At a downtown high-society auction, where elites traded vanity and prestige, my private photos were the star lot. My childhood friend Nathaniel Rivers, just to amuse his date, had his friends drive up the bid—forcing me to fight for my dignity. Desperate, I planned to call my other childhood friend Mikkal Thorne for help. But during the auction break, I overheard their call. “You’re the mastermind, Mikkal,” Nate smirked. “Taking Lydia’s photos while she was passed out drunk. Now she’ll never dare cross Stella.” “I hired someone to take them,” Mikkal replied coolly. That’s when it clicked. Two months ago, my abduction, three days of torment and humiliation—it was all their game. A way to leverage me for Stella. “Just photos, no big deal,” Mikkal added. “When Lydia calls, play your part.” A bitter laugh escaped me. I slipped my phone into my purse and returned to the hall. When the auctioneer asked if I’d keep bidding, I glanced at Nate. “I withdraw.” I give up. On everything. I don’t want it anymore. 1. The moment the words left my mouth, the color drained from Nathaniel’s face. He never expected me to fold. “Lydia, do you have no self-respect? Are you really going to let your photos fall into some stranger’s hands?” I looked at him, my expression a mask of pain. “Weren’t you the one who put them up here for everyone to bid on?” My question choked him. His shock morphed instantly into rage. “What the hell are you talking about? You’re the one who has no shame, fooling around, getting yourself photographed like that. And now you’re blaming me?” Stella, the girl beside him, chimed in, her voice dripping with indignation. “Lydia, Nate has been so good to you. How can you slander him like this?” Her tear-filled eyes made Nate’s heart ache with protective tenderness. I couldn’t stand to watch their nauseating performance any longer. I turned and walked away. My phone was vibrating incessantly in my purse. It was Mikkal. Are you that eager to play your part, Mikkal? So eager to join Nate in trampling on what’s left of me? 2. I answered the call just outside the auction hall. “Lydia? I heard what happened. Why didn’t you call me? I would have helped you, you know I would.” Mikkal was still in the dark. He was playing his role to perfection. “How would you have helped?” I asked, my voice flat and cold. He was too wrapped up in his performance to notice the chill in my tone. “I’ll get the photos back for you, don’t worry.” “But… you know Nate and I owe Stella’s mom. We just want to repay that debt.” I knew. They talked about it all the time. When they were kids, they’d been kidnapped, and Stella’s mother had died saving them. That’s what they said. So, ever since, they treated Stella like a princess. If it ever came down to a choice between me and her, I was always the one who had to step aside. They were always repaying that debt, favor after favor. And I was always caught in the fallout, with no choice in the matter. I had worked tirelessly, clawing my way to an opportunity that would finally prove my worth, that would finally set me free from them. A single, coveted position at a prestigious research institute. But Stella had gone to them again, demanding I give it up for her. When I refused, they resorted to this. Maybe I truly couldn't stay by their side any longer. Mikkal was still talking. “Just give her the spot at the institute. You have me, Lydia. Anything you ever want, I’ll give it to you.” I touched the necklace around my neck, the one my mother gave me before she died. She’d made me promise not to blame Nate and Mikkal. She said she didn’t regret taking a bullet for them, because she knew they would take care of me for the rest of their lives. I fought to keep my voice from trembling. “Fine. I’ll do it.” Mikkal, ecstatic, hung up immediately. I wiped a tear from my eye and sent a text. Dr. Moss, I’ll take the field assignment. I’ll be ready to leave with you on Saturday. 3. I was in my room packing when Nate and Stella got home. Seeing my open suitcase, Nate sneered. “I almost thought you’d grown a spine and were actually leaving. But you’re just as pathetic as ever. You’d rather give up your career than lose the roof over your head, wouldn't you? Leeching off my family is all you know how to do.” He thought I was unpacking, putting my clothes back. Stella smiled, looping her arm through his. “Oh, Nate, don’t be so harsh. Lydia’s just been in love with you since we were kids. She can’t bear to be away from you.” Nate’s face twisted in disgust. “Being loved by a bitch in heat is nothing to be proud of.” I didn’t understand why he had become so cruel. “What did I ever do to you?” The question seemed to catch him off guard. He didn’t understand it either. This was all supposed to be an act he and Mikkal had cooked up. But the fact that I had called Mikkal for help, not him, had lit a fire of pure resentment in his gut. “Am I wrong? You’ve lived off my family your whole life. Now your wings are grown and you think you can just fly away? You just want to be free to sleep around, don’t you?” He grew more agitated with every word, finally kicking a box I had placed at the foot of my bed. Its contents spilled across the floor. Dolls, trinkets, little keepsakes—all gifts from him and Mikkal. “Pathetic,” he spat. “Pretending you’re so tough, but you can’t even leave without clinging to our things.” He was so focused on humiliating me that he didn’t see the word I had written on the side of the box in black marker: DISCARDS. Stella shot me a contemptuous look, then turned to Nate with a pout. “Mikkal already booked a table for us. We should get ready, we don’t want to keep him waiting.” Nate’s expression softened as he stroked her hair. Stella blushed, then glanced back at me. “Don’t get the wrong idea, Lydia. They’re just celebrating me getting the job at the institute. It’s not like they have feelings for me.” Hearing this, Nate looked at me, waiting for a reaction. I gave him nothing. “Why are you wasting your breath on her?” he said impatiently. “She’s a jobless nobody. From now on, she’ll be groveling at our feet just to survive.” With that, they ignored me, changed their clothes, and left. 4. The next day, while running errands, I bumped into Alex, a colleague from the institute. He looked surprised at the papers in my hand. “I didn’t think you’d go. I’m surprised you agreed to the assignment.” The field mission was notoriously difficult. I had turned it down before, unwilling to leave the only life I’d ever known. But now, I had to be responsible for myself. I needed to discuss some research protocols with Dr. Moss ahead of time, so after finishing my paperwork, I went with Alex to the institute. At the entrance, I ran into Stella and the others. Mikkal looked surprised to see me. “Lydia, you promised me you wouldn’t come here.” I didn’t want to cause a scene. “Dr. Moss has been very kind to me. I just wanted to apologize to her in person.” But Stella wasn’t having it. “The institute is only hiring one person this year. Not just any stray can wander in. I’ve already met with Dr. Moss and we had a lovely chat.” She waved a file folder in the air. Alex, standing beside me, clearly disliked her attitude. “The institute values character as much as it values ability.” His words made Stella’s face burn. Mikkal’s expression soured. “Lydia, since when do you associate with people like this? Tell him to apologize to Stella.” “This is Alex,” I said, my face a blank mask. “He’s one of the lead researchers on a major project here.” Stella’s demeanor changed in a heartbeat. She beamed. “Oh, a senior researcher! It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Stella. I’ll be your new colleague.” Alex didn’t even glance at her. He just guided me away. Behind us, Stella stomped her foot in frustration. Mikkal watched me walk away, a thoughtful look on his face. He calmly pulled out his phone and made a call. “The plan is still on. But I want it done fast. All over the internet in thirty minutes.” 5. I stayed at the institute until evening. When I finally checked my phone to note the time, a breaking news notification caught my eye. I clicked on it. And there I was. Photos of me in every degrading position imaginable, humiliated beyond recognition. My blood ran cold. The world froze. I collapsed into my chair. How could this happen? I already gave them what they wanted. Why won’t they just leave me alone? The memories of those three nights came rushing back, a suffocating nightmare. Overwhelmed, I grabbed a utility knife from the desk and, without a second thought, dragged it across my wrist. Just then, Dr. Moss and Alex burst in. Seeing the blood, the photos on my screen, Dr. Moss understood everything. She had been my parents’ colleague; she had watched me grow up. She knew I wasn't the kind of person they portrayed me to be. She wrapped her arms around me, holding me tight. The dam broke. I sobbed into her shoulder, telling her everything. She comforted me, her voice a soothing balm, promising she wouldn't abandon me, promising we would leave this toxic place behind soon. I returned to the Rivers’ mansion in a daze. Stella opened the door. Her face was a picture of false concern, her eyes dancing with triumph. “Oh, Lydia. Your photos are everywhere. It’s just awful. I feel so, so sorry for you.” As she spoke, she gestured, showing off the ruby necklace and ring she was wearing. Weren’t those my mother’s? The last things she left me? I kept them hidden away, safe. How did she have them? Nate walked up behind her. “Someone leaked your photos. Stella was worried sick about you all afternoon, so I gave them to her to cheer her up.” He said it so casually, as if he’d just given away a cheap trinket. I ignored him and held out my hand. “Give them back.” Nate was taken aback by my defiance. He scoffed. “Your mother’s dead. They’re useless to you anyway. The institute is having a welcome party tomorrow. Stella can wear them and make a good impression.” I didn’t hesitate. I lunged at Stella, my hands closing around her throat. “Give. Them. Back.” 6. My ferocity must have stunned Nate. He just stood there, frozen. But Mikkal, who had just walked in, reacted instantly. He kicked me hard in the small of my back, sending me flying. Stella, gasping for air, scrambled into Mikkal’s arms, sobbing hysterically. Her cries snapped Nate out of his stupor, and he rushed to her side, checking for injuries. The two of them held her, stroking her back, murmuring comforting words. I lay on the floor, coughing up blood. The gash on my wrist had torn open again, blood pooling on the polished hardwood. My vision blurred, the image of the three of them locked in an embrace swimming before my eyes. It was like I was twelve again. The day my mother died. The three of us had clung to each other just like that. They had promised me, promised they would take care of me forever. A bloody laugh bubbled up from my chest, shattering their tender moment. Nate stalked over to me and stomped on my bleeding wrist. “What’s with the act? You almost choked Stella to death, and now you’re spitting up blood for sympathy?” “I’m telling you, even if you die here tonight, this isn’t over.” The pressure on my wrist intensified. A scream of agony tore through me. I could feel the bones grinding, felt his intention to snap my hand in two. Just then, Mikkal spoke. “That’s enough. We need to get Stella to the hospital.” He lifted her into his arms. As he passed me, he leaned down and whispered, his voice laced with venom. “You’re the one who killed your own mother. You don’t deserve to wear her necklace. Stop taking it out on innocent people.” I killed my mom? He was right. If I hadn’t begged her to go save them from the kidnappers, she would still be alive. It was my fault. All of this was my penance. “Hahaha… penance… it’s all my penance…” I struggled to my feet and stumbled out of the house. After a while, I saw lights in the distance. I tried to raise my hand, but the world tilted, and I slammed into the ground. 7. When I woke up, I was alone in a hospital room. A nurse saw I was awake and looked at me with pity. “We saved your hand,” she said softly. “But I’m afraid you may never regain full dexterity.” Her voice was full of regret, but I felt a strange sense of peace. Let this hand be the proof. The proof that the bond between us is finally, irrevocably broken. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, ready to check myself out. A message from Dr. Moss said she was coming to pick me up. I had to go back and get my things. At the payment counter in the lobby, I ran into Mikkal. His face hardened when he saw me. “Didn’t I tell you to leave Stella alone? What are you doing here?” “Nate and I see her as a sister. She has no one else. We’re all she has. What is your problem?” I looked at him, listened to his words, and felt… nothing. The storm inside me had finally passed. “It won’t happen again. Never again.” Mikkal, assuming I was there to cause more trouble, was stunned by my reply. But then he remembered my past "outbursts" and his expression hardened again. “Stella has the welcome party tonight. You hurt her badly. You should give her the necklace and ring as an apology.” I nodded silently. “Fine.” Mikkal froze. He hadn’t expected me to agree so easily. He must have figured I’d finally realized I was in the wrong. “And your parents’ research data,” he added. “Give that to Stella, too. As a congratulatory gift.” That research was my parents’ life’s work. Dr. Moss had given it to me for my eighteenth birthday. And he was telling me to just hand it over. “Fine.” My immediate agreement seemed to unsettle him. He looked at me as if he’d never seen me before. “Alright, Lydia. After we celebrate Stella tonight, Nate and I will throw a party for you, too. To wash away all this bad luck. I’ll invite all our friends.” He said it without a hint of irony, completely oblivious to the fact that those "friends" had already passed my photos around, calling me a cheap, used-up whore. He was only thinking of Stella, of how much she loved big, lively parties. He was still talking when another voice cut him off. “I’ve been looking all over for you. What are you doing standing here?” 8. Nate saw me behind Mikkal, and his face contorted with rage. “You have the nerve to show your face here? Do you want to lose your other hand, too?” Mikkal quickly stepped between us. “Lydia has realized her mistake. She’s agreed to give Stella the jewelry as an apology, and she’s even giving her your parents’ research data.” Nate’s expression softened slightly. “Then I’ll let it go for now. But last time, Stella spent a fortune at the auction to buy back your photos for you. You may not have kept them safe, but you still owe her the money.” Mikkal said nothing, tacitly agreeing. “I’ve already taken the liberty of transferring all the assets your parents left you into Stella’s name,” Nate continued. “And that house of yours… I had it demolished. We’re rebuilding. So don’t go there anymore. It would upset Stella to see it.” “From now on, you’ll stay at our house. You’ll have food and a roof over your head. No one will mistreat you.” I stared at him, horrified. Was he trying to erase my entire past? To destroy everything my parents had left me? A silent tear rolled down my cheek, and Nate stopped talking. His throat seemed to tighten, as if he couldn’t speak. Mikkal noticed my distress and was about to say something comforting when Stella appeared. Instantly, they were both at her side, fussing over her. I didn’t look back. I turned and walked away. They wanted to say more, but they figured they would have plenty of time to explain everything to me after tonight. They didn’t follow. At eight o’clock that evening, I picked up the suitcase I had left by the door. I placed the house key on the counter and closed the door on the prison that had been my home for fifteen years. Outside the institute, Stella, dressed to the nines, clung to Nate and Mikkal’s arms. Tonight, she was going to be the star. The institute’s director stood at the podium, beaming. He spoke of his pride in the younger generation’s spirit of self-sacrifice and said he wanted to personally praise this year’s brilliant new recruit. In the audience, Stella was trembling with excitement. She had finally surpassed me. She had finally earned their recognition. Nate and Mikkal, beaming with pride, stood ready to cheer when the director announced her name. The director continued. “This year’s new recruit, Miss Lydia Croft, is an exceptional talent. She has already departed with Dr. Moss to the front lines to participate in a new research project.” From their seats, Nate and Mikkal shot to their feet. “What did you just say?”
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