All Chapters of Never Love: What They Gave Me: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

I woke to the sound of quiet, steady sobbing in my ear.A small, helpless girl sat beside me, tugging at my sleeve, swatting away the flies that would not leave me alone.Her eyes were red and swollen, wide with fear, as she clung to me like I was the only thing keeping her safe.“Please wake up. I am scared.”That was when it finally hit me—I was dead.Three days ago, I stumbled straight into a kidnapping. The man had Chloe in his grip. After a desperate fight, I managed to wrench her free and hide her in my apartment.However, I did not expect him to follow us all the way there. I hid her for her safety and faced him alone.I let out a sigh, wanting to float over to Chloe and pat her shoulder to comfort her, but my hand passed right through her body.Just then, the muffled roar of voices spilled in from outside.“This is the home of the brave hero who risked her life to help the police crack that nationwide anti-fraud case.”“Wow, so this is Ruby’s house?”“I heard her dad

Chapter 2

“What are you, actors Ruby hired? Her? A hero? She is rotten to the core. The only way we would believe she has changed is if she were dead.”I did not know when a tear slid into the corner of my eye. However, it did not matter now. I really had died, just as they had always wished.The reporters must not have expected to hear a parent curse their own daughter like that.One of them froze as his face flushed red.“Mr. Xerri, how can you say that? This mission only succeeded because Ruby risked her life to secure the key evidence.“And I have heard she was stabbed in the abdomen by a dangerous suspect during the operation, leaving a long scar. How could you…”He did not get to finish. My mother’s voice cut him off, sharp and laced with mockery.“You still claim you are not the actor she hired? That scar on her stomach is obviously from fooling around with men outside of school and ending up in surgery.”Even the most well-mannered reporter could not keep the anger from rising to

Chapter 3

[What kind of person says something like that?][No matter what, she is still your daughter. How can you be so blatantly two-faced?]Even the reporter stepped in. “Mrs. Xerri, Ruby is still your daughter no matter what. How could you say such things about her?”My mother let out a cold, derisive laugh.“She cursed at Davina at school the very day she transferred in, blocked her in an alley with a gang of thugs, and even stole the only keepsake Davina’s parents left her, then tossed it down a sewer.“With someone that hopeless, I would rather not have her as a child at all.”Her words lit a fire in the livestream comments. Some classmates recognized me immediately.[Isn’t that Ruby Xerri from our class? She is always bullying her younger sister. I have seen it myself. Honestly, no wonder her mom talks like that.][Wait, is this for real? She is the so-called ‘hero’ in the news?!]The harsh words scrolled across the screen like burning brands. The reporter was at a loss for word

Chapter 4

My parents’ faces had turned uncharacteristically grim.Davina, her voice trembling with tears, threw herself into my mother’s arms.“Mom, I am so scared. What if something really happened to Ruby? It is all my fault. If I had not asked you to take me out to relax, she would not have been home alone.”My mother patted her back gently.“Do not be silly. She is far too afraid of death. This is probably just another stunt to get our sympathy. She pulled the same trick six years ago.”Six years ago… yes, I remembered.Back then, I cornered my cousin in an alley with a few thugs. My mother, furious, dumped me in the deep mountains.That was how I, helpless and alone, was found by a lecherous bachelor from the village.I fought with everything I had, but lost under the crushing difference in strength.Later, my parents took me home, but I had already been left with a crippling shadow over my mind. I slit my wrists. I climbed to the rooftop, ready to jump.At first, they cared. It w

Chapter 5

It was only under the light spilling in from outside that I truly saw myself for the first time.My skin was a mottled blue-black, crisscrossed with knife wounds. My limbs were twisted into grotesque, unnatural angles.Flies hovered lazily over my body.For a moment, everyone in the room just stood there, stunned.Mrs. Lawson was the first to break.She collapsed beside my corpse, sobbing and wailing.“Ruby, how could this happen to you? You must have been in so much pain.”I wanted to hold her so badly, to tell her I did not feel a thing anymore, but my fingers passed right through her, leaving me to watch helplessly as she cried.Chloe, still not fully understanding what had happened, froze when she saw Mrs. Lawson’s tears.“Mrs. Lawson, why are you crying? Isn’t Ruby just sleeping?”Faced with her innocent little face, Mrs. Lawson could only pull her close as her heart ached.Chloe pressed her trembling body against Mrs. Lawson.“Do not be scared, Mrs. Lawson. Ruby said

Chapter 6

“I got into a fight with Felix. He said I am a kid abandoned by my parents, and that Mom only became the head of the ER by sleeping her way up. I got so angry I hit him. But when Dad and Mom came home, they just said I was a disobedient, bad kid.“Mom and Dad went to pick up my cousin today. They said from now on, I will be an elder sister. But I do not want to be one. I do not want to give up my room to her. I am their child, so why is it that they only smile when they are looking at her?”“Davina said I am a child nobody wants. I snapped back at her, but I did not expect Dad to come to school. I thought he came to stand up for me. Instead, he took me straight to the police station and locked me up for a whole night. Then he patted Davina’s head so gently. It was cold there, and I was so hungry. Dad, when you told me stories, you said that children whose parents do not want them may be sent to the police station. So, Dad, do you really not want me anymore?”My father froze for a mo

Chapter 7

“Mom, you have to talk to Ruby. She must have been tricked.”Back then, Zoey had no patience to hear what Ruby had to say. She slapped her hard across the face and sent her straight to the mountains.At the time, Zoey only meant to make her daughter calm down and reflect.Now, as she listened to the horrifying events spilling from the recorder, her chest tightened painfully. She suddenly remembered that moment when Ruby had grabbed her sleeve, begging her not to go, and how she had shoved her out of the car without hesitation.“I thought that once I got home, everything would be fine. But that night has been burned into my memory. I cannot forget it. I cannot sleep at all. Every time I close my eyes, it is there, replaying again.“And that sharp, grating laughter… every second of it makes me feel afraid.“I started to think there was nothing worth staying in this world for. Maybe, just like Mom and Dad said, dying would be the best ending for me.“I do not know how I managed to

Chapter 8

“If I had found you sooner and taken you away, you wouldn’t be lying here now… it’s all my fault.”Mrs. Lawson’s sobs trembled in the air, but the voice recorder kept playing.“Mom, Dad, I am going undercover. They told me that I could save a lot of people if I succeeded. I know you do not like me. You think I am useless, a waste of space.“The police officers said this mission is dangerous, but I am not afraid. If trading the life of someone useless like me can bring so many people back, it is worth it.“Mom, thank you. Thank you for giving me life, for letting me see this world, meeting so many people, and witnessing so many things. I am… truly grateful.“Dad, if you knew about the mission I’m on right now, would you be proud of me?”My father froze for a moment when he heard that. His mind slipped back to years ago, before Chloe had come into their lives.He had been wearing his police uniform. Little Ruby gazed up at him, her face brimming with admiration.He smiled and sco

Chapter 9

It had been a long time ago, back when my father wanted to encourage my little dream of becoming a police officer. He gave me this pen recorder, telling me it could capture evidence of crimes.From that day on, I carried it with me everywhere.Now, as he held the recorder in his hand, my father suddenly realized it was still playing.It was Davina’s voice.“Here’s two hundred dollars. Take care of Ruby for me, and make sure you get good videos and photos.”On the other end came a greasy, hoarse, and unnervingly old voice.Others might not have recognized it, but I did instantly.It was he, the man from the mountains, who had haunted my nightmares for years.“Ruby thinks she can compete with me. Oh, come on, if it were not for her cushy family background, who would even bother staying here?“Good thing those two old fossils are dead. I had never wanted to live that kind of poor, miserable life with them around.”The room fell into an abrupt, suffocating silence.Even the voic

Chapter 10

My father froze for a moment, then tears welled up in his eyes.“I noticed something was off with Chloe just now. Her expressions, her gestures… they were exactly like yours. I cannot believe it is really you.”“Ruby, we know we were wrong. Let us make it up to you. Stay with us, please…”I was startled for a moment, then pushed her away.That was when my soul slipped free.Chloe rubbed her head, startled by Zoey’s overly warm expression, and instinctively took two steps back.Then she turned. Her gaze landed exactly where my spirit hovered.“Ruby, I’m scared.”My parents froze for a moment, then realization struck. They understood that Chloe could see me.Their eyes locked on the same spot Chloe was staring at.“Ruby, why are you avoiding us?”I had Chloe pass on my words.“Chloe is Chloe. I am me. She still has her own life to live. I have already had enough of mine.”I did not expect my mother’s face to crumple in anguish when she heard that.“How could it ever be enou

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