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My Parents Faked Their Deaths to Punish Me
My Parents Faked Their Deaths to Punish Me
Author: Dyeing

Chapter 1

Author: Dyeing
"Think carefully. Once you sign the contract, we won't be responsible for anything that happens."

That was what the pharmaceutical company staff told me during the clinical trial. He had repeated it many times: the contract we signed was legally binding.

After drinking the medicine, I'd be observed for five hours. If nothing went wrong, even if I died afterward, I couldn't hold them accountable.

At the time, all I wanted was to celebrate the New Year with my brother, so I signed without hesitation.

But now… looking at the cash in my hand, a wave of irony hit me. I raised a hand and wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth with my sleeve, then pushed the door open and stepped inside.

My brother hurriedly ended his phone call. When he turned, his eyes immediately caught the blood on my clothes.

"What happened?"

His expression shifted, and in a few quick steps, he was by my side, pressing my shoulders to check for injuries.

I gently pushed his hands away, keeping my tone casual. "Props blood from the set."

"Good… I thought you were hurt."

He let out a sigh of relief. Then his eyes fell on the bag of cash on the floor, and they sharpened.

"Where did this come from? Lily… you didn't steal this, did you?"

My heart sank. Suddenly, I realized how little I truly knew him.

Steal money. Was that how he actually saw me?

I clenched my fingers and, after a long moment, said softly, "The director gave it. New Year bonus."

He frowned, still doubtful.

"A bonus in cash?"

"Just say whether you want it or not." I glanced at him, irritated. "Wasn't there only 13 thousand dollars left on the debt? This covers it exactly. If you don't want it, I can give it back."

He paused, then finally put the money away.

"I'll pay off the debt tomorrow," he said.

Then he changed the subject. "What do you want to eat today? I'll cook."

I looked around.

A thirty-square-meter room, everything visible at a glance. A wardrobe, a bed, and a tiny bathroom. No kitchen—cooking meant chopping vegetables on the coffee table. A ten-dollar electric skillet, used for five years, its wires burned out twice and patched up with black tape by my brother.

I asked suddenly, softly, "Shane… aren't you tired?"

He smiled and looked back.

"No, my work's actually easy. I just lie around. The main one who's tired is you. All these years… you must be exhausted."

What I really wanted to ask was: after pretending all this, aren't you tired? With billions in the family, you could live however you wanted. Yet you choose to live like this, punishing me… aren't you tired?

But he didn't understand.

Fine. I'd be blunt.

I looked him squarely in the eyes and asked, "Shane… do you think I like to spend money?"
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  • My Parents Faked Their Deaths to Punish Me   Chapter 9

    I went home.After my simple retaliation against Charlene, I didn't feel the satisfaction I had imagined. Instead, an emptiness settled in.It was as if I suddenly realized that everything I had done meant nothing—that it couldn't make up for the suffering I'd endured.If anything, it only reminded me how miserable the past five years had been.So I grew quiet. Withdrawn. I stopped talking.Sometimes I stared out the window. Sometimes I replayed videos of myself acting as a corpse.It was… pitiful.There was one scene filmed in a hailstorm. I wore only a thin dress, lying on the ground as the actors ran over me, trampling without restraint. The pain… it felt worse than the illness in my blood.I still remembered the stone pressing beneath my back, but I didn't dare say a word. If the director got upset, not only would my pay be cut that day, I'd be targeted afterward.I endured it out of habit. After the scene, I even had to flatter the actors and say things like, "Great perfo

  • My Parents Faked Their Deaths to Punish Me   Chapter 8

    My body wasn't ready to leave the hospital. But I insisted, and my parents reluctantly took me to the studio.The moment the director saw me, he immediately barked orders, "Lily! Why are you so late? Today's pay is cut in half!"Shane's face darkened instantly. He opened his mouth to speak, but I stopped him.I scanned the room. Former colleagues stared at me with mixed expressions.Charlene sat not far away, her face clouded with displeasure.I smiled."Director, I'm here to buy everyone coffee.""You?" He sneered with disbelief. "Count yourself lucky if you don't just leech two cups off us. You're actually buying for everyone? Do you know there are over three hundred people in this crew? How long would you have to lie there as a corpse to afford that?"My parents' eyes widened, anger flickering at the director's tone.I, however, kept smiling."Not just coffee. Also boxed lunches."I no longer cared what the director thought. I turned to Shane."Is that okay?"He didn't

  • My Parents Faked Their Deaths to Punish Me   Chapter 7

    Guilt flooded Shane's eyes."Lily… don't be angry. It really was our fault back then. We'll change. From now on, spend money however you want. "Yes, yes—whatever you've ever wanted, we'll get it for you now!"My mother, as if reminded, grabbed my father and hustled him out of the room without another word.My brother sat down beside my bed, his gaze falling on my pale face. His voice was soft, full of concern, "Lily, I know you've suffered. From now on, Mom, Dad, and I won't be stubborn anymore.Don't worry about your illness—we have money. I'll find the best doctors and the best medicine for you."I smiled, indifferent."Where were you all before? What if I hadn't gotten sick? How long were you planning to punish me?"His voice cracked, hoarse with emotion."We never expected you to do so much for the family… these past five years, everything we did was for your future. We were afraid you'd grow up spoiled and vain, unprepared for hard times. But you know… our family could sp

  • My Parents Faked Their Deaths to Punish Me   Chapter 6

    By the time my parents and brother arrived, I was awake.I lay on the hospital bed, eyes hollow, staring at the ceiling.They were all disheveled from the rush. After talking to the police, disbelief etched their faces.The doctor spoke slowly, "Actually, if her immunity had been stronger, she wouldn't have been infected by the virus on the needle. But her body was missing too much, too weak… that's why she developed a blood disorder."My brother's face went instantly pale."So… the blood she vomited wasn't a prop…"My mother lunged toward me, clutching my hand tightly."Lily… why did you become a clinical trial volunteer? If you hadn't—""If I hadn't gone, how would the family's debt have been paid?" I cut her off, bitterness sharp in my voice. "Shane told me he was testing haunted houses, but every night he came home. We only got to be together during New Year. Last year, when we ate buns, he looked so gloomy, saying there was no festive spirit. I just wanted him to have a

  • My Parents Faked Their Deaths to Punish Me   Chapter 5

    My parents returned quickly—early the next morning, they were home.Shane, still irritated from their scolding, forced me to sit on the sofa all night. I hadn't slept, my stomach ached, and cold sweat drenched me. I felt utterly drained.Yet, when my parents arrived, I rose to my feet like a reflex.In my mind, they had died five years ago. Now, seeing them alive and well at home felt like a dream."Lily, do you understand what you did wrong?"My father's cold words yanked me back to reality.I froze, my voice hoarse."Wrong? What did I do wrong?"His expression darkened slightly."Five years, and you still don't understand how hard it is to earn money? When we faked our deaths and went abroad, it was to teach you—money always runs out, one day there's no more to earn, one day there's nothing left to spend. Now you understand. Good—so we don't return home to an empty house."A cold shiver ran through me. I spoke with growing emotion, "So in the end, you think I'm dragging you

  • My Parents Faked Their Deaths to Punish Me   Chapter 4

    "Was it fun? Five years of lies—was that fun?"I ripped off my hat and scarf, lunging forward to grab his sleeve."Tell me! When have I ever been wasteful? Why did you all have to torture me like this?"Panic flashed in my brother's eyes. He looked around, embarrassed, and gripped me firmly."There are too many people here. Let's go outside.""Who needs to hide from the public eye? It's you!" I wrenched my arm free, my face burning red, and screamed hysterically, "You and Mom and Dad—working together to deceive me! Telling me the family went bankrupt, that we owed money, telling me you were testing haunted houses!"But in reality? They were traveling abroad, and you came home every day to relax! The only one suffering all this time… was me!"My control snapped. Tears poured down my face."Shane… why? Can't you tell me why? I beg you! What does it matter if our family has billions and I spend one thousand on a phone?"His expression darkened."No wonder you asked me that this

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