Chapter 3

3

My room was tucked away in the far corner of the second floor―a tiny broom closet previously used by the maids. Chloe claimed she felt guilty for taking my old bedroom, so she personally cleaned out this storage room overnight, begging for my forgiveness.

The rest of the family acted as though refusing to sleep here would be an insult to her pure, generous heart.

It was utterly sickening.

For days, I was locked inside that cramped room. My mother declared that I hadn't learned my lesson yet and strictly forbade anyone from bringing me food. Starvation made my head spin, while the old scars across my body flared with agony, keeping me awake in tearful whimpers.

Suddenly, a soothing coolness pressed against my forehead.

I blinked through the haze, seeing a woman staring down at me with tear-filled eyes.

“Be strong, Miss Leah. Let Martha apply the ointment, and it won’t hurt anymore.”

Martha gently and expertly spread the soothing cream over my wounds, weeping as she worked.

Her heart broke as she looked at me. “How did you end up suffering so much? My heart aches just looking at you. Master and Madam have truly lost their minds...”

Indeed. No matter how hard Devin tried to cover up the abuse I had suffered, my bruised neck, scarred hands, and ruined limp could never fool someone who genuinely cared about me.

I forced a weak smile to comfort her. “I’m okay, Martha. Look at me, I’m back, aren’t I? I’m still in one piece.”

Her lips trembled, her eyes swimming with profound grief.

“You should go now, Martha. Don’t let them catch you here.”

Martha was truly good to me, but I couldn't accept her kindness if it meant putting her in danger.

Yet I never imagined that my existence would drag her down anyway.

The next morning, Chloe pushed the door open, wearing an innocent, sweet smile.

“Sister, come on out. Mom and Dad have forgiven you.”

I ignored her, flexing my numb limbs before turning over to go back to sleep.

Chloe’s smile broadened with malice. “Oh, you don’t want to come out? What a shame. We just fired a thieving maid named Martha this morning. It’s too bad you missed all the drama.”

Blood rushed to my head in a blind fury. Martha had worked loyally for the Miller family for decades, caring for a sick son with a severe heart condition.

With the stain of theft on her record, what reputable family would ever hire her again?

They were driving her straight into a corner of despair.

“Chloe, your heart is purely evil.”

Consumed by rage, I lunged forward to grab her, but days without food or water left me trembling and weak. I was no match for her.

She shoved me hard into the corner. My lower abdomen slammed against the sharp edge of a wooden cabinet, sending a sharp, tearing pain through my core that made me double over.

The next second, Chloe threw herself onto the floor with a theatrical gasp.

Devin rushed over from the hallway, helping her up before delivering a vicious slap across my face.

I was far too frail to withstand the blow and collapsed hard against the floorboards.

“Leah, you really are irredeemable! The moment you return, you attack Chloe again! Why didn’t you just rot out there in the woods?!”

He sounded utterly disappointed, his eyes heavy with bitter resentment.

Devin had struck me with full force. A high-pitched ringing filled my ears, warm blood trickled down my neck, and a sharp, throbbing cramp tore through my lower stomach.

I tried to speak, but my throat was too parched to produce a sound.

Footsteps echoed from the third floor as my parents rushed down in a panic.

“Oh, Chloe!”

“Are you hurt, sweetie?”

Chloe leaned weakly against my mother. “I’m fine, Mom... I just wanted to check on Leah. I didn’t expect...”

My mother wrapped her arms around Chloe, frantic with concern. “Are you injured? Quick, get the driver to take her to the hospital!”

Only after watching Devin carry Chloe out toward the car did my mother turn around, glaring down at me with pure venom.

I was leaning helplessly against the wall, drained of all strength.

Her gaze suddenly locked onto my trembling hands clutching my stomach and the crimson stain slowly spreading beneath me.

“You’re pregnant?”

She stood at a distance, looking at me with a mix of disgust and relief, as if I were a complete stranger.

Before turning to chase after Chloe, she left me with one final decree.

“Get out. I will consider you no longer my daughter.”

“From now on, Chloe is my only child. Her name will be Chloe Miller, and she will inherit the entire Miller estate.”

Lying in the filth like discarded trash, I felt the warm blood pooling beneath me, my soul turning completely to ash.

Helen Miller had always been the epitome of grace; even when disowning her own child, she spoke with calm detachment.

The pain tore through my body like fire. Was anyone ever going to save me?