Chapter 2

I couldn't bring myself to touch the medicine at home. I couldn't be sure if there was anything else mixed into those pills. So, after leaving the house, I found a pharmacy and took some fever-reducing medicine, which gave me a bit of strength.

I rested in the backstage lounge at the school's anniversary celebration, waiting for my turn. My classmates noticed that my complexion wasn't good, and one of them asked with genuine concern, "Harmony, you look really unwell. Should we postpone your speech to a later time?"

A classmate handed me a bottle of water, their eyes filled with sincere worry. It made me feel even worse—my classmates cared about my well-being, while my own family was solely focused on Gemma, disregarding my feelings.

I gave a faint smile and was about to reply when Gemma suddenly appeared before me.

"Harmony has a fever, and she's very weak. I'm really worried about her. I don't even know if she'll be able to go on stage later," Gemma said, her eyes welling up with tears, grabbing my hand as if genuinely concerned.

Internally, I sneered. Was she still planning to replace me?

My voice was a bit hoarse due to the fever as I coldly pulled my hand away. "But who caused my fever?"

She seemed taken aback by my reaction, her hand retracting, and her body trembling slightly.

Two days ago, it had been pouring rain, and she called me, claiming that she was being bullied outside. I had been naive enough to believe her and rushed out to support her. However, when I arrived at the address she'd given me, she was nowhere to be found. She had already returned home.

I was afraid that she might be in danger, so I searched for her everywhere, getting drenched in the process. She didn't answer her phone, and I was afraid to tell my family that I couldn't find her, fearing they'd blame me. In the end, I spent the entire night in the rain and came home with a high fever.

That was when she began plotting against me.

Gemma pretended to be pitiful in front of my classmates, biting her lip, eyes reddening, and apologized, "I'm sorry, Harmony. I didn't know you were searching for me all night..."

However, Gemma, that was not what you said at home!

She told our family that I insisted on going out with my friends and that it was pouring rain outside. She had advised me not to go, but I didn't listen, and that was why I had a fever. She even made it seem like it was all her fault, causing our parents and Tim to be even more disappointed in me, saying I was not as sensible as she was.

I wanted to explain but I was too weak to speak. I had to endure my parents' incessant scolding while she played the role of a good person.

I was thoroughly disappointed in my sister.

Seeing Gemma's pitiful appearance, my classmates were at a loss and nervously looked at me.

"What's the use of saying sorry?" I stood up, my heart aching, and left.

I didn't want to see her, not at all!

My classmates were there, watching.

How could Gemma pass up such a perfect opportunity to put on a show!

She hurriedly chased after me, repeatedly saying, "Harmony, I'm sorry. Please don't be angry with me, okay?"

Her pitiful appearance garnered sympathy from the onlookers passing by.

I quickened my pace, wanting to avoid any further interaction with her.

It wasn't until I reached a secluded spot that she successfully caught up to me.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at my angry expression, hesitantly saying, "Sister, I was wrong. I won't do it again. Please don't be angry. You can do whatever you want as long as it makes you feel better."

"Alright, you said it," I replied.

She had a faint smile on her face as she nodded.

I raised my hand and gave her a resounding slap, using every ounce of my strength to release all the grievances, resentment, and fear I had bottled up inside.

Instantly, a clear palm print appeared on her face. She looked stunned, gazing at me with vacant eyes.

That slap was just a brief release of my inner anger. I left her standing there and walked away.

It was time for something important.

I had hired a group of people who were waiting in the same place where I had been humiliated in my previous life.

It was a dark and desolate alley not far from the school. There were always thugs and hooligans lurking around that area, which was why no one suspected anything when I was violated there in my previous life.

However, I clearly lost consciousness inside the school; how did I end up there?

I didn’t believe this was a coincidence. I wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Standing at the intersection, looking down the pitch-black alley, the fear and unease from my previous life rushed over me.

"Hey, there's some movement. She must have brought someone with her, right?"

"Hurry, hurry, get ready."

"I heard that the one she brought looks pretty good! She's a top student at this university; we're in for a treat!"

They started anxiously adjusting their belts, but when I approached them, their actions suddenly froze.

"What's going on? Did she come here on her own?"

"Wait, wasn't it said that they would drug her? Did this girl willingly walk into the trap?"

"Who cares! We've got the money; let's just get the job done!"

Even though I stood before them fully conscious, they still intended to harm me.

They revealed lecherous smiles, but I responded coldly, "Get them!"

They stood bewildered, not understanding what was happening.

Meanwhile, the group of bodyguards who had been silently observing everything emerged from the darkness and apprehended them, pinning them against the wall.

"What... what do you want, beautiful lady?"

"We haven't done anything; why are you detaining us?"

Their eyes filled with fear, and they tried to appease me.

"Do you know me? Why did you immediately try to assault me when I appeared? And who is this 'she' you're talking about?" I scrutinized each of them closely.

There were six of them, and I remembered every face clearly.

The leader had blond hair and tried to smile pleasantly while his face was pressed against the wall. "Miss, you must have misunderstood something..."

"Oh? Just based on your action of taking off your pants just now, I could already sue you guys for indecent behavior." One of the bodyguards handed me a video recording, and I waved it in front of them.

Now, none of them could smile.

"You better tell the truth. Who told you to do this, or else..." I threatened, looking at them.

They exchanged glances, unsure if they should speak.

The leader with blond hair was more cooperative and said with a forced smile, "Miss, we didn't mean to harm you. It was that girl, umm, what was her name?"

"Gemma!" a fellow next to him chimed in.

"Yes, Gemma. She gave us money and said she'd bring you here today for us to commit indecent acts on you. At first, we didn't want to do it, as this could easily land us in trouble. However, she said she would drug you, and you wouldn't remember any of us afterward, so we reluctantly agreed..."

Hearing them admit that it was Gemma, I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

In my past life, I only knew that she drugged me because on that day, I had only consumed the fever medication she gave me. However, I had always been unwilling to believe that she had orchestrated everything.

My heart felt like it was being pierced, as my trust in her crumbled.

I couldn't understand why she would do this to me. Clearly, she had already won everyone's favor and affection, so why couldn't she tolerate me?