"Exactly. Only by suffering out there will Perry finally realize that money doesn't grow on trees," Priscilla said, her voice flat, as if she were discussing the most ordinary thing in the world.
"And as a thank you," she continued, "I'll look after your family's business interests. But we can't let Perry find out yet. Once my parents are back from abroad after the New Year, I'll fill them in."
Her words hit me like a punch. My breath hitched, and my heart nearly stopped.
A waitress came by to take my order, but I didn't dare make a sound. I just pointed randomly at the menu, my hand trembling, and gestured for her to leave quickly before Priscilla noticed me.
Matthew's voice was dripping with artificial sweetness. "Priscilla, isn't it exhausting? Telling Perry you're off doing haunted-house sleep tests when you're actually just taking the long way home every night? Why didn't you just go abroad with your parents in the first place?" he asked.
Another wave of shock crashed over me.
So the haunted-house gig Priscilla told me about was a lie too. While I was struggling, she was hiding from me and retreating to the comfort of our home every night.
Had I been the only one suffering through this hell for the last five years?
Priscilla sighed. "Perry is my brother. I couldn't bear to leave him alone in the country. Besides, even though the company moved overseas, we'll be bringing it back eventually."
She added, her voice tinged with a touch of melancholy, "The five-year punishment we set back then has flown by in the blink of an eye. Time really flies."
Did time really fly? I gave a bitter, silent chuckle.
For me, every single day of those five years had been torture.
Playing a corpse wasn't as easy as it sounded. At Matthew's instigation, I was always assigned to the filthiest, most grueling spots. Whether the wind howled or the rain poured, I had to remain perfectly still.
Over time, I'd developed a chronic chill in my bones. Back and leg pain had become part of my daily routine.
And to them, all of this was just a "punishment". How ridiculous!
"Matthew, you've worked hard these past five years too. Take this as a token of my appreciation."
The conversation at the table across from me continued as Priscilla handed Matthew an exquisite gift box.
He opened it and let out a delighted gasp. "Whoa, this watch is incredible!"
My heart plummeted to the depths of despair. That was the exact watch I had asked Mom and Dad to buy me five years ago.
They had refused at the time, telling me it was far too expensive. I hadn't been obsessed with it, so I eventually just let it go.
But looking back now, that watch was likely the catalyst for my five-year sentence.
But why? With a family fortune worth billions, why was I subjected to five years of misery just for wanting a watch?
Why could Matthew, whose family wasn't nearly as well-off as mine, get whatever he wanted with ease?
Was I spoiled? Was I disobedient?
I had been a well-behaved child my whole life, never once defying them. Why did I have to suffer like this?
My emotions finally broke loose, and I couldn't hold back anymore. I slammed my hand onto the table and shot to my feet.
Every head in the restaurant snapped toward me—including Priscilla's. She turned around, the color draining from her face instantly.
"Perry? What are you doing here?" she blurted.
