Chapter 3

After that, I tried every counterattack I could think of.

Every time Sandy took out her phone to record me, I forced myself to quiet down.

Once, Mom was holding me and talking to me when Sandy came over, her fingers secretly reaching for my lower back. She was going to pinch me, but I suddenly rolled over and got into my mom's arms instead.

Sandy's hand missed. She froze for a second, then smiled and said, "Oh, the baby has so much energy today. She can roll over so neatly already."

I lay against my mom's chest, my heart pounding. I had dodged it that time, but Sandy knew more than one trick.

Another week passed.

Dad had to work late on a project and didn't come home for five days straight. Sandy practically moved into our house and kept Mom company every day.

"Nina, you've been working too hard. Let me take care of the baby tonight. You should get some real sleep."

Mom was so touched that her eyes turned red. "Sandy, thank you. You're treating me better than a real sister would."

My stomach churned when I heard that.

A real sister? She was the one who indirectly killed you!

That night, after Mom fell asleep, Sandy held me in the living room. With no one watching, she no longer had to play pretend.

She looked down at me, her eyes cold. "Have you been refusing to cry on purpose lately?"

Her fingers pinched the sole of my foot, and she slowly tightened her pinch. It was so painful, but I pressed my lips together and forced myself not to make a sound.

Sandy's gaze turned vicious. "You won't cry, huh?"

She let go and took a needle out of her pocket. Then, she pricked my heel.

This time, I couldn't hold back and I burst into a loud cry. She raised her phone at once.

While I cried, I kicked hard and struck her wrist. The phone slipped and almost flew out of her hand.

However, Sandy caught it quickly and frowned. The recording was still complete.

The screen showed these words: [During the day, Mom took a package from a man, and that man touched my face.]

She put away the phone in satisfaction and muttered to herself, "I'll show your dad tomorrow."

My whole body went cold.

On the day Dad came home, Sandy made a table full of good food.

"Enzo, Nina was exhausted these past few days while you were gone, so I helped out a little."

Dad nodded politely.

At dinner, Sandy showed Dad the translation records she had gathered over the past few days. She scrolled through them one by one.

[The man had such a nice voice. Mom kept laughing when she talked to him on the phone.]

[That man came last time and brought me a toy. It was so much fun!]

[Mom told the man not to come anymore, but the man said he missed Mom.]

The dining table stayed silent for five full seconds.

Dad put down his fork and looked at Mom. "What man?"

Mom looked completely confused. "What man? Aside from you and the delivery man, no other man has been to our house at all."

"Delivery man?" Dad's tone shifted slightly.

Sandy spoke at the perfect moment, her voice careful and reluctant. "Enzo, the app would sometimes mention a man earlier... I was too embarrassed to tell you because I was afraid you would overthink it. But the baby kept bringing him up, so I think... I should let you know."

My mom finally grew anxious. "Sandy! What do you mean by that?"

"Nina!" Sandy grabbed Mom's hand, her eyes turning red. "Of course I believe you. But… I'm only telling the truth. I just say whatever the app displays. I wouldn't dare make anything up!"

Dad finished dinner in silence and did not say a word, but I saw the way he looked at Mom. It had already changed.

Once suspicion took root, it would easily grow.

Another three days passed.

One of Mom's male college classmates came to the city on a business trip and stopped by for a visit. They chatted in the living room for less than twenty minutes. The classmate played with me for a short while before leaving.

That night, Dad came home. Sandy was also "just happened" to still be there.

While changing my diaper, she quickly pinched the inside of my thigh. A wave of pain hit me, but I buried my face in the blanket and bit hard into one corner.

This time, I absolutely could not cry.

Sandy waited five seconds, ten seconds, fifteen seconds. Her expression shifted, and her fingers reached for the sole of my foot again.

Just as she was about to succeed, my mom walked out of the kitchen and asked, "Sandy, are you done changing the diaper?"

Sandy pulled her hand back, the smile on her face perfect. "All done. The baby was especially quiet today."

This time, she failed to record me crying.

But she didn't panic. She carried a bottle of warm milk toward me and smiled.

"It's time for the baby to drink milk."

The bottle had just reached my mouth when I smelled something sharp… She had added something to the milk! Something spicy!

The moment my lips touched the nipple, my tongue felt like it was on fire. My face got all red, and I bawled my eyes out.

This time, I couldn't hold it in.

Sandy immediately raised her phone at.

The screen showed these words:

[That man came again today. He even kissed me. Mom was beside us, smiling so happily.]

Dad's face turned completely dark.

"Enzo, listen to me. That was my college classmate. He only stopped by because he was passing through," Mom said.

Dad said coldly, "What about the footage from the security camera?"

Sandy lowered her head at the perfect time and said softly, "Enzo... The living room's security camera seems to have broken last week. I did ask Nina to call someone in for the repairs..."

My mom's whole body shook.

The camera was broken…but she had no memory of Sandy telling her to ask for repairs.