Chapter 3

The next morning, Dad finally realized something had happened when he saw that I still hadn’t come home.

“Where’s Monica? Where did she go?”

Mom was busy updating Alice’s system and didn’t even raise her eyes.

“Monica has always been disobedient. She’s probably hiding somewhere because she’s angry, waiting for us to go find her.”

Dad’s heart tightened.

He rushed toward the garage without even changing his shoes.

I floated behind him, filled with hope that he would find me and pull me out, saving me from rotting inside the suffocating, overheated trunk.

But when he reached the garage, he pressed the unlock button on the car key and pulled desperately at the trunk lid.

It didn’t move at all.

The trunk was locked.

“What happened? Didn’t you say it wasn’t locked?” Dad asked anxiously, sweat covering his forehead.

Mom slowly walked over and let out a cold laugh.

“It must have been Monica’s doing. She was upset yesterday and held a grudge. She probably locked it on purpose, trying to make us panic and give in to her.”

“I told you. That child is full of bad habits.”

Tears welled up in my eyes.

Mom… why won’t you believe me even once?

Dad frowned and was about to say something more,

when his phone suddenly rang urgently.

He glanced at the screen, and his expression changed immediately.

While calling a taxi, he reminded Mom:

“Something came up at work. I have to go first. Remember to let Monica out, okay? She’s just a child. A few words of discipline are enough. Don’t take it too far.”

Mom nodded absentmindedly.

But after Dad had gone far away, she held Alice’s hand and glared fiercely at the trunk.

“You’re just spoiled by your father! Now that your father isn’t here, stay inside and reflect properly.”

Then she turned to Alice with a gentle smile.

“Come on, Mom will take you to buy new toys. Just you and me. We don’t need your sister.”

Alice sweetly replied,

“Thank you, Mom.”

I floated beside them and followed them to the mall.

Watching Mom fill Alice’s arms with new toys and clothes, I thought about the few old, worn-out toys sitting in my own room.

My heart felt like it was being cut apart.

Ever since Alice came into our lives, Mom had never bought me a single new piece of clothing.

She said bad girls didn’t deserve rewards.

I could only take the toys and clothes Alice no longer wanted.

Just as Mom was about to enter the cinema with Alice, her phone suddenly rang.

It was the apartment management office.

“Mrs. Buffey, your car in the underground parking garage is giving off a very strong odor. It has already affected many residents. Please come back and take care of it as soon as possible.”

Mom hung up the phone, her face filled with anger.

“Monica! How much longer are you going to keep causing trouble? You even deliberately threw trash inside the car and made me lose face in front of all the neighbors!”

Looking at Mom’s furious expression, I helplessly pressed my lips together.

I didn’t do anything.

I really didn’t.

When Mom arrived at the underground garage with Alice, many angry neighbors were already gathered around the car.

The moment she appeared, Mrs. Brown stepped forward and questioned her.

“What exactly did you put in your car? Why does it smell so horrible?”

“Exactly! The smell is unbearable. It’s seriously affecting the air quality in the garage.”

“You need to deal with this immediately.”

I floated in front of them, heartbroken and ashamed.

I bowed again and again, apologizing.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do this. I just… started to rot.”

“I’m really sorry.”

But they couldn’t hear me.

They were still criticizing Mom.

Mom’s face turned pale, then flushed with anger.

She walked toward the car, and the overwhelming stench of decay hit her immediately.

Even she couldn’t stop herself from bending over and gagging.

The weather was too hot, and the trunk was completely sealed.

After only one night, my body had already started to give off a terrible smell.

Mom was going to hate me even more.

Just as expected, after recovering from the shock, Mom immediately started screaming at the trunk.

“Monica! How much longer are you going to keep this up? How can you be so horrible?”

I closed my eyes.

I’m sorry, Mom.

I didn’t mean to.

Hearing this, the other residents exchanged shocked looks and stared at Mom in disbelief.

“What? In this kind of heat, you locked your child inside the trunk?”

“Could something have happened to the child? What kind of mother does this? How could you treat your own child like that?”

Mom was speechless.

Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

But Alice suddenly spoke in a pleasant electronic voice.

“Everyone, please don’t worry. The vehicle’s air conditioning and oxygen supply are sufficient. Monica’s vital signs are stable.”

“The odor is caused by Monica relieving herself inside the vehicle. This is a personal behavioral issue, not a safety incident.”