Chapter 2

2

My back was aching, so I straightened up for a moment. That's when I saw Lulu glancing around before sneaking into my bedroom like a thief.

My heart hammered against my ribs as I remembered the timeline. This was the week of my final submission.

In my previous life, Lulu ruined my career before it even started. Because I couldn't graduate, I lost my spot at Apex Dynamics. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with a path to a prestigious international program.

Coming from a family that favored sons, they would never pay for me to go abroad. That job was my only ticket to freedom.

After she ruined my laptop, I had screamed and cried at her.

But she just leaned against Silas's shoulder and acted like the victim. "I'm just a silly girl! I saw Faye's laptop was dusty and thought I'd give it a good wash. I didn't know it was so fragile. I was just trying to be helpful!"

She looked more devastated than I did, the person whose life was actually ruined.

Everyone knows electronics and water don't mix. Even a toddler knows that.

I thought my family would defend me, but Silas just glared at me.

"It's just a stupid paper! Why are you screaming at your sister-in-law? You think you're better than us just because you're a college girl? You've lost your damn mind over some schoolwork!"

The truth was, no one else in my family had an education. Silas had barely finished a two-year degree my parents paid for, and now he was a professional couch potato.

Lulu had been kicked out of her teaching assistant program for being negligent. Silas had swept her off her feet, promising he'd provide for her.

His plan for providing was staying in our parents' house and bleeding me dry.

They were jealous of my success, constantly whispering in my parents' ears that I was becoming arrogant.

Back then, my mother had slapped me across the face for being "disrespectful."

"I should have married you off for a dowry after high school! Since you can't graduate, you're going to work at the warehouse tomorrow!"

Because I didn't graduate, my mother forced me to drop out and work a grueling factory job. Every cent of my paycheck went to them. Silas and Lulu lived like royalty while I withered away.

At five-foot-seven, I had dropped to eighty pounds. I was a walking ghost, fainting from low blood sugar constantly.

I was young, but my body was already failing.

A dark, sharp glint flashed in my eyes.

This time, if they wanted a slave, they would have to kill me first.

You want to ruin my graduation? Go ahead and try.