Chapter 2

"Chris, what are you trying to do? That's our baby!"

My cry did not awaken even a shred of conscience in him. He suddenly clenched his fist and slammed it into my abdomen.

I screamed as a violent spasm seized my belly, a piercing pain tearing through me.

Yet, more than the pain, it was fear that overwhelmed me. That was his flesh and blood—how could he be so cruel?

As that memory resurfaced, it felt as if I were lying on that iron bed once again. The despair came rushing back, so vivid that I suddenly retched uncontrollably.

The vicious curses rang in my ears. Beside me, Chris watched with a cold, mocking smile. In that instant, a single thought took hold of me.

I wanted to die.

When blood spilled from the corner of my mouth, the technicians panicked.

"She bit her tongue—stop her, now!"

At once, Chris tore the helmet off my head and clamped my jaw in his grip, fury blazing in his eyes.

"Bitch! Without my permission, you don't get to die!"

Medical staff rushed to treat my wound and stuffed cotton into my mouth to prevent me from killing myself.

Once even death was denied to me, I simply gave up.

The sudden incident earned no pity from the crowd. If anything, their shouts grew more frenzied.

"She's trying to kill herself to escape punishment! I bet the real killer is her lover!"

"Trash like her deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces!"

The machine was connected again, and new images surfaced in my memory.

It was a spring outing—the three of us together.

Lisa suddenly shoved me into Chris's arms, laughing as she teased, "I accept you as my sister-in-law. Take this chance to get closer to Chris!"

Blushing furiously, I pulled away from his embrace and chased after Lisa in embarrassment.

The lawn was filled with our laughter.

When Lisa appeared on the screen again, my mother-in-law shot to her feet, trembling all over.

"Lisa, my daughter! You died so miserably! I never should've listened to you and let this ungrateful wretch live in our home! Why wasn't it this bitch who died instead…?"

Her grief struck the crowd deeply. Many eyes reddened, and some extremists even climbed onto the glass chamber, trying to drag me out for judgment.

The scene shifted. I stood before an apartment building.

Someone quickly recognized it—it was the place where Lisa had jumped.

After her death, most residents had moved away. Only a handful remained.

Why Lisa had chosen this place was still a mystery.

Seeing it again seemed to pull Chris back into that bleak day. His hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Lisa… I was careless. I didn't even realize you were pregnant. If only I'd spent more time with you…"

Suppressing the sob in his throat, he gripped my shoulders tightly, pouring all his resentment onto me.

"Speak! Are you mute? My sister treated you so well—do you have any conscience at all?"

I shook my head in despair. The pain wracking my body was nothing compared to the agony crushing my heart.

"Chris… let this go…"

"Let it go?" he exploded. "She was a living, breathing person! And you want me to forget? How the hell can you even say that? I want to kill you!"

In an instant, Chris snapped. His grip tightened violently, and I could faintly hear the sound of bones cracking.

As pain spread through my limbs, the gentle, tender face I knew so well surfaced in my mind. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks.

Suddenly, the projected memories began to shake violently.

Alarmed, a technician shouted, "Sir, there's a memory buried in the deepest layer of her brain. If we force it out, she may become a vegetable!"

Chris's pupils quivered.

"You're still resisting?" he demanded coldly. "Is that person really worth it?"

When I remained silent, his fury erupted.

"Push the device deeper! I want to see how long she can keep hiding the truth!"

The technicians dared not defy him. They advanced the instrument.

I felt the needle pierce into my brainstem. Pain exploded like a tidal wave, and darkness crept into my vision.

"Her vital signs are dropping rapidly—"

Before the doctor could finish, Chris grabbed two syringes of adrenaline and injected them into me without hesitation.

The next second, I gasped like a drowning person, my body jerking violently as my heart rate slowly climbed back up.

Watching this, Chris let out a savage laugh.

"Jenny, this is what you deserve. Once I know the truth, I'll give you a clean end."

I had no strength left to answer him. Chaotic memories crashed wildly through my mind.

In a dimly lit room, Chris tore my nightgown apart, exposing my naked body.

He clapped his hands.

From the darkness emerged several unkempt men, their eyes gleaming as they ogled me eagerly.