All Chapters of Lies and Punishment: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

Despite the general anesthesia, I was fully conscious. My eyelids felt heavy. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't open them.A sharp, searing pain tore through my lower waist and made my scalp tighten.It hurts!"Doctor, what's happening?!" Miranda's anxious voice came through the darkness. "He's trembling. Can he still feel pain?"Her familiar voice gave me one last spark of hope.Miranda, save me...The anesthesia didn't work. It hurt so much…"Don't worry, Ms. McQueen. This is a normal stress response caused by muscle stimulation. The patient is unconscious. He can't feel a thing," the doctor said.He was lying. The pain crawled up my spine and spread through my body.Lucas let out a fake sigh. "Miranda, I'm so worried… Evan looks like he's in so much pain. Maybe we should stop. My health doesn't matter. I don't want him to suffer."I heard Miranda walk past me to him. "Don't be silly," she said. "Why are you saying that? The doctor said he's unconscious. There's noth

"Evan, what are you doing?" Miranda walked toward me, her voice sharp with accusation. "You just had surgery, and now you're already wandering around? Who is this performance for? You're already covered in blood. What if you scare Lucas with that?"I leaned against the wall and stared at her.Miranda slowed. Unease flickered across her face despite the sternness around her. "Say something!""Miranda..." Lucas looked up at me from his wheelchair with faked guilt in his eyes. "Is Evan angry because I took his kidney? If that's the case... I'll give it back to him. I don't want you two fighting because of me."He clutched his stomach and grimaced as if he were in terrible pain."Shut up!" I growled.Lucas froze, then put on a wounded expression."How dare you yell at Lucas?" Miranda raised his hand and shoved me. "Apologize to him!"My already weakened body could not take the force, and I immediately fell on the floor hard. The wound split wide open as warm blood poured out, but I

Rainwater rolled down my cheeks and into my mouth. It was salty. Bitter, even. I couldn't tell whether it was really rainwater or tears.My hand trembled from the cold and from knowing I was about to cut the final bond I had.I picked up my phone and called Miranda."Evan? You just had surgery, and your wound is still bleeding! How could you run away? Where are you? It's pouring outside. I'll come get you!"The only feeling I had after hearing the concern in her roaring voice was bitter irony. I said, "Miranda, I'm at the funeral home. Grandma is still in the morgue."The line went silent before Miranda spoke. "I'm sorry. I'll give her the best funeral money I can buy and choose the best cemetery plot. I'll give you anything you want. Come home now. I'll pick you up!""Give me anything?" I gave a bitter laugh as my tears came even harder. "How could you ever make up for a lost life? Didn't you say I owed Lucas a debt from my past life? Well, that debt is paid. From now on, all

With that, Isolde and I walked out through the ballroom doors, our figures disappearing beyond their sight."Stop! Evan, stop right there!" Miranda rushed toward the entrance and tried to follow us."Ma'am, please stay back." The bodyguards Isolde had left behind blocked her path with a cold expression on their faces."Get out of my way! He's my brother! This is a McQueen family matter!" Miranda's eyes were red, and veins popped out at her temples. She couldn't accept that her biological brother had dared to marry her greatest rival."Mi...Miranda..." Lucas grabbed her sleeve with trembling hands. His eyes reddened as he sobbed. The whispers around him cut deep."The real son must be completely heartbroken. He would rather side with his family's enemy than go back to the McQueenes.""That fake son is ridiculous! He just accused Evan of disgracing the family, but the truth is that Evan is Ms. Shaw's future husband."Lucas shook with rage. Then, he quietly begged, "Miranda, le

The scandal at the engagement party sent McQueen Group's stock price into freefall. The project also collapsed once its severe environmental problems came to light, and the banks cut off the company's loans.Isolde seized the opportunity and acquired McQueen Group for a fraction of its former value.The McQueen family was done for.Miranda was so overwhelmed that she shut herself inside the mansion.Meanwhile, Lucas had been taken to the hospital and kept under observation until the drugs wore off. When he woke up and learned that everyone despised him, he spent his days at home smashing things and cursing others.Then, Isolde sent Miranda a video.With trembling hands, Miranda opened it. It showed footage of my kidney removal.Miranda hadn't stayed after the surgery.Lucas sat up on the operating table and looked at the kidney on the tray with disgust. "It reeks of blood. It's so disgusting."He covered his nose and waved at the doctor. "Feed it to a dog or something. I d