Chapter 2

After hanging up with the embassy, I didn't look back at the security checkpoint. I walked straight out of the departure hall.

When the spring breeze hit me, I realized I was soaked through with sweat.

The gauze on my right hand was saturated with blood, and fresh pain shot through the wound.

In the emergency room, the doctor unwrapped the bandage, his brow furrowing tightly.

"What happened? The fingers we just reattached have torn open again!"

"Did you get into a struggle with someone? If you keep this up, this hand will be permanently damaged!"

I was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, but I just shook my head.

"Please, just wrap it tighter for me."

After getting my wound treated, I returned home and pushed open the rusted iron gate. The musty smell of the basement hit me in the face.

The room was a complete mess.

Before leaving, Laura had used scissors to shred all the old clothes she didn't want, and thrown them everywhere along with old shoes.

Looking at the chaos on the floor, waves of bitterness washed over me.

To let her wear decent clothes like other children.

I worked three jobs a day to earn living expenses, and even took night shifts at an unlicensed factory to pay for her tutoring.

But she broke my heart and trampled my dignity.

My eyes grew moist, but in the end, no tears fell.

I pulled out a black garbage bag and swept the shredded fabric into it.

I stuffed this garbage along with the designer bag I'd bought with money from my first blood donation into the bag.

Then I carried these two black bags and mercilessly threw them into the dumpster outside the complex.

Just as I finished throwing away the trash, my phone vibrated.

It was a reply from the embassy:

[Hello. Regarding your report about Ms. Laura's suspected academic fraud and unclear visa funding sources, we have initiated a joint investigation with customs. Thank you for your cooperation.]

Looking at the words on the screen, my lips gradually curved upward.

Almost simultaneously, my phone rang. It was Laura.

The moment I answered, Laura's shriek came through:

"You old bitch! Did you report me?! Why did customs detain me?!

They said my visa has been frozen and they're going to investigate Daddy's financial records!"

Hearing her voice crack as she screamed, I felt nothing but satisfaction.

"Yes. You're my daughter. I won't let you sell your body!"

"Are you insane?! I'm your daughter! You're ruining my future! I'll kill you—"

Before she could finish cursing, I hung up and blocked her number.

Back in the basement, I looked at the passbook on the table containing my work injury compensation and took a deep breath.

This money was originally meant to be her living expenses abroad.

Now, I would use it to move out of this basement and start my real life.