LOGINHis recoil provided Elisa with the opportunity she needed. She jumped out of bed and smashed the lamp against the wall.The lamp shattered into pieces. Elisa picked up one of the shards and gripped it tightly in her hand. The sharp edge cut into her palm, and blood began to drip. She held on fiercely, using it as a weapon to keep Arnold at bay. "Take one step closer and I'll slit your throat. Go ahead, try me!" she snarled.Arnold was furious. He should never have gone soft on her just now! But at least the drug was working. Elisa's cheeks had turned red, and her eyes were hazy. It wouldn't be long until she exhausted herself. Or so he thought.To his utter shock, Elisa suddenly drew the shard across her own arm. The pain cleared her mind instantly, and her gaze regained its sharpness."You..." Arnold was dumbfounded. He was in disbelief that Elisa was willing to hurt herself just to stay in control.Elisa, panting from the sting, glared coldly at him. "Get out!"She knew there was li
Elisa left the Walsh residence right after saying her piece. Yet as she walked away, her mind was a mess.Maybe her parents were right. She was a cold-hearted, ungrateful person incapable of showing love or loyalty to family. Even with Clive on his deathbed, she had still rejected his request without hesitation, even going so far as to declare her intention to start her own medical center. Her words must have felt like daggers to him.But what Clive said hurt her just as deeply. Those words were hidden under the façade of family. It was clearly an attempt to convince her to be a pawn for the Walshes, Harvey, and Harmony Medical Center.Elisa shook her head, frustrated. She was so buried in thought that she failed to see the two vicious men in black suits approaching silently from behind. Before she could react, a hand grabbed her face. Elisa struggled as she tried to scream.Her instincts kicked in. Her fingers reached for her pocket where she kept a vial of homemade poison powder for
Clive struggled to open his eyes. When he saw Elisa, he gave her a slight smile. "Lisa, you're here? Good, good... Seeing you one last time brings me peace." For once, Elisa felt a rare hint of guilt.She had been aware that Clive had collapsed and suffered an injury, but she had not paid him a single visit. She was always finding excuses to avoid stepping foot in the Walsh residence. She told herself it was because Harvey was there and would never let her enter. But the truth was, she simply didn't want to go.Stepping closer, she called softly, "Grandpa..."No matter what, she couldn't forget how just a few months ago, Isabelle had stirred up trouble by inciting Melvin to act against her, which led to Lance taking advantage of the chaos to kidnap her. Once Clive heard about it, he stood up for Elisa without hesitation, even at the risk of offending the Chavezes. That act of kindness had always stayed with her."Such a good girl," Clive murmured, patting Elisa's hand before shakily r
Elisa closed her laptop with a soft click, raising an eyebrow as she smirked. "Don't idolize me too much. It's all just survival skills." Her tone was light, but the truth ran deeper. Growing up, Elisa had been like a sponge, absorbing everything she could get her hands on.The books she'd read, the knowledge she'd gathered, the medical texts she'd pored over, and the hacking techniques she'd taught herself were things no one could ever take away from her. No matter what, they were hers to keep. "Alright, it's time for me to check out some medical centers," she said, tossing her backpack over her shoulder.It was the same backpack she had thrown aside in her rush to save Carmen not long ago. Thankfully, she had recovered it, herbs and all, after the chaos had settled.Although Elisa had spent a good chunk of time helping Carmen get even, exposing the creep behind the photos and dealing with the others involved, she hadn't been slacking on other things. She still made time each day to
Calvin was drenched in sweat, his panic so overwhelming that he could barely think straight.He sat there trembling, staring at his computer screen as if it were alive. He started typing desperately, hoping to communicate with the hacker who had just obliterated his digital fortress. He wanted to beg-no, plead for mercy. But his attempts were futile. His skills, which he once thought impressive, were laughable in the face of the force he was up against.Another line of text appeared on his screen, "I've sent everything to everyone you know. If you can't face them, maybe take a stroll to your rooftop. Just a suggestion."And finally, the hacker typed, "Oh, and good luck in the afterlife." A smiling emoji followed.Calvin's stomach dropped. The sinister grin on the screen burned into his mind, its cheerfulness more terrifying than any threat.He screamed in agony, stumbling backward from his chair and collapsing to the floor.His bedroom door burst open. His parents stormed in, their fa
The wind on the rooftop was fierce, howling past Carmen as she stood teetering on the edge.Below, the woman who had attacked her earlier was pointing upward while gesturing wildly, her voice faintly audible even against the wind. Around her, a small crowd had gathered. Some laughed while others shook their heads, but they all watched with that morbid curiosity reserved for train wrecks and car crashes. Carmen glanced down, her heart heavy with despair but tinged with something darker-resentment.She thought about what their faces would look like after she jumped. Would they scream? Would they cry? Or would they feel that cold rush of guilt as they realized they'd pushed her this far?A bitter smile tugged at her lips. The thought felt almost like revenge.Closing her eyes, Carmen raised her arms, the wind tugging at her clothes. Then, she let herself fall forward."Gosh!""She's jumping!"Screams and gasps erupted from the ground below as her body tipped over the edge.For a brief mo







