Chapter 2

At dinner, the table was filled with a lavish feast.

Linda set a steaming bowl of meat soup directly in front of me.

"Emma, drink more of this. You need to build up your strength."

She smiled warmly, the wrinkles around her eyes softening.

*The heavy sedative is already mixed in. Once she falls asleep, we'll drag her to the witch tomorrow morning. It saves us the trouble of dealing with a struggle.*

Looking at the greasy soup, my stomach churned.

"Thanks, Mom."

I picked up my spoon and gently stirred the liquid.

Linda sat across from me, her eyes locked onto my every move without blinking.

"Drink it while it's hot. It won't taste good once it cools down," she urged.

I lifted a spoonful to my lips, pretended to get burned, and coughed violently.

"Cough, cough... It's too hot!"

I bent over, spitting the soup into a thick napkin I had prepared in advance, then quickly stuffed it up my sleeve.

"How can you be so clumsy?" Linda frowned, a flash of impatience crossing her face.

*What a useless brat, choking on a spoonful of soup. Just drink it and go to sleep. Don't ruin tomorrow's plans.*

I looked up, my eyes red from coughing.

"Mom, I really can't drink any more. I'm going to my room to sleep."

Linda looked at the half-full bowl, her expression darkening.

"No! You have to finish it! I spent the whole afternoon brewing this for you!"

She abruptly stood up, grabbing the bowl and trying to force it down my throat.

I jerked back, causing the soup to splash all over the tablecloth.

"Mom! I said I don't want any more!" I raised my voice.

Beside her, David slammed his forks down onto the table.

"Is that how you speak to your mother? Drink it when you're told!"

Looking at their mask-slipping faces, the coldness in my heart deepened.

I couldn't have a direct confrontation right now.

I inhaled deeply, pretending to submit. I picked up the bowl and drank it down in large gulps.

But with every gulp, I held the soup in my mouth, using the napkin to wipe my lips while spitting the liquid into a dry sponge hidden in my sleeve.

After the last gulp, I slammed the empty bowl onto the table.

"I'm done. Can I go to sleep now?"

Linda's expression finally softened, and she smiled with satisfaction.

"Good girl. Go on, get some rest."

*The sedative will kick in within thirty minutes. Tonight is secure.*

Once inside my room, I locked the door.

I rushed to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and shoved my fingers down my throat to force myself to throw up.

I retched until nothing but stomach acid came out. Weak and exhausted, I leaned against the sink.

In the mirror, my face was ghostly pale and my eyes were bloodshot. I looked like a monster.

But I didn't cry.

My tears had dried up the moment I realized the truth.

I pulled a small glass vial from the bottom of my backpack. I carefully squeezed the remaining soup from the sponge in my sleeve into the vial.

This was my evidence.

Next, I pulled out an old, deactivated phone, connected it to a power bank, and hid it under my bed inside a pile of junk, turning on the voice recorder.

With everything set, I lay on the bed, closed my eyes, and waited.

At midnight.

Faint footsteps approached my door.

With a soft click, the door was unlocked from the outside with a spare key.

I slowed my breathing, lying completely still.

Linda and David crept to the side of my bed.

"Is she completely out?" David whispered.

Linda waved her hand in front of my face and shook my shoulder.

"She's dead to the world. That sedative is strong."

She sneered, showing no pity for her daughter, only the triumph of a successful plot.

"Hurry up, stop wasting time and get the contract," David urged.

The sound of rustling paper echoed in the quiet room.

"Grab her thumb. Press it right here," Linda directed.

I felt a rough hand grab my right thumb, pushing it toward a cold ink pad.

*Once she signs this blood contract, she's ours forever.*

Just as my fingertip was about to touch the "Destiny Swap Contract," I snapped my eyes open.

In the darkness, my gaze was piercing.

"Dad, Mom, what are you doing?"

***