Chapter 5
Marcus tried to go in after me but got surrounded by the swarm of reporters.[
“Is everything you just said completely true?“[]
“You’re forcing your daughter to donate bone marrow to your younger daughter. Did you know that using sulfuric acid to abuse children is illegal?”
Victoria covered her eyes, annoyed by the camera flashes, while Zara burst into tears from fear.]
Marcus pushed through everyone, called 911, kicked off his shoes, and dove into the river.[]
But no matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t find my body.[]
The Delaware River was huge, and it was high tide.[]
If someone didn’t struggle, they’d get swept away quickly.
The rescue team arrived fast and searched for nearly five hours.]
But nothing found.
Marcus knelt by the riverbank, soaked in river water and sweat, crawling and sobbing.[]
“Riley, I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Come back, I’ll never force you again!“]]
Victoria was taken away by police for questioning, her eyes full of disbelief and a hint of regret.]]
“Impossible. Someone as selfish as Riley would never kill herself over a few words from me. She’s definitely hiding somewhere! Go found her! He must be here around!“[]
“What about the child abuse allegations? Do you admit to those?” A police asked her.[]
“When did I abuse a child? She was playing around as a kid and accidentally got hurt. What evidence do you have? Just some angry words between mother and daughter? My husband will be here soon–I’m warning you not to make false accusations!“]
The police said nothing more and forcibly pushed her into the car and drove away.]]
After jumping in the river, I swam through the drainage outlet to the other side and headed straight to the airport for my flight to Germany.
Five million dollars–enough for me to get the latest scar removal and skin grafting technology in Germany.]]
In the departure lounge, having bought and changed into new clothes, I looked much more refreshed.[]
I pulled out my phone, which I’d kept in a waterproof bag, to check in for my flight.]
But I was distracted by a pop–up notification-
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[Victoria’s child abuse case had been dismissed due to lack of evidence, and she was released without charges.]]]
I clenched my fists and called a reporter.]
“You can release the video now.“[]
“What about your face? Should we blur it?“]
The reporter asked cautiously.[]
“No. It needs to be ugly enough for people to understand how much I’ve suffered.“]]
Soon I’d be able to get revenge for that helpless child I used to be-[]
No matter what it cost.[]
Once the video dropped, it exploded online.[]
All the netizens who had trashed me in the company video completely changed their tune.]
[Oh my God, what kind of person says things like that? Do parents really exist who don’t love their own children?]]]
[Why isn’t this woman getting the death penalty? She’s pure evil, driving his own daughter to jump in a river!]]]
[Holy crap, is that guy next to her even human? She’s already been through so much and he’s still forcing her to donate bone marrow!]]]
[The sister’s pretty fake too. She says a few phony words, but if she really felt guilty, she would’ve dragged that old witch away. Stop with the fake innocent act!]]]
[The person seems to be dead. I was just passing by the Delaware a few days ago–the rescue team searched for five hours and found nothing.]]
Even Zara’s father got caught up in the controversy.[]
When the scandal hit his company, he was fired.[]
Zara’s scholarship was suspended, and her classmates avoided her like the plague.[]
Marcus seemed to be losing it, putting up missing person flyers everywhere and grabbing random people to ask if they’d seen
- me.
As for me.]
I was now lying in Germany’s top cosmetic research institute.[]
The skin grafting and reconstruction required 19,999 injections total, each one deeper than the last.[]
First they had to cut away all the dead muscle tissue, then use chemical treatments to help the skin regrow.[]
When the skin first started growing back, it felt like millions of ants were biting me.]
Mom I Became Good Could You Love Me Now?
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I couldn’t scratch or touch it–had to endure the torture.[]
Over and over again.]]
More than ten thousand times.[]
Whenever the pain became unbearable and I wanted to quit, I’d check the news from home.[]
Victoria still hadn’t gotten the punishment she deserved.]
What right did I have to give up?[]
Six months flew by.[]
The day my facial reconstruction was complete, everyone at the research institute brought me flowers and hugs.[]
“Riley, you’re the first person who could endure the complete treatment.“]
After recovery, I gave myself a new name: Chloe Channing.
I didn’t want that woman’s name for even another moment–I refused to let my new identity be tainted by it.[]
When I landed back home, it was already late at night.]
The first thing I did was go to the hospital where Zara was staying.[]
Through the glass, I saw Zara lying in bed, her face pale, her hair completely gone from chemotherapy.]
There had been several willing donors over the months, but once they heard she was Victoria’s daughter, they all cancelled.]]
Victoria sat nearby scrolling through her phone, her quality of life completely unaffected.]
Having her husband’s family shield her from consequences while she hid behind the controversy and enjoyed herself–that was classic Victoria.[]
I’d thought Zara was special to her, but turns out Victoria loved herself most of all.]
I was about to leave when a dark figure rushed out and grabbed my hand.
“Riley! You’re alive! I knew you were still alive!“]
