Chapter 4

I shot up from bed in an instant. A quick glance at the clock told me it was the exact time my parents usually headed out to buy groceries.

Marilyn was standing at Steve's empty doorway, face dark with panic.

"What's going on? Elizabeth, where's Steve?"

Seeing her expression, a bitter laugh echoed in my head, though my face stayed perfectly calm.

I replied lightly, "He stayed over at a friend's place last night. Why? What did you need him for?"

"Stayed over?"

She practically snapped at me.

"That won't work! Damn it! How did I sleep so deeply? What about my plan..."

She stopped abruptly, realizing she still had an audience.

"Will he be back this morning?" she demanded.

I shrugged. "Probably not. He'll head to the exam from his friend's house."

Marilyn was losing it. Her eyes darted around frantically.

Then, she saw my parents getting ready to head out, and the front door was open with neighbors walking past in the hallway.

Her eyes lit up like she'd just found salvation.

"Help! This family's son tried to..."

Before she could finish the sentence, I clamped my hand over her mouth with all my strength.

Rage pounded in my chest so hard I could barely breathe.

I could not believe it. After I had already destroyed her entire setup, she still planned to brute-force her way through.

She wanted to scream her lie into a crowded hallway full of parents escorting their kids to the exam center, hoping rumors would explode before Steve even arrived at the test site.

Half the high school seniors in that building went to Steve's school. Some were even in his class.

If her words spread among them, Steve's exam would be over before it even began.

This evil, vicious woman... I could've strangled her on the spot.

While holding her mouth shut, I yelled to my stunned parents, "Close the door! Now!"

My parents had caught fragments of what she yelled. They slammed the door shut and rushed over.

"Lizzy, what is happening?"

Marilyn tore herself free and exploded, "Elizabeth, are you insane? Why are you covering my mouth?"

I icily snapped, "You know exactly why. Marilyn, I have no idea what I ever did to you. I said no yesterday. I told you not to come, but you insisted. After one night here, you're already accusing Steve of assaulting you? What kind of grudge do you have against my family?"

My parents stiffened in shock.

"What? Steve assaulted her? That's impossible! He wasn't even home last night! How could he have assaulted anyone?"

The moment she heard that, the truth hit her. My earlier words had not been a bluff.

Steve had been gone all night, and she had lost her perfect ambush.

Fury twisted her face, and she shouted, "I don't care! Who knows if you're lying? He did assault me! He has to take responsibility!"

My mom snapped, "What nonsense are you spewing, Marilyn? My son wasn't home! He slept at his friend's place, and his friend was with him the whole night. He has a witness! How dare you make things up?!"

My mom's anger rattled her. Marilyn had not expected to be cornered that easily.

She insisted, "You're bluffing! I said he did it, so he did!"

I glared at her coldly. "Get out of here right now. Our family doesn't welcome a vicious ingrate like you."

I shoved her hard.

She shot me a venomous look and threatened, "Elizabeth Warren... Just you wait!"

Then, she bolted out the door.

Even long after she left, my parents were still furious. They were shocked that the sweet, polite girl they welcomed just last night was actually a backstabbing witch.

My mom was still pale as she said, "Thank goodness you were smart enough to send Steve out. If he was home, she would've pinned it on him for sure!"

For the next three days of exams, my parents were extra careful. They personally drove Steve to the test center and picked him up afterward.

At last, I could breathe easy. If Marilyn had backed off, then maybe, my new life really would be different.

Perhaps the nightmare from before would not replay itself.

After the exam, Steve finally heard the story from my parents. He was mad for a couple days, but he forgot about it when the exam scores came out.

Steve ranked number one in the entire province.

My parents were over the moon. For once, they splurged and threw him a big celebration banquet, inviting neighbors and relatives.

However, on the day of the banquet, an uninvited guest appeared.

Marilyn walked in with a group of police officers behind her.

Tears streamed down her face as she pointed at Steve. "Officer, it's him! He's the one who forced himself on me that day!"