chapter 1

Led by the fake rich daughter, the whole family had been swept up into a family reality show.

On camera, Mom tossed her graceful image aside and went full-on daughter-stan mode.

Anthony Valdez, my elder brother, desperate to impress her, dropped ten million on a ruby necklace—just because it was her favorite.

Even my childhood friend cleared his entire concert schedule just to show up and cheer her on.

Then, at the emotional high point of the show, the fake daughter suddenly dropped my name, "Abby, are you still mad at me? I really should've just kept quiet when she hit me back then ... "

Boom. The livestream chat exploded.

Under massive pressure from the viewers, the entire production crew scrambled and headed straight to my place.

Watching that determined group, I hovered quietly in the air, eyes filled with bitterness.

They would never find me.

Out on the road, as the scenery outside the car got more and more remote, Mom finally lost her patience.

"It's been two hours—why aren't we there yet?"

Anthony frowned, his tone annoyed. "How could Abigail be living in a place this far out?

"She must've had a rough time these past three years ...

"It's my fault. I should've been more understanding back then," Alison Valdez whispered, looking torn up.

My childhood friend, Gordon Seely, immediately looked heartbroken. "Ali, none of this is on you!"

"Exactly!" Mom snapped. "Who knew Abigail would turn out to be so cruel?"

Disgust flashed in her eyes. "You are her sister, and yet, she burned you with an iron."

As she spoke, Mom gently lifted Alison's right sleeve, revealing a scar. Her eyes welled up. "Such a big scar ... it'll never go away."

"It's okay, Mom," Alison said softly, tearing up as she leaned into her. "As long as I can be with you and Anthony, I'm happy."

The livestream absolutely lost it.

[WTF? Abigail did what? No wonder they kicked her out of the family!]

[She was only brought back at 15, right? She's gotta be messed up in the head.]

[Ali is literally Abigail. The purest soul in showbiz.]

...

The livestream chat was flying so fast it was starting to hurt my eyes.

My mind drifted back to my first month with the family.

I had saved up my own pocket money to buy the finest embroidered dress for my mother.

However, when Alison found out, she ripped the fabric apart and pressed a hot iron straight onto her own arm.

She screamed as if a murder was about to happen.

Mom rushed in. One glance at Alison's burn, and she slapped me across the face.

"I don't have a daughter as cruel as you!"

She carried Alison to the hospital like she was made of glass. Meanwhile, I had fallen and smacked my forehead against the corner of the table, blood pouring out.

But no one noticed. Thinking about it now, I reached up to touch my forehead, and my hand passed right through.

Right. I am a ghost now.

Just a wandering soul with nowhere to go.

I felt a little hollow inside.

Half an hour later, the reality show crew finally pulled up to where I used to live.

The alley was narrow and dark, lined with a few crumbling one-story houses.

Even though he had never been here before, Anthony walked straight to my door without hesitation.

For a second, I felt a small flicker of warmth.

Then I saw it—the reason he found it so easily. Big, ugly red letters painted on the wall that said, "Abigail ... Bitch ... Pay back the money ... "

The livestream chat went crazy.

[Wait, aren't the Valdezes super rich? How the hell did Abigail end up here?]

[She's living worse than a stray dog!]

[How much debt does she have for people to graffiti like that?!]

Mom was shaking with anger.

Anthony's face turned super dark.

Alison stepped forward, knocked on the door, and called out sweetly,

"Abby? It's Ali!"

A few seconds later, the door creaked open. A young guy with messy yellow hair and a slovenly look stood there. "Who are you looking for?" he asked, scratching his head.

Alison blinked. "Are you my sister's boyfriend?"

The guy looked like he was about to respond when a woman's voice called from inside the house, "Babe, who's at the door?"

Mom and Anthony's faces darkened even more.

Alison, on the other hand, lit up like a lightbulb. "Abby! It's me!"

"Mom, Anthony, and I came to see you!"