Chapter 3 Shattered Hope

I turned around and walked away, paying no attention to their whispers behind me.

When I returned home to pack my belongings, I realized I was locked out.

The fingerprint lock kept denying my access. I tried again and again until my thumb had grown swollen, but the door still would not open.

My neighbor, a middle-aged woman, came home from grocery shopping.

She greeted me with a warm smile. "Young lady, aren't you walking your puppy today?"

I looked at her in confusion. "I don't have a puppy."

She waved her hand dismissively. "Impossible. I saw you registering its nose print just yesterday. It was such a playful little thing. Your parents had to coax it for ages before it finally behaved."

My hand froze over the lock, and my mind went blank from the information.

I was allergic to pet dander. It would raise hives on my skin upon contact or worse, a fever.

Bianca was the dog lover between the two of us.

The answer was obvious.

In order for Bianca's puppy to come and go freely, my family had deleted my fingerprints to make room for its nose print.

I had grown up in this house, yet they could not even tolerate leaving a single trace of me here.

I shook my head and let out a sad chuckle before turning to leave.

I did not have many belongings in that house. I kept my important documents in the apartment Julian and I shared.

In the cab heading there, I booked a flight to Clayfield.

My advisor had reserved an academic opportunity for me there.

Back then, I had chosen to stay behind for Julian and Bianca, but now, I was going to seize the chance to pursue my dreams.

As soon as I got out of the car, someone grabbed my hair and yanked me back. I stumbled backward in pain.

I looked up, and a fierce-looking stranger yelled at me. "Come with me! Where do you think you are going?"

I flailed my arms and screamed for help. "Someone help me! I don't know him! Let go of me!"

A passerby grabbed the man's arm.

"What do you think you're doing? Let the girl go, or I'll call the police!"

Being caught red-handed, my attacker averted his gaze. He was about to loosen his grip on me when Zachary and Samantha turned the corner.

They froze when they noticed the man grabbing me.

Their arrival gave me a sliver of hope. I reached out a hand toward them and begged, "Help me!"

My blood ran cold in my veins at their answers.

"Julian's prediction was right. She couldn't hold her jealousy and decided to make a mess at the apartment. Thank goodness we're here."

Zachary sneered and pulled the passerby away.

"Leave them be, sir. It's just a lovers' quarrel."

The kind man was unconvinced. "But the young lady said…"

Zachary fished out a group photo and showed it to the man.

"Here's the proof we aren't lying. See? We're her friends. The firecracker here is simply throwing a tantrum."

Samantha seemed hesitant, but she said nothing and looked away, saying, "Alba, it's Bianca's big day today. I won't let you ruin her first night."

The kind passerby eventually walked away after seeing the photo, plunging me into despair.

Tears ran down my cheeks.

Jennie shot me a nasty look. "Bianca knew you would wreck their apartment. The man was here to bring you home. Stop acting like a victim."

In the end, they got in the car and sped away.