Chapter 2

In fact, after feeding the dogs, Mom went to the bank before going home.

First, she transferred five thousand into my bank account.

Then, she deliberately withdrew enough coins to make a dollar. After returning home, she threw them at me and said it was my food money.

This strange behavior immediately sparked a heated discussion.

I was stunned, too.

With reddened eyes, Mom began to explain slowly, “When Matilda was born, a fortune teller said her fate was bad and that she wouldn’t live past ten.

“The only way to keep her alive was to cut down her food allowance, so Hades would think she didn’t exist in this family.

“So, I only gave Matilda a dollar per meal. But I was afraid she would feel wronged, so I opened several bank accounts for her and transferred an extra five thousand every month for her to use freely.

“The one-dollar meals were for the spirits to see. The money in the bank accounts was my love for my daughter. But Matilda twisted the truth and accused me of abuse.”

Mom looked like she was about to cry, as if she had been wronged to the extreme.

I broke down and shouted, “That’s impossible! I’ve never seen any bank cards!”

Many people immediately chimed in.

[Yeah, how do you prove that money actually went to your daughter?]

[Matilda isn’t stupid. If she really had five thousand a month, how could she be so hungry that she had to eat leftovers?]

Mom gave a bitter smile and nodded toward the judge.

Soon, dense transaction records filled the big screen.

At a glance, almost all of them were from nightclubs, bars, and male escorts…

Under the consumer's name, it clearly said Matilda.

The crowd instantly exploded.

[Damn, no wonder Matilda is so skinny. But it’s not from hunger, she’s been living a dirty life!]

[This is hilarious. She spent all her money drinking and fooling around. Of course, she has nothing left to eat.]

[I knew it. A philanthropist who treats outsiders so well. How could she possibly abuse her own daughter?]

My mind went blank, but I forced myself to calm down.

“I’ve never been to any of those places. Someone must have impersonated me and made those purchases.

“These records are fabricated!”

The judge shook his head impatiently and played dozens more videos.

I froze instantly.

In the videos, “I” was either splurging on luxury bags or indulging myself with male escorts.

However, I had no memory of any of it.

The videos had to be fake!

I immediately tried to argue, but the judge seemed to know what I was about to say and cut me off coldly.

“All of these videos were recorded on-site by professionals. There is no possibility of fabrication.

“Matilda, I already warned you. You cannot overturn this case.”

Public opinion flipped in an instant.

Everyone began calling me a liar, accusing me of preying on their sympathy.

Seizing the moment, Mom added fuel to the fire. She played a video of herself working overtime until midnight just for a fifty-dollar bonus.

“My husband passed away early. To raise Matilda, my only daughter, I’ve nearly given my life.

“I work myself to the bone every month and can only earn seven thousand. Five thousand goes to my daughter, eighteen hundred goes to her insurance, and I keep only two hundred for my own living expenses…

“I don’t even have money to eat, so I eat cheap animal feed that fills me up. It’s full of hormones, which is why my weight has skyrocketed to what it is now.

“But not only is my daughter ungrateful, she keeps saying I abuse her, just to squeeze more money out of me!”

As she spoke, Mom wiped away her tears.

I was shaking with anger.

Not a single word she said was true, but she always had evidence that made everyone believe her without question.

Almost all the netizens turned to her side.

Only a few people who were still clearheaded questioned her.

[If you can’t even afford to eat, where did you get the money to buy Wagyu for stray dogs? Where did the money for charity come from? And what about the designer brands you’re wearing?]

Mom remained completely calm.

“The money I use for charity comes from my late husband’s inheritance. My daughter Matilda has had poor character since she was young. Before he died, my husband left instructions to use all our savings for charity, to atone for her sins.

“As for the designer brands I’m wearing, my husband bought them for me when he was alive. Wearing them feels like he’s still by my side…”

As soon as she said this, everyone was deeply moved.

[I actually supported Matilda. That’s a stain on my life.]

[So the mother is the good one. She can’t even afford food and still does charity… I’m crying.]

[Hurry up and prosecute Matilda! A liar like her doesn’t deserve to live!]

The netizens voted on the spot. Every single one supported eliminating me.

The judge declared against me again.

Soon, the tools for execution were brought before me.

Just one second before I was about to be tied up, a flash of realization struck me, and I shouted with all my strength.

“Wait! I have witnesses! They can prove that I’m the real victim!”