Chapter 3

3

The viewers were absolutely furious. The comments were filled with nothing but pity for me.

"This is insane!"

"How can they be so biased? She's their flesh and blood!"

The reporter tried again. "Mrs. Hale, Riley is still your daughter. You shouldn't talk about her this way."

My mother let out a sharp laugh.

"She insulted Melody at school. She cornered her in an alley with a gang. She even stole the only thing Melody had left of her dead parents."

"She is beyond saving. Honestly, I wish she wasn't mine."

After she said that, some former classmates started piping up in the comments.

"I was in Riley's class. She was a total bully to her sister. It makes sense why her mom hates her."

"Oh my god, is that true? Is our 'hero' actually a piece of work?"

The cruel comments began to scroll by, and the reporter looked conflicted.

That's when Mrs. Higgins wiped a tear and looked up.

"Riley is a good girl! There must be a misunderstanding. I'm old and my legs are bad. Riley is the one who buys my groceries and carries them up."

"She spends every weekend talking to me and taking me out for fresh air."

"She even sends money to the local orphanage and plays with the kids there. I'm an old woman, and I know character when I see it. Riley is not a bad person."

I sighed. I was sorry I couldn't visit her anymore.

Mrs. Higgins took the phone from the reporter. "Eleanor, you need to come home and check on the girl."

"She never misses a weekend with me, but she didn't show up this time. I'm worried something happened."

My mother made an annoyed sound. "She's a grown girl with two legs. What could possibly happen to her in her own house?"

Mrs. Higgins trembled, a realization hitting her.

Tears filled her eyes. "Two nights ago, I saw a man standing outside your house. I thought it was Arthur, but now I have a bad feeling. I've knocked, but no one answers."

The live stream exploded again.

"Holy crap, what if it was a revenge hit?"

"I still don't believe she's a hero, but this sounds bad."

"Forget her personality! If this was a hit, she might be in real danger!"

The reporter got nervous and begged the parents to come home.

Eventually, they agreed. I felt a wave of relief. If they came home, Penny would be saved.

My father looked icy when he arrived. He frowned at the cameras and the professional gear.

My mother was still grumbling as she unlocked the door.

"I'm telling you, she's fine."

But as soon as the door opened, a foul, rotting stench hit them. It was so strong it made people's eyes water.

The reporter's face went pale. He knew that smell.

When they saw the state of the living room, everyone froze.

Furniture was overturned, covered in deep knife gouges. A bowl of fermented, spoiled noodles sat on the table. And there were dark, dried bloodstains on the hardwood floor.

"This… this looks like a crime scene," a comment read.

My parents' expressions finally turned grim.

Melody burst into tears and threw herself into my mother's arms.

"Mom, I'm so scared! What if something happened to Riley? It's my fault. If I hadn't asked you to take me on that trip, she wouldn't have been alone."

My mother gently rubbed her back.

"Don't say that. She's probably just faking this to get attention. She loves playing the victim."

"Remember six years ago? She pulled the same stunt."

Six years ago. I remembered.

That was the time I supposedly cornered Melody. My mother was so angry she left me in the deep woods.

I was discovered by a local creep. I fought with everything I had, but I was just a girl. I lost.

When they finally brought me back, I had severe PTSD. I tried to end my life multiple times.

At first, they cared. But then Melody found photos of the assault.

I will never forget the look of pure disgust my parents gave me when they saw them.

The only reason I didn't jump off a roof was because I saw Penny being bullied at the orphanage. I saw how lonely Mrs. Higgins was. So I stayed alive for them.

But in my mother's eyes, my trauma was just an "act."

The reporter, shaken, started to call 911.

But my father snatched the phone and hung up.

"I'm a lead detective. I can tell when a scene is staged. Riley is good at this, but it's a fake."

He let out a cold snort.

"This is just another one of her pathetic games."

I remembered when Melody was kidnapped by traffickers. My father didn't sleep for days. He tracked every tiny lead until he brought her home safely.

Now, with a room full of evidence, he chose to look away.

Dad, do you really hate me that much?

Suddenly, a thud came from the bedroom. Everyone rushed to the door.

My father sneered and grabbed the handle. Finding it locked, he kicked the door open.

"Riley! Enough is enough! Get out here!"

But I wasn't there. Only little Penny was, huddled in a corner, shaking and covering her head.

My father blinked, stunned.

Mrs. Higgins recognized the girl immediately. She rushed over and hugged her.

"Penny? Honey, what are you doing here?"

Penny saw it was Mrs. Higgins and sobbed into her chest.

"The bad man wanted to hurt me. Riley hid me here to keep me safe."

I looked at Penny and smiled. At least she was okay.

My father's face went pale for a split second.

The reporter knelt down and asked gently, "Penny, can you tell us where Riley is?"

Penny nodded, her big eyes filling with tears as she pointed under the bed.

"Riley is right there."

Everyone's eyes landed on the bed, but no one dared to move.

Just then, sirens wailed outside. Mrs. Higgins had called the police earlier in secret.

Officers swarmed the room. They carefully lifted the bed frame.

And there I was.

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