It all started because my billionaire father smiled during a prime-time interview and said, "Honestly, the road to success has been incredibly smooth for me." Those words hunted him down. A man twisted by extreme hatred for the rich broke into our home and beheaded him. He violated my mother, too. Hiding in the closet, I watched her emerald ring soaking in a pool of blood. I didn't dare let a single tear fall. It was my boyfriend, Caleb Vance, who also happened to be my therapist, who pulled me out of that suffocating shadow. Until a movie hit the theaters, based entirely on my family’s tragedy. In this adaptation, my father was twisted into a corrupt, heartless capitalist. My mother was depicted as a homewrecking mistress. And I? I was portrayed as a vicious bully. The brutal, cold-blooded killer was whitewashed into a poor victim of circumstance, driven to desperate measures by poverty. On the night of the movie premiere, I went. I never expected to find out that the screenwriter was Caleb’s childhood sweetheart, Elara Vance. She smiled as she clung to Caleb’s arm, introducing him to the crowd: "This is the city's finest psychologist, and the inspirational muse behind my film. He provided the incredible, raw material that allowed me to complete this masterpiece." The theater erupted in thunderous applause. Ignoring Caleb’s look of absolute horror, I slowly raised my hand. "I have a question for this 'muse'." … Caleb’s face went completely rigid. He obviously hadn't expected me to show up. I recognized the panic swirling in his eyes instantly. Two days ago, we had agreed to take a trip to a tropical island. The day before we were supposed to leave, he claimed an urgent crisis had come up at work. He apologized with such tenderness: "Rylee, just give me one day. One day." "You go ahead. I’ll handle this and meet you there immediately." I believed him. Until my best friend sent me a video link. There were Caleb and Elara, appearing together at the movie premiere. Striking an intimate pose, looking like lovers. Forgetting about the trip, I rushed here, only to watch a movie where my family was twisted into villains. Then, the realization hit me like a physical blow. He wasn't busy. He just needed me out of town. Caleb’s eyes locked with mine. He immediately ripped his gaze away, not daring to look at me. So, he was capable of fear. Fear of me knowing. Fear of facing my fury. Yet he did it anyway. For Elara. I curled my lips in a bitter smile. "Dr. Vance, I’m just purely curious. As a psychologist, where exactly did you get the 'real-life subject material' you provided to Ms. Vance for this screenplay?" I wanted to hear his explanation. I was giving him one last chance. Caleb’s mind seemed to go blank for a second. The next moment, his voice was flat. "Just an experience of an old friend." I stunned for a few seconds, then let out a low, bitter laugh. Caleb, I’m always the soft-hearted one, but thank God, you are far more ruthless than me. I was such a fool. I already knew the answer, yet I still wanted to hear how he would lie to me. Caleb saw my eyes turning red, and a note of worry crept into his voice. "I…" Suddenly, Elara’s slightly shrill voice cut him off. "What a wonderful question! It seems you are a deep admirer of our film. Why don't I share the story of Caleb and I’s creative journey?" She started talking, completely self-absorbed. "The story in the movie was so heavy, I was stuck for the longest time, unable to put pen to paper." "Until I met Caleb." She turned her gaze to him, the adoration in her eyes thick and unmistakable. "As a top psychologist, he analyzed the raw, inner world of those suffering from PTSD for me. We explored the complexities of human nature, the boundaries of crime and punishment." "He stayed up with me through countless late nights. Honestly, without him, this movie wouldn't have a soul." When she finished, she looked at Caleb with deep affection. Caleb glanced at me, then immediately pulled away as if burned, not daring to meet my eyes. Yet, he still nodded stiffly, playing along with Elara. The audience erupted in applause, mixed with envious whispers. "Oh my god, they’re soulmates!" I quietly stared at that face and laughed at myself. Six years of knowing Caleb, four years of being in love. Now, I was just an "old friend." The scars I had once revealed to him in total trust had been served up to Elara. He used my wounds to please another woman. Chapter 2 When the applause died down, I forced myself to calm down. "Exploring human nature, analyzing psychology. That sounds so profound." "But Dr. Vance, as a professional psychologist, using your patient’s private life as material for someone else—" I paused, my voice turning to ice. "Is that, perhaps, a violation of your professional ethics?!" As the words fell, the faces of the audience members, who had just been gushing over the "romance," shifted. That’s right. Leaking a patient’s privacy was an absolute taboo for a therapist! The reporters reacted instantly, turning their cameras and microphones toward Caleb on the stage. "Dr. Vance, is what this young lady saying true?" "Did you really leak a patient’s private sessions to Ms. Vance to use as screenplay material?" Caleb panicked, frantically waving his hands, his voice pitching up. "No! No, that’s not right! Everyone is misunderstanding. This isn't a patient’s private life!" Elara immediately chimed in, putting on a victim act. "This movie is adapted from actual social events. How could it be a patient’s private life? This young lady must be confused about something." "Oh? Adapted from actual events?" I smiled. "Then can Ms. Vance tell everyone how you learned about these 'actual events'?" Years ago, due to a massive error by the investigators, the killer almost got away. Because of that, the case was completely buried and never reported. Aside from Caleb as the source, Elara couldn't have known. Elara froze, falling silent. She couldn't say she heard it from Caleb, because that would confirm he leaked the information. She could only glare at me with venom. The air solidified. Elara looked to Caleb with a pleading expression. He took a deep look at me, seemingly having made some kind of decision. "The person involved was an old friend of mine. She didn't want to be mentioned again, so I didn't want to say much." "Since this young lady is so persistent, I will clear this up." My heart dropped. By instinct, he still chose to protect Elara. I had lost completely. "My old friend was deeply aware of the mistakes her parents had made. For years, she carried a massive moral burden, which led to severe depression." "She came to me to pour everything out and begged me to find a way to make this matter public, to serve as a warning to the world. It was her way of seeking atonement for the victims." He paused, pitching his voice up a bit, carrying an air of righteous indignation. "So, this was not a leak." "Elara and I were simply helping a tragic girl achieve her self-redemption." I stared at Caleb, dumbfounded. A sharp pain shot through my heart. I was so hurt I could barely breathe. After my parents’ brutal murder, I got sick. Depression. Living was more painful than dying. I swallowed sleeping pills, slit my wrists, and looked down from rooftops countless times. Every time, I was pulled back. Until one time, after getting my stomach pumped, the doctor couldn't take it anymore and brought in Caleb. He told me, "You are a survivor, not a sinner." Some people in life are like gifts. With his companionship, I was slowly healed. And now, his face had become just as repulsive as the killer's from that day. I held back my tears, my voice shaking. "Caleb Vance, you truly have no soul." "So righteous, aren't you? Casting yourself as the big hero." I let out an abrupt laugh, asking him with a raspy voice: "But you twist the truth and reverse black and white. When you’re asleep at night, does your conscience really never trouble you?!" Chapter 3 The crowd grew noisy. "What does she mean by that? Is she saying the movie is maliciously whitewashing a criminal?" "The depiction of the criminal in the movie did make me feel uncomfortable." "Yeah, and the victims were so stereotypical, it felt like victim-blaming..." Hearing the whispers, Elara’s face flashed with panic, her grip on Caleb’s arm tightening slightly. Seeing this, Caleb’s eyes darkened. "Rylee Croft! Do you have to cause a scene out here?" "What happened to your parents was years ago. Why can't you just let it go? Why do you insist on not letting them rest in peace!" I snapped my head up to look at him. The look in his eyes was one of disappointment, anger, and even a slight tinge of blame. There was not a single trace of the tenderness and heartbreak he once had. I was stunned. All those years, I thought of him as my salvation. In his most缱绻 (tender) voice, he had told me over and over again: "Rylee, don't be afraid. You have me." "Rylee, look. The sun is out. Let's go out and get some sun, and I’ll read you poetry." I blankly raised my hand and touched my face. The bitterness I had held back for too long had now coalesced into tears, crawling all over my face. Caleb saw my tears. He froze for a few seconds, and a look of pain flashed across his face. He instinctively raised his hand, as if wanting to wipe away the tears as he had countless times in the past. But he realized we were too far apart. He was on the stage, the center of attention. I was down here, isolated and helpless. He awkwardly dropped his hand. Across the noisy crowd, his lips moved, and though I couldn't hear him, I understood clearly: Rylee, don't make a scene. Let's go home and talk. Hah. After he and Elara had pinned my entire family to a pillar of shame. Was there any "home" left between us? I curled my lips in a mocking smile, walked up onto the stage step by step, and faced Caleb. "My parents have been slandered as criminals who deserved to die. You are the ones not letting them rest in peace!" "Caleb Vance, if it were you, could you let it go?" His mouth opened, his Adam's apple moving with difficulty. His voice was raspy. "Rylee, I’m doing this for your own good. What happened to your parents needs more attention. A truth is needed eventually." Absurd. A short, sharp laugh escaped my throat. "The truth?" "Is the truth beautifying the crime and the killer while attacking the victims?" "Or is the truth slandering my parents, making my father a sweatshop boss, my mother a homewrecking mistress, and me a vicious bully who abused her classmates?" My voice suddenly went high. "Caleb Vance, does it taste good? Living off the blood of the dead?" The atmosphere around us solidified. Caleb’s shaking voice rang out. "Rylee, that’s not what I meant. I just got anxious earlier." His eyes turned red, as if he truly was repenting. But the next second, he said urgently, "But this movie is very important to Elara. Nothing can go wrong. Rylee, just step back this once, okay?" "After this, we’ll get married." I slowly looked up at him, burning tears slipping from the corner of my eyes. But I was laughing so hard my whole body was shaking. "Step back? How do you expect me to step back! You know how painful the last six years have been for me. You know!" Caleb heard my laughter, and his tone became impatient. "Then what exactly do you want?" "Do you want to destroy my career, destroy Elara’s most important work, before you’re satisfied?" His eyes were full of disappointment. "When did you become so unreasonable?" I froze on the spot. Looking at that face that once gave me so much peace, I suddenly found it frighteningly alien. "In your heart, her slandering my entire life is called 'work'?" "And I, the victim you’ve trampled under your feet and sucked dry, I become the sinner?" My interrogation made his face even uglier. He avoided my gaze, not daring to look into my eyes again. Seeing this, Elara frowned, her tone full of disdain. "Ms. Croft, why are you speaking so harshly? Caleb and I are giving this matter more discussion, recording it through film." The venom in her eyes flashed by. "You are so hopelessly disruptive. Anyone who didn't know better would think you are that daughter who bullied her classmate and caused them to jump off a building." So, Elara knew everything. She just wanted me to admit my identity and humiliate me publicly. Chapter 4 I had always hated Elara Vance. And she hated me. In front of my face, she would tell Caleb pointedly, "Caleb, pity isn't love. Don't be fooled by a patient." I was already insecure, and she made it so I could never find peace. I had to confirm with Caleb over and over again: "Do you only pity me?" "Caleb Vance, will you one day abandon me?" Caleb would pull me into his arms with helpless adoration. "You silly girl, what are you imagining? How could I ever bring myself to leave you." Now, he was standing against me, protecting another woman. So, it wasn't that he couldn't bring himself to leave. It was just that the person he couldn't leave was not me. I met Elara’s malicious gaze and smiled. "Yes, I am that person. The daughter in the movie." Her grin froze. She hadn't expected me to admit it so easily. Immediately, she smiled again, faking surprise. "Oh dear, so Ms. Croft really is that bully." The venue exploded. "Ms. Croft, was your father really a cold-blooded capitalist? Was your mother really a mistress?" "Ms. Croft, was your family's tragedy retribution for you bullying others?" The reporters were incredibly excited. But they weren't trying to find the truth. They wanted a gimmick, a shocking headline. The crowd surged forward. I was pushed down to the ground with massive force, my head hitting the floor hard. Buzz! The world instantly went silent. As the room spun, twisted, magnified faces blurred before my eyes, merging with the face of the demon from deep in my memory. I was back in that blood-colored afternoon, pinned inside the closet by my parents. Through that narrow crack in the door, I saw— My father on the ground, his head a bloody mess. My mother pushed to the ground, her skirt violently torn open, the demon’s face turning depraved. When her eyes met mine, they instantly filled with resolve. She actively thrust the knife in the crazed robber's hand into her own heart. Then, step by step, she dragged herself through the blood covering the floor, crawling to the closet. Using her body to block that crack in the door, blocking the demon's searching gaze. Blood seeped in, inch by inch, warm, thick… "Ah!" I clutched my head and let out a scream, my body shaking uncontrollably. That suffocating feeling of being close to death returned. The crowd was terrified by my reaction. They stopped pushing forward and backed away with strange looks on their faces. I finally got some breathing room. "Rylee!" Caleb noticed something was wrong. His face changed dramatically, and he tried to rush over to help me. "Don't touch me!" I violently took a step back to avoid him. His hand froze in mid-air, his face full of hurt and disbelief. I raised my head, staring at him with blood-red eyes. "Is it fun? Turning everything I told you into gossip to tell her?" Caleb’s face turned slightly red, looking as if he were embarrassed or angry. "Rylee Croft!" "Not everyone is like you, always twisting every ounce of goodwill into malice." I dully dragged myself up and said to him, one word at a time: "Caleb Vance, is it that hard to treat people with the same sincerity you started with?" "How did the old me not realize you were actually this disgusting." His eyes began to dodge mine. This reaction fell into the eyes of the crowd, looking meaningful. "Now it really does look like Ms. Croft is the one being bled dry." "I knew this movie was wrong. That’s a murdering demon; why are they whitewashing him?" "Exactly. And putting him right in the middle of the promotional poster. Their intentions are way too obvious." The whispers of doubt grew louder. Elara completely panicked. Her voice went sharp as she screamed, "Don't believe her! She’s crazy!" "She’s a patient of Caleb’s. She has a delusional obsession with him, and now she's fabricating all this to destroy us!" The crowd frowned, barely able to keep up with the reversals. Elara shook Caleb’s arm urgently. "Caleb, don't play along with her. You've done more than enough. She’s trying to destroy us!" "Don't you have her medical records for her delusions? Stop being soft-hearted! Tell everyone the truth, everything I said is true!" In an instant, everyone’s gaze concentrated on Caleb Vance. After a long silence, he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, all emotion had faded, leaving only indifference. He looked at me and said quietly: "Yes. She… is suffering from severe delusions. She is one of my patients." "She has been obsessively harassing me…"
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