chapter 2

As soon as Alison spoke, the camera crew quickly aimed their lenses at the front door, expecting something big.

Yet, they were clearly disappointed.

It was not me who came out—it was a pregnant woman.

She looked at the crowd with visible confusion. "Who are all of you?"

Alison looked a little awkward but kept her smile. "Sorry to bother you. Does Abigail Valdez live here? I'm her sister."

The woman's face instantly turned sour. "That little tramp already moved out."

Anthony's expression darkened. "Who are you calling a tramp?"

The guy immediately stepped up beside the woman. "What? Is my wife wrong?

"We rented this place to her dirt cheap out of kindness—and what did she do?

"She had strange old men coming over all the time. Neighbors were complaining nonstop.

"And that's not even the worst of it—she racked up some serious debt with those shady loan sharks!

"Look at what those guys did to our walls!"

Someone in the chat commented, [Whoa, she's into old men? That's something.]

[Hey, old guys have pensions and free healthcare, alright?]

[Isn't she supposed to be rich? Why's she borrowing at loan shark rates? What's she doing with all that money?]

...

The comment section exploded.

Mom and Anthony looked completely mortified.

"Let's just go, Ali," Gordon said quietly.

However, before they could turn away, the pregnant woman stepped forward, her belly blocking the path. "Go? Not happening!

"She trashed my house! Since you're her family, you better pay up!"

"Yeah!" the guy chimed in. "And if the price is right, I'll even spill all the dirt we've got on Abigail!"

"Enough!" Gordon snapped, yanking Alison's arm to pull her back.

However, Alison shook off his hand and stepped forward, looking all noble and self-righteous. "Gordon, if Abby did something wrong, then as her family, we should take responsibility."

With that, she reached into her bag and pulled out a thick wad of cash.

She handed it over with a smile. "This is to make up for whatever my sister did."

"Please, tell me everything you know about my sister," Alison said, looking sincere. "I haven't seen her in so long."

The woman's face lit up like she had just won the lottery.

"Wow, I never thought that little tramp would have such a sweet sister like you."

"You two are nothing alike!"

The guy next to her lit a cigarette, took a long drag, and added with a smirk, "My wife and I felt bad for Abigail. Poor girl looked like she had nowhere to go, so we rented this place to her for just 500 dollars a month.

"But not long after she moved in, the neighbors started complaining.

"I didn't believe it at first—until one day, I came by to collect the rent and saw an old man half-naked on her bed!

"Guy even had a colostomy bag strapped to his waist! I swear, it was a nightmare I can't unsee."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Mom completely lost it—clutching her chest like she might faint. "That little disgrace! She's dragging the Valdez name through the mud!"

Anthony's face was dark. "I can't believe I share blood with someone like her."

Even Gordon clenched his fists, shaking with fury. "How the hell did she end up like this?!"

Watching them, I could not help but let out a bitter smile.

None of it was true.

I stood right in front of them, yelling—begging them to listen, to just see me.

But of course, they could not see or hear me.

And looking at the disgust and hatred in their eyes, I gave up.

What was the point?

No one had ever believed me anyway.

I stood silently at their side, invisible and alone.

Then, just as I was about to turn away, the woman suddenly piped up again. "Oh! I almost forgot—I have Abigail's new address. Want it?"