Chapter 3

Deadly silence.

Even as a spirit, my face burned with shame.

My mom laughed coldly.

"What? Disappointed to hear my voice? Too scared to make a sound now?"

"Are you hiding in there texting your boyfriend to tell him not to come?"

"No need to text—because I AM your boyfriend!"

"I'm giving you ten minutes to get dressed and come out here and explain to me what you meant by 'most important thing.'"

"Otherwise don't blame me for opening this door and letting all the netizens see what kind of person you really are!"

"Once everyone sees you naked, you'll never find a man for the rest of your life."

I felt as if someone had slapped me hard across the face, filled with shame and frustration.

My mom seemed even angrier than me, breathing heavily as she paced back and forth.

The clock ticked on, second by second. The netizens, who'd been too shocked to comment, became active again.

[If my mom talked to me like that, I'd tear the house down. This girl has way too much patience.]

[Something's not right! After hearing such shocking news, there's no way the girl would be completely silent, right?]

[Yeah, did something happen?]

My mom snapped irritably.

"Happen? What could happen to her!"

"If anyone's going to have a problem, it'll be me—I'm the one being driven to death here!"

As soon as she said this, my mom suddenly seemed to think of something and strode into my bedroom.

She violently tore off my blanket and pulled out a sundress, shouting loudly.

"If you don't come out, I'll tear up this dress you've been hiding!"

I cried out "No!" but of course my mom couldn't hear me.

I could only watch helplessly as she smiled viciously and cut my dress to pieces.

Looking at the scraps on the floor, I couldn't describe what I felt.

My mom didn't allow me to wear dresses.

She told me that school was for studying, not for attracting attention.

So for eighteen years, even on the hottest summer days, I could only wear long sleeves and pants.

Every summer, I could only watch enviously as other girls dressed up beautifully.

So I secretly saved up a year's worth of allowance to buy myself a dress as a coming-of-age gift.

I didn't dare tell my mom. I only shared my joy with "Light."

But now it was all gone.

After destroying my dress, my mom still wasn't satisfied. She threatened me again.

"If you don't come out, I'll tell the netizens all the secrets you told 'Light'!"

I couldn't stop her, and there was nothing I could do. Whatever, it didn't matter anymore.

And so my bedroom was turned upside down.

My mom continued mocking me to the livestream.

"She's really gotten bold today, daring not to come out even after all this."

"Do you know what lie she told me so I wouldn't burst in to check her body while she was showering?"

"She told me her uncle once rushed into the bathroom while she was showering and touched her inappropriately, so now she gets triggered when someone comes in while she's bathing!"

The livestream viewers were once again shocked.

[I don't believe such an excellent girl would joke about something like that.]

[My God, it took so much courage for her to tell you that, and you mock her and broadcast it so casually. Are you even her mother?]

[Shut up already! If her classmates or teachers hear about this, how can she face anyone?]

[Whether this is true or not, you burst in to check her body while she's showering? Is that even human?]

My mom scoffed at these comments.

Her patience completely exhausted, she strode to the bathroom door.

She put her hand on the doorknob and twisted hard.