My husband took me and his childhood sweetheart on a live-streamed exploration of an abandoned mental asylum. Halfway through, I felt a shadow following us. Just as I was about to warn them, the writhing shadow dragged me into the darkness. No matter how I screamed and struggled, it was useless. My husband made no move to save me. Watching the viewer count skyrocket, he smiled happily at his childhood sweetheart, Sophie. "Great! After this stream, my media company will be saved!" 1 Netizens were discussing fervently in the live chat. "Eighty years ago, the staff at this asylum suddenly went mad and disappeared with the patients. Could this shadow be their residual spirits?" "Bold to stream in such a creepy place. I think this woman is doomed." "What a miserable scream. I want to see how she is now." I could confirm that the thing in front of me was definitely not a "residual spirit" as the netizens claimed. It was a deformed beggar. The beggar, whose bones were twisted, could only crawl on the ground. Covered in filth and lice from years of not bathing. I had unintentionally intruded on his territory during the stream, and he suddenly attacked, tearing at my clothes in a frenzy. Meanwhile, my husband, Julian, stood by and watched, leaving me to face him alone. At that moment, I felt that death would be a relief. I don't know how long passed before I felt the person leave me. Through the haze, I heard Sophie's voice, "Don't worry, I've driven away the spirit. You're safe now." I opened my eyes slightly to see Julian pointing the camera right at me. My clothes were torn to shreds, and he was exposing me, naked and vulnerable, to the public. Ignoring my head shaking in protest, he pushed further, zooming in for close-ups. The bite marks on my collarbone, the bruises on my waist, the purple marks on my thighs—all were laid bare for everyone to see... At this moment, viewers flooded the stream, and the view count hit its peak. People commented on my broken body, discussing whether I would survive the day. My heart felt like it was being gnawed by thousands of ants. I never expected that agreeing to be a guest on Julian's stream would lead to this disaster. A metallic taste rose in my throat. I couldn't hold it back and spat out a mouthful of blood, losing consciousness amidst a deafening ringing in my ears. "Look, she's dying." "She asked for it. Serves her right!" Netizens chatted excitedly, but they didn't see my final outcome. Julian turned off the stream just in time. 2 Dying, I was sent to the hospital by Julian, blood gushing from my wounds. I had lost too much blood and developed sepsis from infection. The doctors performed an emergency total blood transfusion and used the highest grade of antibiotics to snatch me back from the jaws of death. It took a week for me to wake up, my body aching as if I had been dismembered. I looked at Julian with resentment, wanting to speak, but my voice choked, and tears instantly rolled down my cheeks. Julian hugged me lovingly, whispering in my ear: "Honey, thank you for your sacrifice." "Our horror stream is viral now. So many advertisers are begging me for spots!" "I'm going to make Rolling Stone Media the top media company in North City. I'm going to make so much money and become the richest man here." "I want to prove to your parents that marrying me was the right choice." For years, Julian had held a grudge. He wasn't the son-in-law my parents wanted. Compared to my other potential suitors, he was poor and lacked connections. My parents tried their best to stop us from marrying, but I chose him and broke ties with my family for it. Rolling Stone Media was my wedding gift to Julian, hoping he would grow the company. Initially, it did well, but as competition grew and netizen tastes became pickier, operations became difficult. Recently, several top influencers left, and the company was struggling to pay salaries. Julian had been depressed lately, sighing as soon as he got home. Seeing him sleepless night after night, my heart ached. So when he suggested a new path—horror live streaming—and invited me as a guest, I agreed without hesitation. I hoped to share his burden, not expecting to push myself into a dead end. "Did you call the police later? Was the person who hurt me punished?" I suddenly pushed Julian away. His expression was awkward, his eyes dodging. The answer was obvious. "Why did I help you sincerely, only for you to harm me like this!" "If you won't call the police, I will." I reached for the phone on the table, but Julian panicked and tried to stop me. In the struggle, the phone fell to the floor, screen lighting up with a news notification. "Super popular fairy Sophie's next step: exploring the sunken ship in the East Suburbs. Netizens are eagerly awaiting." I picked up the phone, unlocked it, and saw news of Sophie's stream floating on the homepages of major portals. Julian had tasted success and continued to fake supernatural events, keeping popularity high. During my seven-day coma, Sophie continued horror streaming as he requested. Each time following the pattern: evil spirit harms someone, she arrives in time to drive it away and save them. Due to the public's curiosity, her followers grew exponentially, and she became a top influencer. Now I finally understood why Julian wouldn't call the police. He sacrificed me to build Sophie's "fairy" persona. If I called the police and revealed that a human, not a spirit, harmed me, Sophie's persona would collapse. 3 "You owe me so much just to make Sophie famous. Do you have a conscience?" I gritted my teeth. Julian frowned and explained, "That day was an accident, but the effect was surprisingly good." "You know the company's top streamers left. I urgently need to promote new talent." "With my childhood bond with Sophie, she'll stay and make money for me obediently after getting famous." "I did this for the company, and for our future!" No matter how Julian spun it, I knew his relationship with Sophie was more than just childhood friends. I hated Sophie and didn't want her entangled with Julian forever. She was Julian's neighbor back home. She failed her college entrance exams this year and was idling at home. My mother-in-law bragged in their hometown that her son was a big boss and could definitely arrange a good job for her. After Sophie came to North City, Julian moved her into our home. Though reluctant, I endured it for Julian's sake. But one night, Julian was missing from my side. Feeling uneasy, I went to the guest room and heard rustling sounds. Opening the door, I saw them lying in the same bed. Sophie had a sweet smile, eyes closed, while Julian patted her, telling a story. "Shameless!" I couldn't control my temper and scolded them. Sophie hid under the covers, scared. Julian panicked, "Honey, don't overthink it. Sophie and I have shared a bed since we were kids. She's afraid of the dark, I always comforted her to sleep like this." "Is childhood the same as adulthood? You're adults, don't you understand boundaries?" I retorted. Sophie cried pitifully with her head down, and Julian's face was iron-blue, silent. Sophie left the next day, but I accidentally found her luggage in Julian's office cubicle. Before I could get angry, Julian preempted, "Sophie just started working and can't afford rent. You disliked her living at home, so let her stay here temporarily." "It's our hometown custom to help fellow villagers." "Don't look down on her now. When she succeeds, we might need her help." Julian had now turned Sophie into the company's cash cow; they would be inseparable. I wasn't naive enough to believe Julian's nonsense. Everyone saw the ambiguity between them. Even if it destroyed the company, I would get justice for myself. I wouldn't let others benefit from my suffering. 4 Just as I was about to dial the police, the ward door was pushed open. Sophie walked in smiling, asking with concern, "Sister Sarah, how is your recovery?" "Netizens are worried about you. Let everyone take a good look." Today Sophie was making a recap episode, visiting those she "saved" to see if they recovered. With that, she reached out and started tugging at my clothes, increasing force to unbutton my shirt. The nightmare of that day and the humiliation of being exposed naked to the public flooded my mind. My body began to tremble uncontrollably. "Get out!" I shouted with a sob, throwing a pillow at Sophie. Seeing the situation deteriorating, Julian quickly separated us. Afraid I would reveal the truth in my agitation, he pushed Sophie to leave quickly. Sophie looked wronged, and netizens flooded the chat defending her. "Truly a story of the farmer and the snake. This person is so ungrateful." "The fairy shouldn't have saved her. Let her rot." "Maybe she was scared stupid and is now mentally unstable." Julian persuaded Sophie out. I saw my phone, broken in two, near the trash can. Julian must have stepped on it while I was arguing with Sophie. Soon, Julian returned to tell me he had processed my discharge. He would take me home to rest and buy me cakes from my favorite bakery on the way. Everything he did was to distract me, calm me down, and make me forget about calling the police. I was still weak. Fighting him head-on would yield no benefits. I silently followed him home, waiting for an opportunity. But as soon as we entered, choking smoke made my eyes water. Black smoke filled the room. My mother-in-law had come from the hometown at some point and was burning my clothes in a brazier. "Mom, what are you doing?" Julian thought he had just appeased me, only for his mom to start trouble. His tone was impatient. My mother-in-law stood up, hands on hips, glaring at me. "Don't think I don't go online. I saw it on Grape Video. You're a jinx." "You went to that creepy asylum for no reason and got attacked. Now you look crazy. Stay away from my son, don't bring him bad luck." She pulled Julian to her side. "From today on, you must sleep separately. Just to be safe, you sleep in the guest room with me. I'll supervise you." My face fell completely. Julian explained helplessly, "Mom, can you stop adding to the chaos?" "The content you saw was artistically processed. Sarah is fine, nothing happened. Stop worrying blindly." She didn't believe it, relentless: "You've always been loyal and righteous since childhood. You stick by her even when she's like that. Don't lie to me. I'll be the bad guy." Julian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang. Sophie's crying voice came through. "Julian, after leaving the hospital, I went to visit the actor from the East Suburbs tomb exploration. But he suddenly confessed to me. When I refused, he grabbed my hand and won't let me go. What should I do?!" "Outrageous! I'm coming right away," Julian said anxiously. He hung up and turned to me: "Don't mind Mom. I'll buy you better, more expensive clothes later." Then to his mom: "Mom, stop it. What you said is baseless. I'll explain when I get back." My mother-in-law smiled, "Sophie's matter is important. Go help her!" Julian left me there and went alone.
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