Chapter 3

My father's expression darkened completely. The disappointment in his eyes as he looked at me was unmistakable.

In the end, they walked away hand in hand with Ava, leaving behind only one sentence, "Don't ever let us see you again."

The crowd gradually dispersed until I was the only one left.

No ID, no job, no money, and no home. The only way I could survive was by digging through trash cans for food: half-eaten bread, spoiled boxed meals, even dog food that no one wanted.

I crouched where the streetlights couldn't reach, stuffing each bite into my mouth.

My stomach felt as though a dull blade were slowly grinding through it until it drew blood. Whenever the pain became unbearable, I'd curl into a ball with my arms wrapped around my knees.

I could almost hear my mother's voice repeating the words she'd always told me, "If you don't study hard, you'll end up picking through garbage for a living."

I lowered my head and stared at the filthy pieces of bread resting in my palm.

A bitter smile spread across my face. "I'm so useless."

I really did end up picking through trash, but I'd worked hard. I'd even ranked first in the county. Was I really that worthless?

Supporting myself against the wall, I forced myself to my feet and wandered aimlessly for what felt like forever.

Before I knew it, I'd somehow found myself standing outside my house again.

I stared at the familiar window. My chest ached until it went numb.

So many questions were bottled up inside me. I wanted to storm inside and demand answers.

Bracing myself against the wall, I gritted my teeth and climbed over it once more, but every light in the house was off.

The yard was empty. The living room was empty. Only the dining table remained, where an elegant cherry cake sat waiting. A chocolate plaque rested on top: [Congratulations to Sophie in Advance on Scoring No. 1 in the Finals]

I stared at those words until my eyes burned red.

When I was little, my mother once promised that if I came first in my class, she'd buy me a cherry cake.

When I finally did, they changed their minds. They said I had to rank first in the entire grade instead. Later, after they sent me to the mountains, I finished first in the whole county.

Still, I never got my cherry cake.

Looking at the cake now, resentment surged through me.

I grabbed a huge piece and stuffed it into my mouth. Cream smeared across my face. The rich sweetness immediately triggered another violent spasm in my stomach.

But I didn't stop. For all those years, I hadn't truly lived a single day. I hadn't eaten a single full meal. Even if I was going to die, at least I'd die with a full stomach.

The pain in my stomach grew more unbearable with every passing second.

I started coughing violently.

Then I noticed the large refrigerator nearby. Suddenly, I wanted nothing more than a sip of ice-cold water.

I struggled over and pulled the refrigerator door open. Inside, every shelf was filled with apple juice, the one drink I was allergic to.

Just my luck. I couldn't even have a drink of water before I died.

The pain exploded through my stomach. Everything went black, and I pitched headfirst into the refrigerator.

...

The agony finally disappeared.

My body felt impossibly light.

Without realizing it, I drifted toward my parents. They were eating dinner together in a brightly lit restaurant. The table was covered with seafood and desserts I'd only ever seen on TV.

My mother placed peeled shrimp onto Ava's plate, her voice as gentle as water. "Don't be nervous about tomorrow's finals. Mom believes in you."

My father smiled as he poured her a glass of juice.

Ava happily popped one shrimp after another into her mouth.

I floated over and sat across from them. Watching the warm family scene before me, a sharp pain pierced my heart.

Suddenly, my mother pressed a hand against her chest. Her face turned pale.

My father immediately grew anxious. "What's wrong?"

My mother frowned and shook her head. "It's nothing. My heart just suddenly feels unsettled."

She paused. For some reason, the image of my thin, gaunt face flashed through her mind.

"Forget it... After the final is over, I'll bring her back."

My whole body trembled. Joy spread uncontrollably across my face. "Really? Mom... you're letting me come home?"

But she couldn't hear me.

She simply continued speaking to herself. "Once she's home, we'll make sure she learns her lesson. We have to make her understand how important studying is."

I froze.

Then I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "Mom... that day will never come."

...

After dinner, they returned home.

The moment the living room lights came on, everyone stopped in shock.

The house was in complete disarray. A chair had been knocked over. The cherry cake on the table had been eaten into a complete mess. Cream was smeared everywhere.

Ava screamed first, "My document folder!"

She rushed over and picked up the folder I'd accidentally knocked onto the floor.

My mother's face instantly darkened. "It was her! I knew she wouldn't let this go! It wasn't enough for her to follow us all the way home. She actually broke into the house to vandalize it!"

My father was furious as well. "She never learns!"

Ava's eyes suddenly reddened. She tugged gently at their sleeves. "Dad... Mom... forget it. I think she's just angry, so she deliberately ruined my things. If she really doesn't want me to compete tomorrow... I won't go."

My mother immediately pulled her into a tight embrace. "Silly girl. You've worked so hard to make it from those mountains to where you are today. I've seen every step of your journey. No one is allowed to ruin your future!

"This can't be overlooked anymore. She needs to be locked up so she can reflect on what she's done!"

My mother picked up her phone and called the police once again. "Hello, there's a dangerous intruder in my house! Please come quickly!"

The police arrived soon afterward.

After reviewing the security footage from the hallway, they confirmed that I had climbed over the wall and entered the yard.

But strangely, the cameras never captured me leaving.

My mother immediately hid behind one of the officers, her voice trembling. "You see? She's insane! She's still holding a grudge and hiding somewhere, waiting to attack us! You absolutely can't let her off this time!"

The police officers' expressions turned serious.

They began searching every room in the house.

But after checking every corner, they still couldn't find me.

Finally, one police officer walked into the kitchen. His eyes landed on the refrigerator door.

Frowning, he reached out and pulled it open. The next second, his entire body froze. Then his voice rose in alarm, "Everyone, get over here! Now!"