The car accident hurt less than I’d imagined. When the doctor mentioned a hysterectomy, a bitter smile touched my lips. I raised my hand to sign. Just then, a hand snatched the pen and tore the form apart. It was Jason. “Amber, don’t you want to be a mother anymore?” I looked at his reddened eyes. My face stayed calm. He turned to the doctor, voice low. “Get every blood bank on the line. Save her uterus.” As they wheeled me in and the anesthetic flowed, I vaguely remembered the last time I was here. For a miscarriage. Where was Jason then? Beside his “first love,” Sera Thompson. 1 Amber POV In the final year of our arranged marriage, I gave up on having a child with Jason. The nursery, once filled with dreams, became just another storage room for forgotten clutter. I stopped waiting for him at dinner. Stopped dragging him out to watch meteor showers. On our anniversary this year, I even flew to New York alone. The car accident on the way didn’t hurt as much as I’d imagined. It wasn’t until the doctor said the uterine hemorrhage wouldn’t stop and suggested a hysterectomy that a bitter smile touched my lips. I raised my hand to sign the consent form. Just as the pen touched the paper, a hand snatched it away and tore the document to shreds. It was Jason. “Amber, don’t you want to be a mother anymore?” I looked at his reddened eyes, burying the turmoil inside. My face stayed frozen. Jason seemed to be holding back something fierce. He turned to the doctor, his voice stern. “I’ll mobilize every blood bank in the city. Please, do whatever it takes to save her uterus.” As I was wheeled into the operating room and the anesthetic flowed into my veins, I vaguely remembered the last time I was here. It was for a miscarriage. Where was Jason then? By the side of his “first love,” Sera Thompson. The surgery lasted nearly six hours. When I woke up, I vaguely heard nurses chatting outside the door. “Mr. Vance is downstairs with his wife for a prenatal check-up. One little kick, and he almost called in a specialist consultation. Now that’s what you call rich people spoiling their wives.” The door swung open, and Jason walked in, a chill practically radiating off him. He’d clearly heard the chatter. He opened his mouth, as if to explain, but then his gaze instinctively fell on me lying in bed. I just stared out the window, pretending I hadn’t heard a thing. Jason frowned, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. He spoke to the nurse in a cold voice. “Don’t spread rumors. My wife is right here. The lady downstairs…she’s the wife of a friend.” As he spoke, he watched for my reaction. I simply kept my eyes lowered, my face devoid of any joy or even a hint of jealousy. I used to argue with him constantly about Sera, demanding he cut ties with her. Now, hearing him clarify things, I felt no desire to show happiness. He reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from my ear, but a crisp knock on the door interrupted him. It was Sera, her belly noticeably round. Her breathing was slightly rapid, her eyes full of concern. “Jason said Amber was also hospitalized here. I was worried, so I came to check on her.” Before I could react, Jason hurried over and lifted Sera into his arms, carefully carrying her to the sofa. “You’re in your last trimester, don’t run around so much.” The worry in his tone was like a silver needle, piercing deep into my heart. Jason seemed to realize something and turned to explain. “Amber, don’t misunderstand, Sera is…” But I cut him off with a forced smile. “Sera’s pregnancy isn’t easy. Caleb’s busy with work, so as a friend, it’s only right for you to be attentive.” I called my brother by his first name, the polite distance in my voice making Jason’s eyes darken. At noon, the meal Jason ordered from the five-star hotel across the street was delivered to my room right on time. Sera was also joining us for lunch. The table was laden with French seafood bisque, pan-fried sea bass, and garlic-baked shrimp… Jason first served a piece of fish onto my plate, then another onto Sera’s. “These are all high in protein, good for your health.” I stared at the fish on my plate, my eyes blank. I have a severe seafood allergy. Not just fish, even touching seafood broth could trigger anaphylactic shock. Five years of marriage, and he still hadn’t remembered. Sera noticed I hadn’t touched my fork, so she paused as well, her face a picture of innocence. “I’m here; Amber must feel uncomfortable.” Her perfectly timed retreat made me look like I was being unreasonable. She stood up, preparing to leave, but Jason pulled her back into his arms. Clutching Sera close, he frowned at me. “Amber, don’t be childish.” But the moment he spoke, I had already dipped my spoon into the soup, taking a small sip of that fatal liquid. Jason’s lips curved in satisfaction, and he gently explained. “This bisque was simmered for over ten hours; the chef here is quite famous.” The next second, Sera’s phone rang. After a few murmured responses, she stood up. “The maternity photos are ready. The photographer asked me to pick them up.” Jason rose with her, taking her hand. “I’ll drive you…” He trailed off, turning to look at me, as if suddenly remembering I was still here. My throat tightened. It was hard to breathe. My whole body felt like it was being roasted over a fire. I wanted to tell Jason I was allergic, that I might die. But when my gaze fell on his hand, tightly clutching Sera’s, I finally shook my head, struggling to squeeze out a few words. “I’m fine.” Jason seemed to be activated by a switch, his steps light as he helped Sera out of the room. While waiting for the elevator, I heard a nurse at the station exclaim. “Bed 826 is showing symptoms of shock! Prepare for immediate resuscitation!” That was my bed number. Through the elevator doors, just as they were closing, I saw Jason seem to glance back. But the last image before I lost consciousness was of him wrapping Sera’s hand in his own, carefully cautioning, “It’s cold outside, be careful not to catch a chill.” 2 Amber POV When I woke up again, I had a hazy sense of having survived a disaster. In the fog of my consciousness, I recalled the first time I met Jason Vance. He was the heir to a powerful East Coast dynasty. I was the adopted daughter of the West Coast Harrison family. Everyone celebrated the business alliance between our two families, but I knew he was originally supposed to marry Sera, his true love. This arranged marriage tore apart that deeply in-love couple, and so, he hated me. After that, the once devoted man became a notorious playboy, seen with celebrities at night, publicly humiliating me. And I could only repeatedly contact the PR department, quietly cleaning up the messes he left behind. Until that time I went to a club, trying to prevent paparazzi from getting compromising photos of him and his latest fling. A drunken Jason suddenly found strength, pinning me against a cold marble wall, his fist slamming inches from my ear. “Amber, aren’t you ashamed?” I simply turned my face away, calmly stating, “You’re drunk. I’ll take you home.” A rare vulnerability spread across his stern brow, his voice hoarse and broken. “She took a check from my mom and went abroad… Amber, no one will ever love me.” My heart went out to him. I pulled out a tissue and offered it, comforting him. “I won’t leave you…” Before I could finish, Jason’s overwhelming kiss silenced me. That kiss ignited a fuse, instantly burning away all of Jason’s reason. I don’t remember how difficult that night was, only that my chin rested on his shoulder as he repeatedly coaxed me to call his name. After that night, Jason stopped his idle ways. Even for business dinners, he would let me know. He bought the best plot of land in the city center and filled it with roses. He said, “Amber, my love for you is like these roses, fervent and eternal.” On Caleb’s wedding day, he prepared lavish gifts and took me back to the West Coast. And it was from that day on that Jason’s possessiveness towards me became exceptionally strong. For various reasons, he forcibly moved his company headquarters to the West Coast, giving the excuse, “The North is too dry, Amber isn’t used to living there.” I felt his affections were becoming obsessive and wanted to talk to him. But I unexpectedly stumbled upon Jason pinning a woman on the sofa, howling like a wronged child. “Why did you abandon me to marry a cripple? Sera, you really are something!” I sank to the floor by the door, my blood instantly freezing. In pain and despair, I immediately wanted to contact a lawyer to draft a divorce agreement, but then I unexpectedly discovered I was pregnant. I started tracking his whereabouts because Sera and Jason were constantly fighting. As a woman, my heart was already dead; but as a mother, I still wanted to save this family. And he always looked tired. “Stop it, we’re over. I just feel sorry for Sera as a pregnant woman.” Until the last time our two families organized a ski resort trip, and Sera and I both fell down a snowy slope. He used Sera’s pregnancy as an excuse, unhesitatingly picking her up first and rushing to the ambulance. My child, before it could even take shape, left me in the freezing snow. In the hospital room, I questioned him, my voice cracking. “Didn’t you see the blood under me? Didn’t you know…” I never got the chance to tell him about the baby. He just slammed the door and left, impatient. “Amber, don’t make a scene over your period. Do you know Sera almost lost her child because of you?” So… he thought I was responsible for us falling from that snowy mountain? I knew that no matter how I argued, Jason would never believe me again. Thankfully, I no longer had any lingering attachment to him either. A notification sound from my bedside jolted me out of my memories. I swiped open the screen. It was a processing reminder from my lawyer. “Ms. Harrison, your divorce proceedings with Mr. Vance have entered the final stage. If termination is not applied for within one month, the divorce papers will be ready. Wishing you a pleasant life.” A clear tear slipped from the corner of my eye. Five years of arranged marriage were finally coming to an end. 3 Amber POV Jason canceled all his work and stayed by my side in the hospital. He would drive for hours to buy my favorite French desserts. He would peel oranges perfectly clean, even personally feeding me. And my response to him was always a lukewarm “thank you.” After being discharged, Jason and I returned to the West Coast on his private jet. Our home was right next to the Harrison family estate. At the housewarming party, he presented himself as a model husband to the media. “I was concerned my wife would feel homesick, so I chose this property.” The media lauded him as a doting husband, unaware that directly opposite his study was the guest room where Sera was temporarily staying. I wondered if he was worried about me being homesick, or if he couldn’t bear to be far from Sera next door. As soon as we got home, the house staff began brewing tea. When serving, one of them accidentally spilled tea on documents on the table. The staff member repeatedly apologized to me. “I’m so sorry, Ma’am, it wasn’t intentional.” I casually tossed the soaked documents into the trash can. “It’s nothing important, don’t worry.” But Jason, who usually had a strong aversion to messes, took them out of the bin and carefully wiped them clean. “Amber, these are the baby room design drawings you personally created. I was just about to give them to the interior design company. How could you just throw them away?” I replied almost subconsciously, “No need anymore.” Jason grabbed my wrist, a hint of annoyance in his grip. “It was thoughtless of me to accompany Sera to New York on our anniversary. You don’t need to be childish about the baby issue.” I wanted to say I wasn’t being childish, that we would soon no longer be husband and wife, and I wouldn’t be having children with him. But before I could, Jason’s phone rang. That familiar, delicate female voice came through. “Jason, I think I’m being followed…” “Send me your location. Try to go somewhere crowded.” I watched Jason grab his keys and rush out the door. In the end, I swallowed the words I wanted to say. I pushed open the nursery door and started clearing out everything I’d once prepared for a new life. The tiny clothes. The toys. All of it went into the trash. After I threw out the last box, the night wind swept bits of snow across my face. The heart that had once anticipated that new life finally fell silent. The moment I turned, a sack was violently pulled over my head! Before I could even struggle, a sharp pain shot through the back of my neck. My vision went black, and I completely lost consciousness. When I awoke again, I found myself still inside the sack, my hands tied behind my back, my mouth tightly gagged with cloth. Behind me, a man’s rough voice reported. “Mr. Vance, this is the one who hired us to abduct Ms. Thompson and threatened to kill the child in her belly.” Another man added, “Yes, Mr. Vance, we were just doing it for the money.” My heart suddenly felt empty. Mr. Vance? Was it Jason? Sera’s timid voice spoke up. “Jason, I’m alright, so how about we just let it go…” Jason sneered, his voice laced with a cruelty I had never heard before. “Let it go?” I couldn’t see him, but I could imagine his expression at that moment. “He wants your life and your child’s life. I have to get revenge for you.” “Take him downstairs to the pond. Teach him a lesson.” As his words fell, my heart suddenly trembled. Before I could resist, several men came forward, grabbed me, and dragged me like a dead weight into an ornamental pond filled with broken ice. Bone-chilling cold instantly spread from my toes to my whole body. The more I struggled, the faster I sank. The cold pierced every inch of my skin like needles. I lifted my head, trying to surface for a breath, but as soon as I took one, I was pressed back into the water. This was repeated several times. The air in my lungs dwindled, replaced by an intense feeling of suffocation. I coughed violently, water mixed with blood spraying from my lungs. Eventually, I had no strength left to struggle. Sera, standing nearby, feigned concern, calling for them to stop. “Enough, he’s barely breathing.” “That’s not enough,” Jason’s voice echoed from above. Next, I felt a leather shoe stomp heavily on my fingers. He was grinding them with force. “I want to make sure he can never harm anyone again.” With that, he kicked me hard in the stomach-exactly where I had just had surgery. Before I could recover, my whole body slipped back into the cold pond. Sharp objects at the bottom of the pond cut through the sack. Through the tear, I struggled, trying to surface. Sera, looking directly at me, flashed a fleeting, mocking smile, then conveniently collapsed into Jason’s arms. “Jason, I feel a bit unwell…” Jason immediately turned and held Sera in his arms, his voice becoming extremely gentle. “It’s alright. Are you scared? I’ll take you to the hospital.” With that, he picked up Sera and waved his hand at the men behind him. “No one bother with that worthless one in the water.” Through the torn sack, I saw Jason’s resolute back as he walked away. It took countless attempts, but I finally managed to crawl out of the pond. I dragged myself to a stone by the water’s edge and, enduring the searing pain in my abdomen, managed to saw through the ropes. I then found my phone, which had fallen in the grass nearby. I slid open the screen. It was a message from Jason: I have work tonight. Get some rest. 4 Amber POV Staring at the screen, I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. His so-called “work” was to vent anger for Sera, pushing me into icy water again and again, almost drowning me, then spending the entire night by Sera’s side, caring for her? My knuckles clutching the phone turned white. Finally, I dialed 91
After the ambulance arrived at the hospital, I lay on a cold gurney, but no doctor came to see me. I clearly felt excruciating, knife-like pain in my abdomen, and my limbs gradually became cold and numb. Out of survival instinct, I grabbed a passing nurse. “When will the doctor be here?” “All the emergency doctors have been called by Mr. Vance to see Ms. Thompson. You’ll probably have to wait a while.” The nurse, seeing my pathetic state, suggested, “Or do you have any relatives? You could ask them to arrange a transfer to another hospital.” I slid through my contacts with trembling fingers, my gaze lingering on “Caleb” for a moment before I finally dialed. There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. Then I spoke first. “Caleb, can you find me a doctor?” As expected, Caleb’s tone was utterly cold. “Now you know to come to me?” Then, his clear, distant voice spoke again. “Amber, I hope you understand that from the day you insisted on marrying Jason, I no longer considered you my sister.” The nurse couldn’t bear to listen. She took the phone and tried to persuade him. “Sir, this lady is in critical condition and needs immediate surgery, otherwise her life is in danger.” But after hearing this, Caleb’s tone remained unwavering. “This is all her own doing.” The call ended with a busy signal, and my heart completely gave up hope. Back then, to repay the Harrison family for adopting me, I disregarded Caleb’s objections and entered into an arranged marriage with the Vance family, consolidating our family interests. But on my wedding day, Caleb had an accident on his way back from abroad and was saved by Sera. To repay Sera, he gave her extremely high status and wealth. However, after that accident, he completely ignored me, even hated me. He believed that if I hadn’t insisted on the arranged marriage, he wouldn’t have had that accident, so even if I died outside, it would be my own fault. I don’t know how much time passed. My consciousness was already fading. The blinding light of the operating lamp finally appeared, and then I slipped into darkness. Dimly, I heard the doctor say, “Excessive blood loss. Previous uterine damage has re-ruptured. A total hysterectomy must be performed…” The surgery finished by midnight. When the anesthesia wore off, a dull, hollow ache pulsed in my abdomen. That night, I submitted an application to a mentor at the Royal Swiss Dance Academy, enclosing my final choreography. Soon after, a reply arrived. “I have reviewed your application. We are delighted you’ve chosen to join us.” During my recovery after the surgery, I became unusually quiet. My body was healing, but something inside me had gone permanently empty. My best friend, Chloe Davis, came to visit. After waiting a long time without seeing Jason, she pulled out her phone. “Amber, where did your busy husband run off to?” I quickly stopped Chloe’s hand before she could dial. “He’s busy with work. This isn’t a big deal.” “Not a big deal?” Chloe looked at me, exasperated. “Amber, you can’t have children anymore. Isn’t that a big deal? And he still has time for work?” “Chloe, I’m leaving the country.” In Chloe’s astonished gaze, I calmly continued. “He and I are getting divorced soon.” “Divorce?!” Chloe seemed to have never imagined that word would be associated with me, as to outsiders, Jason had long seemed deeply in love with me. Seeing I didn’t want to say more, she didn’t press, leaving to buy me lunch. When she returned, her breathing was rapid, clearly very angry. “Amber, do you know what I heard in the hallway?” She angrily put down the lunchbox. “The nurses said Jason had been with Sera in the next room for a whole week! He even booked the entire floor for her!” I simply smiled, my eyes flickering slightly, a tacit admission. Chloe hugged me tightly, sticking up for me. “Amber, if it’s inconvenient for you, I’ll go deal with that Sera! She’s too much!” I patted her shoulder, comforting her. “It’s fine, Chloe. I no longer love Jason.” The words had barely left my lips when the hospital room door opened, and a deep male voice came from behind us. “No longer love me?” 5 Amber POV Chloe and I turned simultaneously, seeing Jason in a black trench coat, taking long strides towards us. Chloe, still fuming, was about to rush up and confront him. “How dare you show your face here?” I subtly pulled Chloe back, shaking my head at her, effectively cutting off the conversation. Jason subconsciously clenched his fingers, swallowed a few times, his gaze somewhat evasive. “An employee, also a friend, from the company is hospitalized. I just stopped by on my way.” He quickly composed himself, walked over, and took my hand, asking with concern, “You were perfectly fine. Why are you in the gynecology ward?” A bitter taste formed at the corner of my mouth. I desperately wanted to tell him that all these injuries were thanks to that night’s “punishment.” But I didn’t want Chloe to worry, so I held back. “My period is a bit irregular. The doctor suggested IV drip observation. I’ll be discharged this afternoon.” Jason’s tightly furrowed brow relaxed, his thin lips moving. “Then I’ll pick you up and take you home tonight.” But that night, as the moon rose high in the sky, Jason was nowhere to be seen. Instead, I found traces of him on Sera’s Instagram. There was a post showing splendid fireworks outside a floor-to-ceiling window. In the glass reflection, I could clearly see the silhouette of a man embracing her from behind. The caption read: “Even though I’ve lost a lot, there’s still someone who treasures me.” I knew this was probably an Instagram post visible only to me. But now, I just expressionlessly hit like. I took an Uber home and started packing up the items I’d carefully collected over the past five years, the couple’s mugs, the cheap gifts he’d given me, into cardboard boxes. The custom-made couple’s phone charms had long gathered dust. But when I flipped over Jason’s old phone case, I found a movie ticket stub tucked behind it. On the back, in his forceful handwriting, were the words: “Now, watching a movie with you is stolen happiness.” The date was precisely the day he had accompanied Sera to New York. That morning, I contacted a used item recycling company to pick things up. Just as I finished loading the last box onto the truck, the main door suddenly opened. I looked up, my gaze directly meeting Jason’s deep eyes. He frowned, looking at the boxes on the truck. “Is there so much trash to throw away at home?” I nodded, my voice flat. “They’re all useless things, just taking up space.” The driver, seeing the situation, took an exquisite silver box from the truck and handed it to me. “Ms. Harrison, this looks quite valuable. Did you put it in by mistake?” Before I could reply, Jason snatched the box. He opened it, and his whole body stiffened. “Isn’t this… the silver amulet you wished for by that fountain when we traveled abroad? It was for our future child.” I looked at the oxidized and blackened silver ornament. I thought for a long time, truly feeling nothing, but still politely said, “I’m sorry, I forgot.” Jason’s face instantly darkened, his voice a little rushed. “You said then that this was the most effective charm, that I absolutely had to wear it. Later, you said we should put it away for the baby…” I calmly forced out a regretful smile. “I was foolish before. I won’t believe in such superstitious things anymore.” Jason probably thought I was still angry about his missing our appointment last night. He suppressed the emotions in his eyes and pulled a velvet jewelry box from his pocket. “Amber, I was just too busy and lost track of time last night.” He opened the box, took out the pink diamond necklace inside, and, without asking, put it around my neck. “This is the style you always wanted. Don’t be angry anymore.” I glanced down at it. It was the same style Sera had posted on Instagram yesterday. Perhaps it was a free gift with purchase. He didn’t give me a chance to refuse. He then handed me a haute couture dress, his voice carrying a hint of appeasement as if giving charity. “Stop making a scene. Change your clothes. There’s a celebration tonight for Sera’s discharge from the hospital. You come too.” 6 Amber POV I didn’t want to get entangled with him, nor did I want to explain, especially since in half a month, we would be legally unrelated. At the banquet, guests in formal attire chatted and laughed, glasses clinked, creating a lively and luxurious scene. I wore the dress he had chosen, adorned with the jewelry he had “given” me, like an exquisite puppet, standing by his side. Until someone whispered behind me, just loud enough for me to hear. “Look at that pink diamond Amber is wearing. Isn’t it exactly like Sera’s? But I heard Sera’s is the main piece, and hers… looks like a bundled accessory.” Before leaving this circle, I didn’t want to cause trouble, but that didn’t mean I had to endure this humiliation. I raised my hand, tore off the necklace from my neck, and casually made to throw it into the champagne tower’s waste bin nearby. But my wrist was suddenly grabbed by Sera. Her eyes filled with tears, looking pathetic and vulnerable. “Amber, did I do something wrong to upset you? Jason specially picked this necklace for you.” Chloe was also there. She couldn’t stand it and rushed over, shielding me behind her. “It’s none of your business if she throws away trash! Are you deliberately picking a fight?” The commotion attracted many onlookers, and the chatter grew louder. Someone in the crowd quietly scoffed. “Her? I heard she was a wild child from an orphanage, only got a good life after being adopted by the Harrison family. She’s still uncultured at heart.” Chloe trembled with anger, loudly retorting, “The Harrison family may have adopted her, but my Amber finished university on a full scholarship! All her excellence was earned through her own hard work! She’s not some good-for-nothing dependent on men!” Ten years ago, Caleb was being hunted by enemies. I saved him by hiding with him in a hidden underground passage. After that, he brought me out of the foster care system. But in these years at the Harrison family, I never dared to relax, even practicing dance with a high fever, just to not disgrace the Harrison family. Yet no matter how hard I tried, people only ever remembered me by the label “Harrison family’s adopted daughter.” Caleb and Jason heard the commotion and walked over, frowning. “What’s going on?!” Sera lowered her head, looking pitiful like a frightened deer. “It’s my incompetence that has made Ms. Harrison and her friends laugh at me.” “I came from an ordinary family, so of course I can’t compare to Ms. Harrison’ nobility.” With that, she made to unfasten the necklace from her neck. “This necklace is more suitable for Ms. Harrison anyway.” Jason stepped forward and held her hand, his tone undeniable. “If it’s for you, wear it; there’s no need to take it off.” Caleb also gave me a cold glance, then turned to comfort Sera. “What nobility does she have? She’s just an orphan our family sponsored. You saved my life. I won’t allow you to be so humble in front of her.” A busybody girl nearby suggested, “I heard Ms. Harrison once won a gold medal in international ice ballet. None of us have seen it. Why don’t we ask Ms. Harrison to perform a piece to liven things up?” Hearing this, Sera shed a few more tears, further highlighting my “arrogance” and “unpopularity.” Caleb sneered, looking at me with icy eyes. “Since you’re so pure and look down on this necklace, tonight, to celebrate Sera’s discharge, you can perform some ice ballet for everyone, as an apology.” I looked at him in disbelief. This was an outdoor banquet. For aesthetic effect, an artificial ice rink had been laid in the garden, but it hadn’t been professionally polished. I wanted to refuse, wanted to turn and leave. But Caleb’s bodyguards immediately surrounded me. Caleb sternly threatened, “If you dare to leave now, I will immediately freeze all your funds in the Harrison family and make it impossible for you to move an inch in my industry.” To ensure my smooth departure from the country, and to avoid any visa issues, I endured it. I was “escorted” onto that rough, cold ice surface. Even through my dance shoes, the cold pierced my feet like needles. I was forced to dance. With every spin, every jump, the wound in my abdomen throbbed with a tearing, dull pain. The cold air choked my windpipe, carrying a metallic taste of blood. I felt like a circus animal being watched, surrounded by mocking glances. Chloe tried to rush up and pull me away, but she was firmly stopped by several bodyguards. Mid-performance, a sharp, piercing pain suddenly shot through my right toes. I staggered and looked down. Through the clear ice, I clearly saw several iron nails frozen beneath, their points facing upwards. That last step had pierced right through the ice. I fell heavily onto the ice. Blood instantly stained my skirt and merged with the icy water. Sera, at that moment, flashed a fleeting, malicious and triumphant smile at me. So, all of this was planned by her! “Ah… my stomach hurts so much…” Sera suddenly clutched her abdomen, her face contorted in pain as she collapsed into Jason’s arms. Everyone’s attention instantly shifted to Sera. No one noticed my dance shoe, already stained red with blood. The family doctor was urgently called. He nervously asked Sera, “What did you eat tonight?” Sera pointed weakly at me, still kneeling on the ice. “I only drank the juice Amber handed me…” Caleb’s face instantly darkened. His gaze toward me was murderous. “Amber, you are incorrigible! Let her kneel there! Kneel until she understands her mistake!” Jason didn’t utter a word in my defense. He bent down, picked up Sera, and left with a cold reprimand. “Amber, you disappoint me too much.” Someone pressed down on my shoulders, forcing me to kneel upright. My knees slammed heavily onto the ice. Then came the excruciating pain of more small nails piercing my flesh. I bit my lip and said nothing, watching their backs as they clustered around Sera and walked away.
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