Liora's POV
I let out a weak, humorless laugh. “Do you really think I got this far just because of my face and her identity? It took me everything, carefully pleasing Alistair, handling his paranoia, feeding his emotions, to protect your wealth and status. Do you really think Daphne could’ve done the same?”
My parents hesitated for a moment, but my words completely enraged my sister.
She grabbed a fistful of my hair and slashed the knife at my face. “If you’re not relying on that pretty face, then you don’t need it, right? I’ll ruin it and let’s see what you have left to fight me with!”
The sharp pain cut through me again and again, and I couldn’t hold back the screams. Blood soaked through my clothes. Even my parents looked a little shaken.
“That’s enough, isn’t it? Her face is ruined now. She won’t be a threat to you anymore,” my father muttered.
Still, my sister looked like she wanted to continue, but at that moment, Alistair called again.
She quickly shoved a rag into my mouth to shut me up, then answered the phone.
When she heard he was on his way to pick me up, the whole family panicked. They forced more drugged water down my throat and dragged me into the storage room to keep me unconscious.
But the pain burning across my face kept me barely awake. Outside the door, I heard Alistair’s voice.
“Why did you already put the dress on?”
My sister laughed sweetly. “Because I wanted you to see it in person! Alistair, I’m starving. Will you take me home for dinner?”
She pulled him toward the door, but he paused suddenly, sniffing the air. “Smells like blood.”
My mother raised her bandaged hand and forced a chuckle. “I shut the car door on my hand earlier. It bled a little.”
He hesitated for a second, thinking of our phone call earlier, then nodded and kept walking.
The comments were in chaos.
[Come on, girl! You have to let Alistair know you’re in there!]
I forced my blurry vision to focus and saw a box full of tools beside me. With all the strength I had left, I slammed my head against it, and the box crashed to the floor with a loud clang.
Hearing that, Alistair stopped again and looked toward the storage room. “Is someone in there?”
My dad quickly stepped up. “Yeah, just a maid tidying up. She’s clumsy. We already told her to be quieter!”
My sister tugged at his arm to lead him away again.
I curled up on the floor, despair slowly swallowing my consciousness.
Then I heard Alistair stop again and ask coldly, “Where’s the bell I gave you?”
The comments exploded again.
[Oh my god! The anklet! The bell he had handmade for her! Ring it now!]
With every bit of strength I had left, I kicked my ankles together.
Third Person's POV
The bell gave a soft, quiet chime from inside the storage room.
At that, Alistair’s expression went cold instantly.
