Chapter 3

The unique nature of his profession meant Jason had few friends. He took only one assistant to the address for the estate clearing.

He offered a silent homage at the door, put on his mask and gloves, and entered the house.

I looked at the messy room, my soul trembling. Three years had passed, but the pain seemed to have not lessened at all.

The assistant noticed the scratches on the door and was surprised. "Jason, these scratches on the door..."

Jason knelt down to examine them. "These scratches are so deep. The deceased must have suffered inhumane treatment before death."

"Never mind. Let's just clear out the stuff. That's not our business."

His assistant nodded and began working.

Jason looked around, found a box, opened it, and picked up a card.

It read: "Happy Birthday to Myself."

I hadn't been back here in a long time. I floated over to him and looked.

When was this from? Probably when I was twelve.

My parents' divorce turned into a messy legal battle. I stood in the large courtroom, and the judge asked me, "Who do you want to live with?"

My dad turned away, refusing to look at me, and my mom glared, threatening me not to choose her.

I was so scared I cried. I ran over and cautiously pulled at my mom's skirt, asking, "Mom, can I stay with you?"

Ultimately, the judge honored my wish and awarded custody to my mom.

She rushed off to buy Daisy a cake, leaving me alone at the courthouse entrance.

That day, it was pouring rain. When I got home, my mom was softly cooing Daisy to sleep because she was afraid of thunder.

But she forgot, that day was also my birthday.

I picked up the cake card, licked off the leftover frosting, and wished myself "Happy Birthday" in the mirror.

Such a distant memory. So distant it made my head ache to recall.

Jason caressed the card, then picked up another small plushie. Underneath it was a torn diary page.

Seeing that plushie, I instinctively recoiled, screaming at Jason.

Don't touch it! Don't touch it!

I stared at the plushie, my soul forced to relive that terrifying memory.

I got first place in my exam, I was so happy! Mom had said whoever got first place could make one wish.

I'd wanted that little plushie at the supermarket entrance for a long time.

When I smiled and said I wanted it, she crumpled my test paper and threw it in the trash.

My mom's eyes were icy: "Daisy improved a lot this test. That one's already bought for her. Maybe next time."

I turned to see Daisy smugly twirling the plushie at me. For the first time, I couldn't hold it in and ran outside.

My mom's furious voice followed me: "Get out and don't come back!"

I cried my heart out. Lance, the supermarket owner, asked me what was wrong. He told me to go to the back room and pick one.

Oh God! The back room of that store was a devil's lair. He pinned me down and brutally violated me.

I cried and screamed, but he wouldn't let go.

When I finally managed to run out, I tore that plushie to shreds.

Do you believe that a soul can cry? I stood before Jason, watching him frown as he read that diary page.

Tears streamed down, passing through the diary page and landing on Jason's hand.

"Phew—"

Milo heard Jason sigh and turned to ask him, "Jason, what's wrong?"

Jason thought for a moment, then spoke, disbelievingly, "She... she seems... to have been assaulted."

Jason continued to pick up the remaining diary pages.

"My sister brought many people to beat me. I was so scared. She said I deserved it."

"My sister told Mom I was messing around instead of studying. Mom called me shameless, but that was actually her boyfriend."

"Mom got a new boyfriend. I was taking a nap when he came in and touched me inappropriately, but Mom called me a slut and said I was trying to seduce men at such a young age."

Jason's hands trembled as he held the diary. Several times, he had to take deep breaths to suppress his emotions.

He continued to go through my past, despite his discomfort.

When he picked up the next item, he couldn't hold back anymore.