Chapter 3

After I finally finished all the chores, I saw the three of them sitting together, laughing and chatting happily.

I leaned against the wall, gasping for breath.

When Dad walked into the kitchen and saw me, his brows furrowed deeply.

"Elsie, can't you speak up if you're not feeling well? What are you standing there looking all pitiful for? Do you want people to see and say we're abusing you?"

I lifted my head with difficulty and replied weakly, "I did say. It's just—"

Before I could finish, Kayla cut me off.

"Dad, Elsie never said anything," she said coyly. "If she had, would Mom have ignored her?"

Dad's expression instantly changed. He raised his hand, and I silently closed my eyes. But the familiar pain never came. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Mom holding his hand back.

"Stop!"

I blinked and looked at her in disbelief. However, what Mom said next sent me crashing back into the abyss.

"A big influencer is coming over later. She loves watching exciting things, and we'll need this wretch to perform for her. If we can get on Cara Morse's good side, our resources might multiply several times over!"

Before I could even process those words, the doorbell rang.

Cara spotted me as soon as she walked in, and her eyes filled with disgust.

"This is the person you said can perform The Three Trials? She looks so frail that a gust of wind could knock her over."

Mom's face was plastered with a fawning smile.

"Cara, don't let her skinny appearance fool you. Forget The Three Trials, she could handle The Four Tribulations just the same."

Mom shot Dad a look.

Without another word, he roughly dragged me toward the backyard.

When I caught sight of the long, narrow passageway in the yard, my face turned deathly pale, and my legs went weak uncontrollably.

The passage was clearly divided into three sections. The first section was covered with shattered beer bottles, the second section was piled with red-hot, burning charcoal, and the third was a shallow trench filled with concentrated salt water.

Fear gripped my heart like a vice, and tears fell uncontrollably. I knelt on the ground and begged, "Mom, Dad, I can't do it. I still have injuries. Please spare me."

Before I could finish, Dad grabbed me by the throat and pulled me close.

"If you obediently finish the walk and win Cara's favor, I'll give you a month off," he said in a low voice. "You can do whatever you want then. But if you can't perform The Three Trials, you're on your own."

My whole body trembled uncontrollably as I looked toward Hades, hoping he would step in and help me. But he just stood there, his expression growing darker and darker.

I lowered my head.

Kayla leaned against the yard gate holding a small cake, her eyes filled with gleeful amusement at the spectacle.

Cara sat in a chair with her arms crossed, watching coldly and urging impatiently, "Hurry up. I don't have all day."

With a wave of Dad's hand, I stumbled onto the first section covered in broken glass.

The sharp shards instantly pierced the soles of my feet, and waves of stinging pain shot straight to the top of my head.

With every step I took, the shattered glass cut a new gash into my soles. Blood kept dripping onto the glass as I gritted my teeth, cold sweat pouring down my face.

I barely made it to the charcoal path. Scorching heat baked my festering feet all over. The moment my soles touched the charcoal, large blisters instantly formed on my skin.

I cried out in agony. My steps faltered, and I nearly collapsed into the burning coals. Dad walked over and shoved me hard from behind, forcing me forward.

The moment I stepped into the saltwater trench, icy saltwater flooded over my soles. It felt like countless needles frantically stabbing into my bones, the dual agony of cold and heat stacking together.

My body convulsed violently, and I bit down hard on my tongue just to keep from passing out on the spot.

The short passage felt like it took a lifetime to cross. Every ounce of strength drained from my body. My consciousness teetered on the edge as I collapsed to the ground, barely clinging to life.

My performance of The Three Trials satisfied Cara greatly, only for her to ask when she could see The Four Tribulations.

"Cara, we can do it anytime you want to see it," Mom answered with a smile.

Cara nodded. "Then tomorrow night it is."

That night, Mom and Dad were very satisfied with my performance. For once, they called a doctor to treat me and gave me delicious food.

After they left, Hades appeared before me.

"Why don't you run away? I can help you."

It seemed that in his eyes, what I was going through still didn't count as a fate worse than death.

I gave a self-deprecating smile. "Run away? Fine, I'll do as you say."