school uniform.

If my stepbrother Logan hadn't shown up in time back then, I wouldn't have known what to do. Ever since that day, I've always carried a knife with me.

The fear in my heart reached its absolute peak.

But they just kept smiling their greasy smiles, completely unafraid, even leaning in to snatch the knife from my hand.

"Ooh, the little alley cat has claws? Come on, stab me right here!"

"Get away from me!" I squeezed my eyes shut and swung the blade like a madwoman.

Amidst the struggle, a heavy resistance met the blade.

Followed closely by the muffled thud of metal piercing flesh.

SquELCH.

The bald man suddenly let out a miserable shriek and, as if terrified of a murder charge, violently let go of me.

I slumped to the ground. The knife hadn't hit them; instead, in the chaos, it had been driven deep into my own chest.

Blood spurted out instantly, soaking my torn clothes.

My vision began to darken in waves.

In my near-death haze, I could still hear them as they lowered their voices and tremblingly dialed a number.

"Mr. Logan... something went wrong! She stabbed herself with a knife!"

From the other end of the line came my stepbrother Logan Pierce's nonchalant voice.

"Is she dead?"

Then came Noah's voice: "Logan, you're fucking ruthless. You actually sent guys to jump her!"

Logan sneered, his tone as casual as if he were discussing a dead fly:

"I just got people to scare her a little. If she wants to kill herself, who's to blame?"

"If she's not dead, dump her at a hospital. Don't let her know about today."

My heart felt as though it had been violently crushed, the pain nearly suffocating me.

So... he truly wanted to destroy me.

A memory suddenly surfaced in my mind—words I had accidentally overheard him say a long time ago.

"Actually, I know my mom wasn't killed by her mother, but I just don't want her to have a peaceful life."

"My dad might feel guilty toward them, but I sure as hell don't."

Tears slipped uncontrollably from the corners of my eyes.

I completely lost consciousness.