All Chapters of My Mother Trusted Technology and It Killed Me: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

Only when I saw my motionless body on the ground did I realize I was dead.Other members of the Family stood nearby. Our underboss, Lucas Grant, led them into a circle around me.Lucas called my name several times, but I did not move. The others began muttering under their breath.He touched my arm uneasily. "Miss Sophie Freeman, please get up. This man betrayed our Family. We're punishing a traitor, not killing people at random."I remained facedown as if I had heard nothing.I ran to him and shouted, "It's not that I won't move. I'm dead. Tell my mother!"No one heard me. When I tried to tap Lucas on the shoulder, my hand passed straight through him.He called to me a few more times. When I still did not respond, his patience finally ran out. But because I was the Donna's daughter, he could only go to her, his face grim."Donna Freeman, please come check on Miss Sophie. She's still lying on the ground, and the execution can't continue with her in the way."Mom followed his gesture. M

Dad woke early. His first stop was my bedroom, but I was not there.He shook Mom awake. "I barely slept. I kept having nightmares, and Sophie still isn't home!"Mom rolled over comfortably without opening her eyes."Of course she isn't. She's trying to worry me into looking for her, but I won't fall for it."Dad disagreed. He threw on a coat and ran toward the punishment room.I hurried after him, hoping he would find my body before it rotted inside.When he arrived, however, he found the door locked tight, and he did not have the key.Mom had commissioned the reinforced door to prevent punished Family members from escaping. Ordinary force could not open it.Dad returned home to question her. Mom calmly sipped her coffee, looking as if this proved exactly what she had expected."She probably ran away and locked the door to fool us. That shameless girl still refuses to repent!"Pain pierced my heart like a needle.Mom, even now you still think I'm deceiving you. Am I really so despicabl

"Look at these. I had these high-tech lie-detector bands custom-made for my daughters. Whether they lie aloud or merely think about lying, the bands flash red. Sophie's has been flashing this whole time. Mimi's hasn't!"Mimi nodded obediently, her face still innocent. "Yes. Sophie must have been thinking about how to deceive Mom. Look, my band is dark. I'm the honest one."Everyone exchanged glances, struck by the absurdity of her claim.Frowning, Lucas gently removed the band from my wrist. It continued flashing after he took it off.He curled his lip, put the band on his own wrist, then raised it toward Mom and Mimi. "I'm a woman."The band kept flashing.Lucas looked Mom in the eye. "I'm a man."The band kept flashing.Mom watched the entire demonstration, her face turning ashen.Lucas gave a bitter laugh. "This is the high-tech device you paid a fortune for, Donna Freeman? It can't distinguish between two statements that obvious. It's nothing but useless plastic!"Mom stared at the

Dad looked at her as coldly as if she were already dead."I was grateful that you married me when I had nothing. For years, I trusted and respected you enough to hand over the Family's affairs and finances. You used that power to kill my daughter."Mom sobbed and screamed, "It wasn't me. This isn't my fault. Mimi lied to me. It's all her fault!"If she hadn't kept telling me Sophie was lying, why would I have ignored her? Mimi deceived me!"Mimi lay on the floor, sobbing until she could barely breathe. "How is this my fault? I could only deceive you because you chose to believe me. You're the one who trusted technology instead of Sophie. If you'd taken her to a doctor even once, none of this would have happened!"Dad picked up the discarded band and tore it apart.There was almost nothing inside: one circuit board, a few wires, and nothing else."This piece of garbage cost my daughter her life."He leaned helplessly against the wall and glared at Mom. "I don't oppose technology. It can