Chapter 2

The last time around, the news had made me drop my phone. My legs had gone weak with fear while my mind went completely blank. I was too shaken to think with clarity.

By the time I found the livestream, I was already in Asteria. I immediately turned back, but it was still too late.

Billy had viciously dragged my name through the mud on camera while Greg and Lori backed up every lie he told.

“Dad, don’t blame Mom. I was just too weak to handle the stress. I could never become the perfect son she wanted me to be.”

Billy had pulled up his sleeve and revealed wounds made with makeup and fake blood.

“I wanted to get perfect grades too. It’s not like I wanted to be beaten, but I’m just not smart enough. I just can’t do it!”

The viewers immediately felt a wave of sympathy for him when they saw the bloody wounds.

[Oh my God! Whoever did that went way too far.]

[People who can’t control their emotions shouldn’t be raising children.]

[Before demanding perfect grades from her son, maybe she should ask whether she could ever manage that herself.]

The moment Greg saw the fake wounds, he had delivered an Oscar-worthy performance. He had covered his mouth in disbelief as tears spilled from his eyes.

Greg’s face had been soaked with tears as he pleaded hoarsely for Billy to get down from the window.

“Billy, please get down! Stop scaring me. If anything happens to you, I won’t be able to go on either. I’m begging you. Please get down from there!”

“No, Dad. I’ve been a terrible son. I’m so sorry!” Billy clenched his jaw as though he had finally made up his mind about something.

“Mom has been having an affair with Mr. Scott for a long time. Whenever you weren’t home, she’d bring him over. She even threatened me into keeping it a secret. I’m sorry, Dad. I was too scared to tell you. Will you please forgive me? At least then I can die in peace.”

Greg had appeared so stunned by the revelation that he could not utter a word.

When his father remained silent, Billy had cried out, “I’ve been a terrible son! It’s only right if you can’t forgive me!”

As he spoke, he leaned farther out of the window and looked as though he might fall at any moment.

Greg had finally snapped out of his daze and hurriedly shouted, “I forgive you! You silly boy, none of this was ever a burden a child should’ve had to carry. Please just come down!”

At that moment, Lori, who had been standing silently nearby, finally spoke. “Billy, come down. From now on, I’ll protect you.”

Her words seemed to serve as a reminder. Billy cast a quick, subtle glance at the inflatable rescue cushion already positioned below, then delivered his final grand declaration.

“Mom, I know you have AIDS. If there’s a next life, I hope you’re never my mother again!”

With that, he threw himself from the window.

Greg had let out a few guttural howls toward the window before conveniently falling unconscious.

By the time I returned, it was already too late.

I had become the most hated woman on the internet. I tried to tell my side of the story online.

However, the people had said: Your son would rather die than keep your secret. You’re obviously the problem.

[I can’t believe a mother could be this evil. You’re the one who deserves to die, not your son.]

The relentless online abuse drove me into a deep depression. Taking advantage of my dazed and broken state, Greg had tricked me into drinking a glass of poisoned milk.

Snapping back to the present, I feigned shock as I said to Lori, “What? That’s impossible! You’re lying!”

“Billy is livestreaming right now. See for yourself!”

Lori sent me the link to the livestream. I opened it and saw that there were already several thousand viewers in the chat room.

I coldly took note of the numbers with mechanical efficiency and continued upstairs to an electronic store on the upper floor. I bought the latest model gaming console. I also asked the sales associate for some recommendations of their most popular games.

“I can return these if my son doesn’t like them, right?”