1 The moment my parents cut off my sister’s medical funds—again—for their precious adopted daughter, my heart finally died. The feed sighed along with me. 【Scarlett, your parents said they’re not doing it because they like the adopted girl more. They’re just afraid of spoiling you two. This is all just a test to toughen you up.】 【Remember last time? When they made you sell your blood for tuition? And the time they hired those thugs to steal your food money? This is the 99th test. They said if you can just get through this one, they’ll finally let themselves love you.】 Get through this one? But my sister was already dead. When I saw my parents standing in the middle of my tiny rental apartment, having broken in illegally, I wasn’t surprised. Ten minutes after I’d posted a desperate plea for help online, they had used their connections—and their money—to have the post scrubbed and my account banned. They had the power to silence me online. But they didn't have the money to save my sister’s life. I clenched my fists, listening as my father’s voice, cold and final as a death sentence, echoed in the small room. “Scarlett, your allowance for the year is cancelled.” He launched into a tirade. “You and Nina are getting more and more out of control. First, you lie about needing medical fees, and now you’re spreading rumors about us online! Do you have any idea how much it cost me to get that post taken down?” His agitation grew, his eyes darting around the room. “Where’s Nina? Get her out here! It’s time I taught you both a lesson, once and for all!” He pointed a finger at me. “You. Kneel. Now.” My mother stepped forward, feigning protection. “Let’s just talk this out. There’s no need for violence.” She turned to me, her voice syrupy sweet. “Scarlett, dear, where’s your sister? Have her come out and apologize to your father with you. This joke has gone too far. If you keep being stubborn, even I won’t be able to help you.” Help? When had she ever helped us? She was always the silent observer, stepping in only at the end to play the peacemaker. When one of their “tests” succeeded, she’d praise herself for her brilliant parenting advice. When a test failed, she’d brush it off, placing all the blame squarely on Nina and me. Even the feed had seen this script too many times. 【I can’t. This time her parents have really crossed the line. Scarlett was just asking for help to give Nina a proper burial. And they had the post deleted in less than ten minutes.】 【My heart breaks for her. I guess this is just the fate of a side character.】 A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Ever since Stella walked into our lives, I’d been able to see the feed. I knew that my sister and I were just stepping stones for the story’s protagonist, Stella. We were destined to fail. But I refused to accept it. I fought back, again and again, only to be defeated every time. Whenever Stella framed me for something, I would exhaust myself trying to explain, to prove my innocence to my parents. To them, my pleas were just pathetic excuses. Later, I learned from the feed that they were using Stella to “toughen us up,” and that they secretly approved of her cruelty. Finally, I gave up. I accepted their twisted tests and even tried to convince Nina to do the same. I thought if we just endured it, the tests would end. But it had been seven years. The tests never stopped. They just got worse. And my beautiful, precious sister, because of their 99th test, had died alone in a hospital. Even now, her body was lying in a cold morgue drawer. Because I didn’t have the money to lay her to rest. And my father had just cut off my meager $500 monthly allowance. I took a deep, shuddering breath. When they were finally done yelling, I spoke, my voice barely a whisper. “You can stop my allowance.” “But please… just lend me two thousand dollars. Please?” “Nina… she’s waiting to be buried…” My father exploded. He ripped off his belt and lashed it across my back. “So, you’re still lying! What kind of sister are you, cursing your own sibling to be dead?” Pain shot through me, but I pushed through it. “I’m not lying. Nina was in a car accident. When I called you, you refused to pay the medical bills. She bled out and died. The cheapest cremation and burial… it’s two thousand dollars.” My voice trembled uncontrollably. “I don’t have the money… that’s why I posted online for help… You can hit me all you want, but please, can you just lend me two thousand dollars so I can bury my sister…” They had so much money. And my sister had died for lack of it. The irony was a knife in my heart. My mother’s body went rigid. “Scarlett, what are you saying? Is Nina really…” 2 My father shoved my mother’s hand away and struck me again with the belt. “You believe her?” he spat. “These two have been liars since they were children! Faking sick, and now faking dead!” “Stella was right all along. All they’ve ever wanted was money!” He glared at me, his face a mask of fury. “If you were half as well-behaved as Stella, your mother and I wouldn’t have to be so hard on you!” The last of my resolve shattered. “You wouldn’t?” I screamed, the words tearing from my throat. “But Stella is just a tool you found to torture us! You know she bullies and frames us, and you just watch!” “Haven’t we been good enough? We earned our own tuition! We worked part-time jobs for food! We excelled in school, got scholarships every year! And what did you do? You hired thugs to rob us of the little money we scraped together for food!” “I’m just asking for two thousand dollars to bury Nina. Is that too much to ask? She was my sister! She was your daughter!” “Why won’t you believe us, just this once?” They both froze, a flash of embarrassment crossing their faces. They clearly hadn’t expected me to know about their “tests.” My mother wrung her hands, her voice a nervous whisper. “Scarlett, when did you find out… and Nina knew too, didn’t she? Is that why you two have been making up stories to get money from us?” After that raw, desperate confession, that was the conclusion they drew? I laughed, a hollow, self-mocking sound. “If you still don’t believe me, then take this two thousand dollars and buy our relationship. Consider it severed.” “From now on, I’m not a Sterling. You won’t have to worry about me tarnishing the family name. Are you satisfied now?” Two thousand dollars. I wondered if, after they cremated my sister, there would be enough left to cremate me, too. Without Nina, there was no reason to keep living. Before they could respond, a saccharine female voice cut in from the doorway. “Scarlett, you’re breaking Mom and Dad’s hearts!” I turned my head, my face devoid of expression, and looked at Stella. She was dressed in an expensive couture princess dress, a Kelly bag worth tens of thousands dangling from her arm. I glanced down at my own clothes: a t-shirt my neighbor had thrown out, shoes I’d salvaged from a dumpster, and a cloth bag I’d gotten for free during a part-time gig. These were my parents. They would spend millions coddling their adopted daughter but wouldn't spare two thousand for their biological one. Even the feed was outraged on my behalf. Stella’s face was a picture of earnest concern. “Scarlett, I saw you and Nina at the hospital this morning, buying fake medical records. How can you say she’s dead now?” She turned to my parents. “Since Scarlett wants to cut ties, maybe you should just let her. We can… we can just pretend this is another test.” I laughed again, this time in weary defeat. How could she lie so effortlessly about things that never happened? I was exhausted. I tried to defend myself one last time. “You’re so powerful. Why don’t you just check the hospital records? See if a patient named Nina Sterling died there. Then you’ll know who’s lying!” But my mother’s trust in Stella was absolute. “Stella isn’t like you. Would she lie to us? Nina is your own sister, and you keep talking about her being dead. Are you trying to curse her, or us?” “You get Nina out here to apologize right now, or she’ll never see another cent of allowance from us again!” I looked up at the feed scrolling in my vision. They were all angry for me, trying to comfort me, suggesting solutions. But I was completely numb. I had stopped expecting them to understand a long time ago. When Nina had the accident, I had begged them for the money. They had turned it into a test and refused to pay. Nina had clung to life for three days on a gurney in a hospital hallway before she finally gave up. In a way, we were all free now. As soon as I laid Nina to rest, I would go and join her. I just never imagined I wouldn’t even have the money to say goodbye. As despair washed over me, my father snorted. “Since you know about the tests, fine. I’ll give you one last chance. Pass this test, and I’ll give you your two thousand dollars.” 3 “And I’ll give you anything else you want in the future.” Stella’s face fell. She clearly hadn’t expected my father to offer another test. To be honest, neither had I. I looked up, and the feed was filled with advice. 【Scarlett, you should probably agree. They are your biological parents, after all. They probably won’t make it too hard.】 【Yeah, and Nina’s body is still at the hospital. You can’t wait forever. How long would it take you to earn that kind of money working part-time? Nina can’t wait that long.】 They were right. Nina couldn’t wait. I had already tried everything. Borrowing money, applying for loans, looking for work… every time I saw a glimmer of hope, my parents would send someone to sabotage it. I was out of options. That’s why I had resorted to revealing my identity as a Sterling online, hoping public pressure would be my salvation. And in the end? I was still being forced by my own parents to pass a twisted test just to bury my sister. The irony was suffocating. After a long silence, I finally spoke. “Fine. I agree.” For Nina, I had to. Stella shot me a look of pure hatred. I ignored her and held out my hand. “But please, can you give me the two thousand dollars first?” “Her burial really can’t wait.” Stella burst out laughing. “Scarlett, you’re really pushing it, aren’t you?” “Still lying about Nina being dead?” She turned to my parents. “Actually… Mom, Dad, I happened to see Scarlett outside a hotel with a boy the other day. This two thousand dollars, I wonder if she’s…” She trailed off, her eyes darting pointedly to my stomach. My parents’ suspicion was instantly ignited. My mother’s hand flew out and slapped me across the face. “Scarlett! You’re only eighteen and you’re already fooling around with men? You want two thousand dollars from us? Not a chance!” My father’s face was grim. “You want two thousand dollars that badly? Fine. Here’s your final test.” “Earn two thousand dollars in one week.” Stella couldn’t hold back a triumphant smirk. I felt like I had been plunged into ice water. My chest heaved, a fire of helpless rage burning within me. They left without another word. Stella lingered, her eyes scanning the tiny, squalid apartment. “I was a little worried for a second there. I almost thought you’d win this time. Good thing Mom and Dad don’t believe you, as usual.” “I don’t see how you’re going to pass this final test. Why don’t you get on your knees and beg me? I could help you out.” “It’s just two thousand dollars. I can introduce you to a few benefactors. You take good care of them, and you could make not just two thousand, but two hundred thousand.” “Besides,” she added with a vicious smile, “Mom and Dad already think you’re shameless. What difference does it make now?” The feed erupted, cursing Stella, urging me to explain everything to my parents. But what was the point? They were always like this. They would act like they cared, calling me incessantly to make sure I paid my tuition, threatening to disown me if I didn't get an education. But when I asked to borrow the money, they would say: “School is your own responsibility, Scarlett. You and your sister need to figure it out yourselves. There are plenty of opportunities in this world. If you’re willing to work hard, you can easily earn the money instead of just expecting handouts.” They said this when I was still a minor, when it was illegal for me to work. I had to travel to a remote town, lie about my age, and sell my blood to pay for my education. If they really cared, they would have investigated the moment they heard Nina was dead. But they didn’t. No matter how many times I told them, they were convinced I was lying. After her final taunt, Stella left. I collapsed to the floor, powerless. Utterly lost. I needed two thousand dollars. Not to pass their test. But to bury Nina. And a body… a body couldn’t wait a week. After a long time, I finally made a decision. I walked towards the city’s bar district. What was a little more degradation? If it meant Nina could finally rest in peace, I would do anything. 4 But the seedy, chaotic world of a nightclub was no place for a novice like me. Night after night, I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to endure the grasping, malicious hands. I begged and pleaded, finally convincing two gold-toothed executives to buy a single bottle of champagne. I survived like that, day after day. On the fifth day, the bar owner took pity on me. He sighed, his face etched with weariness. “I hear you’re in a rush for two thousand dollars. How about this? I’ll advance you your wages and tips from the past few days. I’ll have two thousand for you in the morning. After you’ve taken care of your business, you can come back and work in the back office. Away from the customers.” “A young girl like you… it’s not good to go through this kind of hardship so early.” This small act of kindness shattered my composure. I burst into tears, dropping to my knees and bowing my head to the floor three times in gratitude. That night, I called the funeral home and arranged a time for Nina’s cremation. But the next morning, when I arrived at the bar, I was met by the owner’s troubled face. A knot of dread tightened in my stomach. His expression was a mixture of guilt and pity. He let out a long sigh. “Scarlett, I’m so sorry.” “The two thousand dollars…” “I can’t give it to you.” The feed, which had been celebrating with me just moments before, went silent. My mouth opened, but no words came out. I started to tremble, tears blurring my vision. Then I saw the feed light up again. 【Scarlett, it looks like your parents pressured the owner. If he gives you the money, he’ll lose his bar…】 【This guy has it tough. His mother has a heart condition, his son is autistic… the bar is all his family has. He had no choice but to say no.】 【But what is Scarlett going to do now? The funeral home is already preparing for the cremation.】 I looked at the owner’s bloodshot eyes. Numbly, I bowed to him. “Thank you. I’m sorry to have caused you trouble.” I wiped my tears with a stiff, mechanical motion and turned away, wandering aimlessly through the streets. I was completely and utterly hopeless. Why was it always like this? Every time a sliver of hope appeared, they would crush it, forcing my sister and me deeper into despair. I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably in the middle of the sidewalk, my grief cut short by the ringing of my phone. It was Nurse Thompson from the hospital. “Hello? Young lady, you are coming to pick up your sister today, right?” “Every extra day is another fifty dollars…” “Nurse Thompson, I…” I didn’t know how to explain. The words caught in my throat. Before I could speak, a sharp blow struck the back of my head. Someone clamped a cloth over my mouth from behind. A sharp, suffocating smell filled my lungs. The world swam. The last things I saw were the frantic messages on the feed flashing 【RUN】 and the nurse on the other end of the line, her voice faint and distant as she called my name. But I couldn’t answer. A wave of cold washed over me. I forced my eyes open, squinting against a blinding light. “Heh, told you a splash of water would work.” I flinched, trying to move, only to realize I was bound. The man who had spoken walked over, grabbing my jaw and forcing me to look at him. “Tsk, tsk. Not bad looking. This should be a profitable job.” “Don’t be scared, little girl. We’re going to take good care of you.” He smiled, his hand stroking my cheek, then moving slowly, deliberately, downward. With a jolt of horror, I realized I was completely naked. Panic seized me. “What do you want? Who hired you to kidnap me?” The man chuckled, twirling a lock of my hair around his finger. “You pissed off the wrong person. Don’t you even know who?” “A little girl like you… why would you pick a fight with the great Miss Sterling?” Miss Sterling… The name clicked, and just then, Stella emerged from the shadows. Her face was a mask of disgust. She circled me, filming me with her phone. “This is the price you pay for trying to compete with me for Mom and Dad’s love, Scarlett.” “You needed two thousand dollars for Nina’s funeral, right?” She laughed, pulling a bank card from her purse and tossing it at my feet. “Consider this a gift from me. And I was thoughtful enough to find you a few men to help you experience the joys of life.” “You’re welcome. I know you’ll thank me for it.” “Oh, and one more thing.” She smiled, pulling a piece of paper and an ink pad from her bag. She grabbed my hand and pressed my thumb onto the paper.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "393365", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel