Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 9

Chapter 1

"Audrey, look! Isn't my skin looking amazing? It's so plump and dewy you could squeeze water from it."Karen Barra sat across from me, leaning in deliberately, her flawless face radiating pride. She shook her phone, the screen showing a top-tier cosmetic clinic's booking interface."I booked my very first skin-boosting injection for this afternoon. My friends say the results are incredible. Women have to be willing to invest in their faces, right?"Her eyes flicked toward me with a subtle, contemptuous glance.A sharp, tingling sensation ran under my skin—like a thousand tiny needles simultaneously tugging at my fascia.I looked at her and smiled slowly."Really? That does sound nice."For a brief moment, her smug expression froze.Seizing the moment, I moved faster than lightning and snatched her phone from her hand."Audrey, what are you doing?!" Karen shrieked, lunging to grab it back.I leaned back, evading her reach, and my fingers flew across the screen to cancel her ap

Chapter 2

After the final procedure, the nurse carefully helped me to my feet and handed me a mirror."Mrs. Faulkner, look—see how immediate the results are?"The reflection staring back at me was flawless. Skin taut and luminous, every fine line erased, as if I had returned to my twenties.A satisfied smile curved my lips, and I drove straight to the Faulkner Group headquarters.Pushing open the door to the CEO's office, I saw Henry bent over some documents, Karen standing close by his side.At the sound of my entrance, both looked up simultaneously.For a moment, my smile froze.Karen's face was even more astonishing than the one in my mirror. Her features were impossibly delicate, almost unreal, and every glance exuded a magnetic, intoxicating charm.She spotted me, hesitated for a beat, then offered a knowing, almost pitying smile."Audrey, you're here," she said.Henry cast a brief glance at me, his eyes barely lingering on my face before returning to Karen, his tone calm."Refin

Chapter 3

The call from the Faulkner estate came while my hands trembled as I painted my nails. Henry's voice came through the line."There's a dinner at the house tonight to celebrate the launch of the Sauldi project. Get ready. All the relatives will be there. Don't embarrass me."I glanced at my reflection in the mirror and let out a soft, bitter laugh.Hanging up, I dug through the depths of my closet and pulled out an old dress—a simple, cream-colored dress.Every step I took in it made my bones crack and creak.By evening, the Faulkner residence was brilliantly lit.I hunched over and shuffled into the living room, every eye instantly on me.My grandmother-in-law frowned first. "Audrey, what are you wearing? Do you even know what kind of occasion this is?"Before I could answer, Karen appeared in a wine-red mermaid gown, linking her arm through Henry's.Henry glanced at her, then at me."Look at yourself, sloppy, like a servant," he said.He gestured toward Karen. "Learn from Ka

Chapter 4

I didn't go home. Instead, I drove straight to the street famous for its junk food.Stepping into a fried chicken shop, the rich, greasy aroma hit me like a wave."A family bucket, large Coke, extra ice," I ordered.I tore into the chicken legs with abandon, the scalding juice burning my tongue—but the pleasure was indescribable.When the family bucket was empty, I grabbed more. I ate in the car until I could barely stomach another bite, and only then did I feel satisfied enough to go home.That night, I slept more soundly than I had in months.The next day, I woke late and leisurely painted my nails a bright red.Then a text from an unknown number arrived.[Ms. Hendricks, this is Ross Brewer from the CEO's office. Karen didn't come in today. She's having an acute skin reaction, severe breakouts all over her face.]I stared at the message, a grin spreading across my face.I changed into a black maxi dress. My hunched back and slumped shoulders couldn't fill it out, but that d

Chapter 5

Karen trembled with rage, yet no words came out.I finished the last chip, then tossed the empty bag with perfect aim into the trash can by her feet."See? Trash belongs in the trash can." I winked at her and turned to leave.Behind me came her anguished scream.That evening, a financial news push popped up on my phone.The Faulkner Group would attend the Starlight Charity Gala in three days. The photo showed Henry standing beside a flawlessly made-up Karen.I stared at the image, then bought a plane ticket to Caenya Island. Carrying only my phone and ID, I headed straight to the airport.When the plane landed, I took a taxi directly to Diamond Bay.The midday sun was brutal. I kicked off my shoes and stepped barefoot onto the scorching sand, searching for a spot to lie down.No sunscreen. No umbrella.I exposed myself fully to the relentless sun. Each prickling sensation on my skin felt like needles, as if my body were being roasted alive.I lay on the beach for three hours

Chapter 6

Silence stretched across the line.After a long pause, Henry's voice finally came, squeezed through clenched teeth, trembling despite his effort to suppress it."Audrey… come back to me."I chuckled softly and hung up.Leisurely, I packed my things, checked out, and bought the next available flight.Returning to that prison they call "home," I found Henry sitting in the living room, his expression dark.On the coffee table in front of him lay a pile of premium burn and scar ointments.When he saw me enter, his eyes hardened with venom."Where have you been?""Caenya Island," I replied calmly, walking to the chair opposite him and exposing my sun-damaged, peeling face without shame.His Adam's apple moved, and in his eyes—beyond disgust—there was a flicker of something more complex."Audrey, what are you trying to do?""I want you to care about me," I said, smiling innocently like a wife genuinely seeking her husband's affection.Henry closed his eyes briefly. When he opene

Chapter 7

The banquet ended in disaster.In the empty room, Audrey methodically cleaned the scratches on her arm with alcohol pads and wrapped them with practiced ease.Her phone vibrated. An anonymous message lit up the screen: [Keep pushing, and I'll bury your whole family with you!]Audrey: [Try me.]She stepped into the bathroom, turned on the shower, and let the scalding water steam the room instantly.Through the mist, she retrieved a razor blade from the corner, pressing the edge lightly against the artery of her pale wrist, and snapped a photo—sending it to Karen.Audrey: [I hear there's a new stem-cell anti-aging surgery. Tempting, isn't it?]Audrey: [If you dare try it, I dare to die.]Audrey: [Karen… let's bet. Which will be faster? The speed of your surgery or the flow of my blood?]Minutes later, the rumble of an engine downstairs was followed by hurried, panicked footsteps.Henry kicked open the door, eyes bloodshot, staring at her."Audrey! What the hell are you trying

Chapter 8

Henry took a step back, as if avoiding something lethal.When Dr. Levin arrived with two male nurses, this was the unsettling scene that greeted them: I stood wrapped in a towel, the back of my hand torn open and bleeding, smiling like a madwoman. And Henry—usually so composed and refined—looked pale and shaken."Mr. Faulkner?" Dr. Levin ventured carefully.Henry seemed to snap out of it, his expression turning cold again."She's extremely unstable and has severe self-harm tendencies." He pointed at me, his voice icy. "Sedate her. Make her quiet."I didn't resist.They took me back to the bedroom. The windows were locked, guards were posted outside the door, and my phone was confiscated.They changed me into a hospital gown, carefully bandaging the wound on my hand. A nurse gently applied antiseptic to my arm.She brought me a bowl of porridge. "Mrs. Faulkner, please eat something."I shook my head. "I'm not hungry."That was how my hunger strike began.On the first day, the

Chapter 9

Every day, the nurse administered my IV on schedule. The television remained permanently locked on financial news.Henry never came again.Today, while changing my dressing, the nurse's hands trembled. She slipped me a note before quickly pulling away.[She's having the surgery today.]I clenched the paper tightly in my palm.Then I closed my eyes and waited.But… nothing happened. No dizziness. No stabbing pain. No hollow sensation of life being drained away.Instead, a faint warmth stirred deep within my dried-up veins—slowly, unmistakably returning.I smiled silently.A loud crash sounded from outside, followed by Henry's beast-like roar.He had received the call from the hospital.Footsteps pounded wildly toward the room. The door burst open. Henry stood there, eyes bloodshot, like a cornered animal. He stared at me, horror and fear flooding his gaze."What did you do?"He rushed to the bed and seized my wrist."What did you do to Karen?!"I slowly opened my eyes, fo

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