Chapter 1

On New Year's Eve, right after our compensation money hit the bank, my parents hatched a plan to play broke, just to stop relatives from asking for loans.

As the only "good kid" in the family, I was pushed into it.

When Uncle George came begging for emergency money, Dad smashed our kitchenware. When Aunt Susan cried about tuition, Mom threatened to make me drop out of school and collect cans.

To make their sympathy scam more convincing,

On New Year's Eve, they even hired fake creditors to come to our house, demanding payment and threatening to chop off hands.

My parents didn't hesitate, pushing me forward as collateral.

"Take her as collateral, but you won't get a dime!"

They watched me being dragged into the car, even secretly chuckling.

I cried and screamed, begging my parents to save me.

But to play the part, they slammed the front door shut.

What my parents didn't know was...

The "fake creditors" they hired were real hardened criminals.

The car door slammed shut, cutting off the light and my parents' rigid smiles.

A dagger pressed against my neck.

I instinctively flinched back.

"Hey, easy, dude, that really hurts. The prop feels too real."

A hook punched me in the gut.

"Thump!"

I instantly doubled over, dry-heaving, bile burning in my throat.

"Shut the hell up, you talk too much."

The man cursed, his voice rough, with a real gangster edge.

Under the streetlights outside the window, I saw the dagger against my neck reflecting the light.

There were dark, dried bloodstains in the blade's fuller.

That wasn't paint.

My stomach churned, but my mind went blank with a buzz.

"Dude... hitting wasn't in the script..."

The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, sneering:

"Scar, this kid really thinks she's on a movie set."

"These people are ruthless. They'd even send their own daughter off to avoid paying."

Scar spat out a glob of phlegm.

"Rich people are all heartless. But hey, it saves us the trouble of kidnapping her."

"A hostage delivered right to our doorstep, why say no?"

Hostage?

My mind went completely blank.

This wasn't acting; this was a gang of dangerous criminals!

I lunged for the window, pounding on the glass.

The car hadn't gone far. I could still see my house.

Uncle George was sprawled on the ground, scrambling away, not even bothering with his IOU.

My parents stood at the front door.

Mom gave an "OK" sign to the departing car, her face beaming.

Dad pretended to wipe away tears, but he couldn't hide the upward curve of his lips.

"Dad! Mom! Help me! This is real! They're real kidnappers!"

My throat instantly tasted like blood.

Through the soundproof glass, my voice was drowned out by the fireworks.

The car suddenly accelerated, turned the corner, and the house disappeared completely.

"Hold still!"

Scar grabbed my hair, slamming my head hard against the window frame.

"Thump!"

My vision went black, and warm liquid trickled down my forehead.

Blood.

It was real blood.

Scar pulled out his phone, put it on speaker, and dialed Robert's number.

The call connected, and Robert's voice came through.

"Hello? How'd it go? Did those poor relatives get scared off?"

"I'm telling you, the effect just now was incredible!"

"Uncle George's family, those cowards, almost pissed their pants!"

Scar sneered, cutting him off.

"Boss, the show's over. Let's talk about the final payment."

"And your daughter is with us now. The ransom... how much are you paying?"

I screamed into the phone.

"Dad! Save me! They have knives! Real knives! They're not actors!"

There was a second of silence on the other end.

Then, a burst of even more unrestrained laughter.

"Hahahaha! Oh, I can't take it, Brenda, you have to hear this!"

"Our daughter's acting skills, she gets it from me! So realistic!"

"I gotta say, guys, your team is professional. The atmosphere is spot-on!"

"But our contract was clear, that's the agreed amount."

"Trying to raise the price for ransom? No chance!"

Scar spoke.

"Boss, I'm not kidding."

"This kid is bleeding now."

"If you don't come up with three hundred thousand, next year's this day will be her death anniversary."

"Three hundred thousand?"

"Why don't you just rob a bank? You guys must be crazy for money!"

"Don't pull that stunt with me. Take this kid as collateral, but you won't get a dime!"

"She's just a girl anyway, good riddance. Saves us food."

"Go ahead, kill her or sell her, I don't care."

"Don't think you'll get a single penny of my compensation money!"

"Beep—beep—beep—"

The call was disconnected.

The car fell silent.

Scar's hand, holding the phone, hung in the air. He slowly turned his head.

He looked at me, his eyes cold and devoid of emotion.

"Since your dad doesn't want you,"

He pulled out the bloody dagger and lightly tapped it on my face.

"Don't blame us for being ruthless."

Despair washed over me.

The pain of being abandoned by my own parents far surpassed the wound on my forehead.