Chapter 4

I applied for a leave of absence.

The academic advisor looked at my medical report, sighed, and didn't ask questions.

Without a degree, I could only work night shifts at a convenience store and take cheap translation gigs during the day.

Three days after leaving home, I came down with a fever.

I wanted to go to the hospital, but I only had two hundred dollars left.

I forced down tap water and made myself swallow an expired pack of cold medicine.

As long as I didn't die, I'd watch them fall.

Two weeks later, I had no choice but to go back to campus.

My backpack held my laptop and important documents.

I'd just reached the building when a group surrounded me.

"Well, well, if it isn't our prosecutor's princess!"

Claire stood on the steps, looking down at me.

She wore a cream-colored cashmere coat—the new one Mom bought in Hong Kong last month.

"Why are you dressed like that? Those pants are from a street market, aren't they?"

Claire walked down, reaching out to tug at my sleeve.

"Lily, you look pathetic. Ms. Rachel said you were living wild out there. I didn't believe it."

"Guess it's true. You can't even afford decent clothes?"

Students around us whispered and pointed.

I slapped Claire's hand away, staring at her.

"You stole that coat, didn't you?"

Claire's face stiffened, then she raised her voice.

"What are you talking about! Ms. Rachel lent it to me!"

"I have a speech competition—representing the school. Ms. Rachel didn't want me to freeze."

Her eyes shifted, and suddenly she grabbed my backpack strap.

"Wait! I just lost five hundred dollars!"

"You must have stolen it! You're desperate now—you were lurking around me just now!"

"Search her! Open the backpack!"

Her lackeys immediately surrounded me, jeering.

I clutched my backpack tight.

"Back off! I didn't steal anything!"

In the scuffle, Claire's sharp nails raked across the back of my hand.

Blood welled up instantly.

"What's going on here!"

The dean rushed over with several people.

Walking behind them were my parents.

They carried thermal containers—clearly coming to bring Claire soup again.

Mom rushed over, shoving me aside and pulling Claire into her arms.

"Claire, what happened? Are you hurt?"

Dad walked up to me.

"Lily! How much more are you going to embarrass yourself?"

"Coming to school to steal? You've disgraced the entire family!"

I held up my bleeding hand.

"Mr. Sterling, which eye of yours saw me steal?"

"Even in court you need evidence. You're convicting me without even asking?"

Dad's face flushed red.

"Then why would Claire accuse you and not someone else?"

"You must have sticky fingers!"

Claire nestled in Mom's arms, voice tearful.

" Mr. Sterling, maybe I remembered wrong... but Lily was really mean just now..."

"It's okay. Ms. Rachel will handle this."

Mom glared at me.

"Lily, open your backpack. Let everyone check and prove your innocence."

"If you didn't steal, apologize to Claire and we'll drop it."

Looking at my parents' "for your own good" expressions, I couldn't take it anymore.

I yanked the backpack zipper open and turned it upside down.

Everything spilled out—books, charger, my old laptop covered in stickers.

My worn wallet fell out, containing only a few crumpled bills.

"See it clearly? Where's the five hundred dollars?"

My eyes were red as I pointed at my scattered belongings.

"Search! Isn't that what you wanted?"

The crowd went silent.

Claire shrank back.

"Well... maybe I left it in the classroom."

"Just 'maybe I forgot' and that's it?"

I stepped closer.

"You accused me of theft, violated my privacy—isn't that bullying?"

"Enough!"

Dad snapped.

He looked at the growing crowd of onlookers, his brow furrowed.

He strode over and grabbed my wrist.

"Stop making a scene. Get in the car."

He lowered his voice.

"If you have something to say, say it at home. Don't let outsiders laugh at us."

Mom caught on too, explaining to the crowd.

"Kids these days—teenage rebellion. Everyone, please disperse."

They flanked me, trying to drag me toward the Audi A6 at the gate.

I grabbed the iron railing and held on tight.

"I'm not going back! Let go!"

Dad hissed in my ear through gritted teeth:

"Keep making a scene and I'll have you committed to a psychiatric hospital!"

Psychiatric hospital.

For his reputation, he'd lock his own daughter in an asylum.

I laughed.

"You want to save face?"

I took a deep breath and screamed with everything I had:

"Help! The prosecutor is trying to kill someone! My own parents are trying to drive their daughter to death!"

The crowd froze.

Even the security guard at the gate poked his head out.

Dad's face went white. He instinctively released his grip.

"You're insane!"

He snarled quietly, veins bulging on his forehead.

Mom panicked, trying to maintain her dignified image.

"Lily, what are you talking about! When have your parents ever pressured you?"

I didn't give her a chance, pointing at the Audi.

"You wanted me in that car to drag me somewhere private and punish me, didn't you?"

"Just like when you forced me to sign that letter of understanding!"

"For your reputation, you protected my bully Claire and forced me, the victim, to apologize on my knees!"

"Now that I've left home, you're chasing me to school to accuse me of theft?"

The murmurs exploded.

"What? Letter of understanding?"

"Claire's bullying was real?"

Countless eyes turned toward Victor Sterling and Rachel.

Dad's hands trembled. He wanted to lunge at me but seeing all the phones raised around us, he didn't dare.

He stared at me, forcing words through his teeth:

"Lily, if you don't come with me today, I'll freeze all your accounts. You won't even be able to afford school!"

I laughed coldly and pulled a folding fruit knife from my pocket.

"Don't move."

I pressed the blade against my own throat.

The crowd gasped.

Mom screamed: "Lily! What are you doing! Put it down!"

"Scared?"

"You're not afraid I'll die—you're afraid I'll die here and soil your official robes."

"Victor Sterling, Rachel—listen carefully."

"From today on, I'm severing our parent-child relationship."

"Whatever debt I owed you for raising me was paid in full the day you forced me to sign that letter."

"Now take your daughter and get out!"

I pushed the blade forward. The skin broke. Blood trickled down.