After becoming a top-tier lawyer, my ex-boyfriend personally threw me into a club to work as a bunny girl. He made me kneel to open bottles, poured red wine over my head, and called it payback for his new lover. I clutched the money I’d sold myself for and begged him to leave my brother alone. He simply stuffed the bills down my top. “A slut like you is filthy all over.” Then the truth came out. The woman he cherished had only wanted his money all along. Later, panicked, he searched for me frantically in a burning building. But I was already holding another man’s hand. I walked up and slapped an astronomical check across his face. “Get out of our lives, Gavin.” Caroline POV My ex-boyfriend became a top-tier lawyer, and the first thing he did was try to send my brother to prison. A medical injury report slammed heavily onto the table. “Grade Two severe injury-that’s a felony. At least three years in prison.” The man’s voice was ice-cold and cutting. “Caroline, unless you publicly apologize to Ruby online and pay fifty thousand dollars in compensation, don’t even think about negotiating.” I stared at the old watch on Gavin’s wrist-the one I’d given him three years ago when I was still the family heir. Back then, he said he’d love me forever. Now, he was destroying me for that woman who faked a suicide attempt to frame me. “Mr. Gavin, the surveillance footage was edited. Sam threw the first punch…” “I only look at evidence.” Gavin cut me off, his tone dripping with disgust. “Tomorrow morning at nine, if I don’t see the money and apology letter, Jason can wait to be prosecuted.” With that, he turned and left. I stood frozen, ice flooding my veins. The police officer advised me to gather the money quickly, stating bluntly that Gavin was firm in his stance and his connections in the legal world ran too deep-a clean settlement would be nearly impossible. Fifty thousand dollars was an astronomical sum for me now. But for my brother, I had no choice. Walking out of the police station, I immediately dialed the club manager’s number. “I’ll take that VIP room tonight.” “Changed your mind?” The manager’s voice carried a hint of mockery. “VIP clients are high-status. Whatever happens, you take it. If you dare show attitude, even I can’t protect you.” “I understand.” I looked at the pitch-black night outside the window, my knuckles white as I gripped the phone. “As long as the money’s right, I’ll do whatever it takes.” Half an hour later, in the club’s dressing room. I changed into a bunny girl outfit that left almost nothing to the imagination. The woman in the mirror wore heavy makeup, but her eyes looked like stagnant water. The manager pushed the door open and looked me up and down, nodding with satisfaction. “Get in there. Be smart.” I tugged at the corner of my mouth, forcing out a smile I’d practiced countless times.
Caroline POV I pushed the drink cart into the private room. The laughter and conversation stopped abruptly. Everyone in the room was familiar. “Isn’t this our old school’s prom queen Caroline?” Ruby covered her mouth in mock surprise. “Why are you dressed like that? I thought I was seeing things.” A burst of laughter erupted around the room. “It really is Caroline! She was like a princess at school. How’d she end up selling drinks?” “That’s what they call karma. She used to be a princess, now she’s just trash.” I kept my head down, my fingers digging into the cart’s handle. I forced myself to maintain that stiff smile. “Bosses, would you like me to open some bottles?” “Open them, of course.” Ruby leaned lazily against the sofa, raising her hand to run her fingers through her hair. An enormous diamond ring on her ring finger glittered brilliantly under the lights. “Gavin specifically bid on this at the Sotheby’s auction to celebrate my foundation’s establishment.” Pride flickered in Ruby’s eyes. “A few million dollar trinket-I told him not to buy it, but he insisted.” “Gavin really spoils you rotten, Ruby.” “Exactly. Only someone with Ruby’s class could pull off wearing it.” I felt that gleam pierce my eyes painfully. I unconsciously touched the plain gold ring in my pocket. Years ago, in our rental apartment, Gavin had bought it with money from his part-time job and proposed to me. He’d said, “Caroline, I’ll definitely get you a bigger one someday.” “What are you spacing out for?” A male classmate pointed at several bottles of Louis XIII on the floor. “Open all of these. And remember, we want kneeling service.” I took a deep breath and slowly knelt down. My knees hit the marble floor with a sharp stab of pain. Just then, the private room door opened again. Gavin walked in. The air in the room seemed to freeze several degrees. I knelt on the floor, my line of sight level with his dress pants. My whole body stiffened. I even forgot to breathe. Gavin’s gaze swept lightly over me kneeling on the floor, not pausing for even a second, as if I were invisible. He walked over and sat beside Ruby, who immediately hooked her arm through his. “What took you so long?” “Had something to handle.” Gavin’s voice was gentle but distant. “Caroline’s opening bottles for us.” Ruby pointed at the floor. Gavin didn’t even turn his head. “As long as she doesn’t kill the mood.” The guy beside me, emboldened by alcohol, let his hand wander toward my waist. I instinctively dodged, and the decanter in my hand tilted. Red wine spilled out, spattering a few drops on the hem of Ruby’s white evening gown. “What are you doing!” Ruby shrieked, jumping to her feet. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” I frantically tried to wipe it. Hearing the commotion, the manager burst in. Without asking questions, he slapped me across the face and pressed my head down, forcing me to apologize. “Apologize to Miss Ruby right now!” My face snapped to the side from the blow, my ears ringing. Before I could speak, I saw a slender hand reach over. Gavin held a handkerchief, his movements gentle as he wiped the wine stains from Ruby’s dress hem. Meanwhile, he didn’t spare a single glance at me kneeling on the floor with a swollen red cheek. “The dress is ruined, can’t wear it now.” Gavin said flatly, casually tossing the handkerchief in front of me. “Throw it away.” The handkerchief floated down lightly, landing beside my knee. I stared at that handkerchief, my eyes burning dry, unable to produce a single tear. I silently picked up the handkerchief and, still on my knees, moved inch by inch across the floor, wiping the wine stains from the carpet. The wine soaked through the hem of my uniform. No one told me to stop. Not until the party ended. I limped out the back door. In the dark alley, a tall figure blocked my path. Gavin leaned against his car, a cigarette between his fingers, the flame illuminating his cold, hard profile. “Fifty thousand dollars. Got it together yet?” Money-that was his opening line. I leaned against the wall, fighting through the pain in my knees. “Gavin, haven’t you ever suspected that what happened back then was Ruby putting on an act? And today, Sam was the one who started-” “Enough.” Gavin cut me off with disgust, throwing his cigarette to the ground and crushing it under his foot. “Caroline, three years and you still haven’t changed. Nothing but lies.” He stepped forward, staring into my eyes. “Your current situation is entirely your own doing.” With that, he opened his car door and drove off into the night. I stood there, watching his taillights disappear into the darkness. In front of this man, even my breathing was wrong. When I got back to the apartment, it was already two in the morning. Jason was still awake, watching me with dark, sinister eyes. “Jason, let me put medicine on your wounds…” I pulled out the ointment I’d bought. “Get lost!” Jason shoved me away, pointing at my revealing outfit, his voice shrill. “Where did you go dressed like that? To see Gavin again?” “I was working.” “Working? What job needs that?” Jason smashed the water glass on the table violently. “Caroline, you’re a spineless bootlicker groveling to our enemy! You got our parents killed, and now you want me dead too!” Shards of glass flew, one slicing cleanly across my calf. I looked at the broken pieces scattered on the floor. Silently, I crouched down and picked up the shards one by one, not offering a single word of defense.
Caroline POV In the club’s break room, a talk show played on TV. On screen, Ruby’s eyes brimmed with tears. “That bullying incident three years ago gave me severe depression. If Gavin hadn’t been by my side the whole time, I might have already…” She held up a doctor’s diagnosis, showing it to the camera. I sat in the corner eating a cold sandwich and glanced up at the screen. That date. Ruby had been partying all night at a karaoke bar and posted a nine-photo grid on Instagram. “Miss Ruby is beautiful inside and out. That person who bullied her deserves to die.” A coworker beside me sighed. “It’s fake.” I swallowed the dry bread and said flatly. “What’s your problem?” The coworker rolled her eyes. “She showed the diagnosis on camera. You’re just jealous of her good fortune.” I said nothing more. In this world where capital controls the narrative, truth is the cheapest commodity. All I could do was make money. Tonight’s private room hosted a billionaire. William was famously wealthy, generous with money, and known for playing rough. When I entered, Gavin was there too. He’d come to negotiate business, sitting across from William with a very humble posture. Seeing me enter, Gavin’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. I looked straight ahead and walked directly to William’s side, skillfully pouring drinks, my body brushing against him intentionally or not. “Master William, this glass is for you.” My voice was soft and seductive as I tilted my head back and downed a glass of hard liquor in one gulp. William watched me with interest, his gaze roaming over the exposed skin at my neckline. “That tolerance-you’ve practiced?” “As long as it makes Master William happy.” I smiled and reached to pour another drink. A hand suddenly cut in, pressing down on the bottle. Gavin’s face was like ice, his voice cold enough to shatter. “William, she’s not worthy of toasting you. Don’t let her dirty your glass.” William raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between me and Gavin, then he suddenly laughed. He pulled me into his embrace with one arm. With his other hand, he pulled out a thick stack of bills and stuffed them into my neckline. The green bills pressed against my skin with a temperature of humiliation. “I like the thorny ones.” William looked at Gavin provocatively. “Does Lawyer Gavin control this too? What, feeling protective?” Gavin stared at William’s hand on my waist, dark storms churning in his eyes. “Master William misunderstands.” He shot to his feet. “My fiancée doesn’t like me dining at the same table as this kind of person. Says it’s disgusting.” With that, he gave me one cold look. “Call it a night.” The gathering ended unpleasantly. I leaned against the wall, head down, organizing the bills in my neckline. Gavin emerged from the private room and saw this scene. His steps halted. “You’ve gotten quite practiced at earning this kind of money.” He walked up to me, his tone full of mockery. “You really are cheap to the bone. You’ll sell anything for money.” My hands paused while counting the bills. I raised my head and looked at him calmly. “I earn money through honest work. That’s cleaner than lying and framing people to climb up. And cleaner than certain blind, heartless people.” “Caroline!” Gavin’s expression changed dramatically as he grabbed my chin. “Still slandering Ruby? Seems yesterday’s lesson wasn’t enough.” He leaned closer, his eyes sinister. “Watch your mouth, or I’ll make sure you can’t stay in this city.” With that, he released me in disgust, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hands as if he’d touched something filthy. I watched his retreating back, clutching the bills tightly. Three thousand dollars total. Enough for Jason’s living expenses. Just then, my phone rang. I answered, and an anxious doctor’s voice came through. “Is this Jason’s family? Your brother’s right hand has tissue necrosis from a medication reaction. He needs surgery now.” A dull buzz filled my ears. “How much will it cost?” “Surgery and follow-up treatment will cost one hundred thousand dollars. If we don’t operate immediately, his right hand will be permanently damaged.” One hundred thousand. The money in my hands fluttered to the ground. The voice on the phone kept urging. “Family needs to come pay and sign as soon as possible. Any later and it’ll be too late!”
Caroline POV When Jason woke up, the anesthesia had just worn off. Seeing me sitting by the bed, hostility flooded those eyes so similar to mine. His uninjured left hand grabbed the pillow and hurled it at me. “Get out! Stop pretending to care!” The pillow hit me with little force, yet it made my chest tighten painfully. I didn’t dodge. I bent to pick up the pillow, trying to hold down his thrashing shoulders. “Don’t move. The bone was just set.” “Don’t tell me what to do!” Veins bulged in Jason’s neck. “Didn’t you go drink with those rich people? Why bother with a burden like me? Get lost!” My hand froze in midair, my eyes reddening. “Jason, do you think I want to?” I pressed down firmly on my brother’s shoulders, my voice trembling. “Why did you go to that place to be a drug trial subject? Do you know how dangerous those clinical trials are? Do you want to destroy yourself that badly?” Jason froze for a moment, then laughed coldly. “Destroy myself? I’m already worthless.” He turned his head away, refusing to look at me. “At least I’m better than some people. Selling smiles to enemies for money, no dignity left. Yeah, I’m rotten, but I don’t need someone who sells her body to manage me.” “You…” My face went deathly pale, as if all the blood had been drained from my body. “That’s enough!” Harry, who’d been standing at the door, rushed in and shoved Jason. “Jason, are you even human? Your sister almost died getting money for your surgery!” “Harry, shut up!” Jason yelled. “I won’t shut up!” Harry’s eyes were red as he pointed at me. “Caroline, don’t listen to his nonsense. This kid became a trial subject because he overheard you on the balcony that day talking about selling your blood plasma. He said he didn’t want you selling your life, wanted to share the burden.” Jason bit down hard, turning his head away as tears slid down his face. I leaned against the wall, covering my mouth to keep from crying out loud. We’d both been trying to give each other a way out, only to crash and burn. The misunderstanding was cleared, but reality hadn’t changed. A nurse pushed the door open and slapped an overdue payment notice on the table without expression. “Surgery still needs one hundred thousand. Pay by tomorrow or the surgery’s canceled.” I wiped my face and turned to leave the room. “Don’t go!” Jason called after me, his voice breaking. My steps paused. I didn’t look back. “Wait for me.” … The manager’s office. “Advance on salary? Impossible.” The manager crossed his legs. “You’ve been here how many days? Rules are rules.” I stood before the desk, spine straight. “I have an emergency.” “Who doesn’t have emergencies here?” The manager scoffed, flicking cigarette ash. “There is a big job tonight though. No one dares take it. If you’re willing to go all out, forget one hundred thousand-two hundred thousand is possible.” “What job?” “Gavin’s grandmother threw her ring into the ornamental pond. Whoever retrieves it gets a hundred thousand dollar tip.” Dead of winter. Temperature below freezing. A layer of broken ice floated on the pond’s surface. Without any hesitation, I took the liability waiver from the desk and signed my name. “I’ll take it.” … The central courtyard garden. Bitter wind howling. Gavin’s grandmother sat by a heater, holding hot tea. Gavin stood in the shadows, cigarette between his fingers, expression unreadable. Seeing me approach, Gavin’s grandmother’s eyes flashed with satisfaction. “Isn’t this that family’s precious daughter?” She pointed at the pond before her, voice shrill. “Years ago when I was a housekeeper at your house, I accidentally lost a brooch and your mother locked me in the basement all night. Today you get a taste of that.” I said nothing. I removed my shoes and socks, rolled up my pants. Those feet, once fair and delicate, were now covered with frostbite and scars. I took a deep breath and stepped into the bone-chilling ice water. The cold was like countless steel needles piercing my marrow. With each step, the broken ice on the surface sliced across my skin, leaving bloody marks. I gritted my teeth, bent over, and plunged my hands into the mud to search. Cold. Cold to the bone. In less than five minutes, both legs had lost all feeling. On the shore, Gavin’s grandmother pulled out her phone and started recording. Gavin remained in the shadows, motionless. Half an hour later, my fingers were frozen purple and stiff. Finally, my fingertips touched something hard. Trembling, I pulled it up. The ring. I dragged my nearly useless legs to shore, soaked to the bone. I held the ring out with both hands to Gavin’s grandmother. “Ma’am, I found the ring.” Gavin’s grandmother glanced at the mud-covered ring and waved her hand in disgust, knocking it away. “Disgusting. Who’d want that now?” The ring rolled across the ground with a crisp sound. I froze, teeth chattering. “Then… the tip…” “Tip?” Gavin’s grandmother acted like she’d heard the funniest joke. “You chose to go in there yourself. Did I force you? And you still want money?” I knelt on the ground, my whole body shaking uncontrollably. I raised my head, looking toward the man in the shadows. “Gavin…” Gavin crushed his cigarette and walked over. He looked down at my wretched state, pulled a check from his pocket, and let it flutter onto my face. “Buy some medicine. Stop embarrassing yourself here.” The check slid down. The amount was only twenty thousand. Not even close to what I needed. I picked up that check. My legs had lost all feeling. I collapsed completely to the ground. But I didn’t shed a single tear.
Caroline POV Hospital corridor. The lights shone on my face, unable to illuminate any trace of color. Gavin appeared at the end of the corridor with his assistant. “I can pay for Jason’s surgery.” Gavin stopped in front of me, tone businesslike. “And I can drop the criminal charges against him.” I raised my head, eyes filled with desolation. “What are the conditions?” This man never made a losing deal. Gavin pulled out a document and handed it to me. “Tomorrow night, Ruby is hosting a charity gala against cyberbullying. I want you to attend and publicly apologize.” I opened the document, my fingertips trembling. The agreement stated I must admit that I had slandered Ruby out of jealousy by claiming she faked her suicide attempt, and confess that I had bullied Ruby for an entire year. “I didn’t do those things.” I closed the document, voice hoarse. “Black can’t become white.” “Is that so?” Gavin laughed coldly, pulling out an injury assessment. “If Jason’s right hand doesn’t get surgery immediately and the nerves die, he’ll never pick up a paintbrush again for the rest of his life.” He paused, delivering another blow. “Also, Jason must appear on camera to apologize too.” My head snapped up, staring at him. “He just had surgery! You want to force someone who just came out of the operating room to apologize to a fraud?” “This is the justice you and he owe Ruby.” Gavin adjusted his cuffs, expression indifferent. “Besides, having a brother who just had surgery appear on camera makes the apology seem more sincere, doesn’t it?” In that instant, I felt utterly hopeless. I looked at this man I’d once loved so deeply. The one who used to warm my hands in his pockets during winter. The one who’d promised to protect me forever. That boy died three years ago. Standing before me now was just a demon in human skin. “Fine.” I took the pen and signed my name on the agreement. … Jason was wheeled into the operating room. I sat on the bench outside, waiting. While they operated, I opened an app to check flight prices. I was planning to leave this place. Go south to find a small coastal town where no one knew me, open a bed and breakfast. Leave everything here behind and start a new life. But I still needed to figure out how to resolve my brother’s case.
Caroline POV The wind on the rooftop was fierce, giving me a headache. I leaned against the railing, looking at the traffic below. “Caroline!” Harry ran up breathlessly, clutching a USB drive in his hand. “Got it!” He rushed over and pressed the drive into my palm. “I bribed the property manager at Sam’s apartment complex. This is the complete surveillance footage from that day!” My hand trembled, nearly dropping it. “Look!” Harry pulled out his phone and plugged in a card reader. The screen showed clear footage. Sam had been the one to surround Jason with his friends, pointing at my photo and calling me a whore. When Jason tried to leave, Sam pushed him to the ground and they kicked him while he was down. Jason only grabbed a brick in self-defense when he was cornered against the wall with no way out. This was self-defense, absolutely not intentional assault. I stared at the screen, tears finally streaming down my face. This was Jason’s innocence. His future. With this, Gavin’s accusations were worthless. … Just then, a news alert pushed to my phone screen. Ruby’s PR team had issued an announcement: “Tomorrow night’s charity gala will feature bully Caroline’s confession, serving as a warning about the dangers of cyberbullying.” Immediately after, Gavin reposted the tweet. Caption: “Justice may be delayed, but it will not be denied.” The comments exploded. “Ruby is too kind. That person should be in prison!” “Can’t wait to see that evil woman Caroline apologize tomorrow!” “Lawyer Gavin is so hot, what a devoted protector!” My hand shook. I closed the phone. … In the hospital room. When Jason learned I was going to apologize on livestream, he got so agitated he nearly pulled out his IV. “I’m not afraid of prison! You can’t go!” He banged his casted hand against the bed rail. “That bastard Gavin will ruin you for life! We don’t need him. Worst case, we all go down together!” “Jason.” I held him down, my expression gentle but resolute. “This is the last time.” I tucked the blanket around my brother, saying softly, “After tomorrow night, we leave this place. Head south. Never come back.” “But-” “Trust me.” I looked into my brother’s eyes. “I will never truly bow my head.” When I left the hospital, Lulu sent me an audio file and a technical analysis report. Lulu was my old college roommate, now an audio expert. Lulu: Caroline, the audio restoration is done. Listen to this. Then came an audio file and a technical analysis report. I put on my earphones and hit play. Three years ago, the muffled audio from Ruby’s suicide note became perfectly clear after enhancement. Ruby, supposedly slitting her wrists, spoke with eerie calm. “Adjust the blood pack. Make it look convincingly brutal. Gavin likes that.” Then the makeup artist: “Is this angle good, Miss Ruby?” “Perfect. Toss the blade far away. Don’t get caught.” I stood on the sidewalk hearing the recording. My whole body shook uncontrollably. Three years of buried injustice had found its release. Gavin. Ruby. You two will pay for this.
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