When I was seven, I accidentally wandered into the basement and saw a woman in a red dress chained to the corner like an animal. That’s when I learned the ugly truth: my dad wasn’t just a monster—he was a maniac. The woman chained in the shadows wasn’t a stranger. She was my mother. For ten years, they’d been married. For ten years, he’d subjected her to unspeakable horrors. He forced her to eat rotting meat crawling with maggots, raped her whenever the mood struck, tore into her flesh with his teeth, and drank her blood. Sometimes, he’d make her dance barefoot on shards of broken glass, laughing as she bled. After that day, I started secretly helping her, slipping her food and water when I could. The summer I graduated high school, I saw my chance. My dad had left town on one of his business trips, and I finally worked up the courage to get her out. I thought I’d done it. I thought I’d saved her. But as we reached the front door, he appeared. It was like he’d known all along. What happened next still haunts me. The mother who had just moments ago been crying tears of gratitude, clinging to me as if I were her last hope, suddenly turned on me. Her face twisted with venom as she pointed at me and screamed, “Honey, I told you! She’s been trying to get rid of me so she can have you all to herself!” I froze, unable to process her words. “She’s jealous!” she shrieked. “She’s always hated me! I only set a tiny trap, and she couldn’t wait to send me away. You see, darling? You see how cruel she is?” Then she turned to me, her eyes blazing with hatred. “How could I have raised such a disgusting little wretch like you?” she spat. My world fell apart in that moment. I was dragged to the basement, where I became my mom’s replacement. For months, they tortured me. My dad’s cruelty was expected, but my mom? She stood by his side, watching with a smug smile as he tore me apart, her hand resting lovingly on his arm. They whispered sweet nothings to each other, their romance blossoming as I screamed for mercy. In the end, I couldn’t take it anymore. I threw myself against the concrete wall until everything went black. When I opened my eyes, I was back in my room. I recognized the date instantly. It was the day my mom first begged me to save her.
“Eat it.” My dad kicked a plate of maggot-infested meat toward my mom. He stood there, pristine in his tailored suit and polished leather shoes, his hair neatly combed. Everything about him screamed elegance—everything except the blood-stained, damp basement that reeked of iron and rot. In stark contrast, my mom sat huddled in the corner, chained like a dog. She wore a tattered red dress, her thin, gaunt face lifted toward him, eyes wide with fear. “Luke, I… I’m not hungry,” she stammered, her voice trembling. Luke narrowed his eyes, his tone chilling. “Are you defying me, Anna?” Anna bit her lip, her gaze darting to me as I stood silently in the doorway. The same pleading look I’d seen a hundred times before—the one that always tore me apart. “Lila…” she whispered, her voice breaking. In my last life, I’d fallen for that look. Every single time. She never begged outright. She never asked me to intervene. Instead, she’d put on a mask of despair, murmuring things like, “Lila, don’t worry about me. As long as you’re safe, I can endure anything. It’s just a few bugs—it’s nothing I can’t handle.” Then, she’d reach for the plate, her hand trembling as if summoning every ounce of willpower to make the sacrifice. But before she could touch it, she’d start retching, tears streaming down her face as she gagged and sobbed. And every time, I’d break. My heart would twist with guilt, as though her suffering was my fault. And like the fool I was, I’d always fight for her. In my last life, on this very night, I’d snatched that plate of rancid meat from her and made her a bowl of noodles instead. Luke hadn’t said a word. He’d simply turned and walked away, his cold indifference like a knife to my chest. The next day, Anna was allowed out of the basement. She wore an apron and greeted me with a radiant smile as she served me a plate of braised ribs. “Lila, I made this just for you. Try it!” I’d eaten every bite, beaming at her, grateful for even the smallest sign of normalcy. For a moment, sitting at the dining table with both my parents, I’d allowed myself to hope—maybe, just maybe, we could be a real family. But then, Anna covered her mouth, giggling as she leaned into Luke’s chest. Her smile was wide and triumphant, her voice dripping with amusement. “Of course it’s delicious,” she said, grinning from ear to ear. “You’ve been taking care of that dog for a whole year. Its meat is so tender!” Her laughter was like the chime of a bell, each note slicing into me like a blade. I stared at her, frozen in disbelief. She swayed her hips as she left the dining room, returning moments later with a blood-stained pelt—a dog’s pelt. It was perfectly skinned, the features intact, almost lifelike. “Luke’s knife skills are impeccable,” she said, holding up the pelt for him to admire. “Look at this! It’s almost like it’s still alive!” The hollow eyes of my dog, the same one that had been wagging its tail at my feet just the day before, stared back at me. I clutched my stomach and ran to the sink, vomiting until there was nothing left. Luke finally glanced at me, his expression cold and mocking. “Lila,” he said flatly, “kindness without strength always comes with a cost.” Anna, emboldened by his words, chimed in. “She’s right, Luke. She ate so much of it—clearly, she enjoyed it. Why pretend to be disgusted now? Such a hypocrite.” The feel of soft fur against my leg jolted me from the memory. I looked down to see my dog, Scout, wagging his tail and nuzzling against me. I scooped him up, holding him close as I looked at Anna. She was already putting on her usual act, her eyes brimming with tears. “Mom,” I said, my voice cold as ice, “Dad works so hard every day. The least you could do is eat what he gives you without being so dramatic.” Luke’s expression shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing in approval. But Anna froze, her face twisting in shock. She hadn’t expected this. Not this time. Her lips quivered as she forced herself to look pitiful, her voice trembling. “Lila, you’re my only daughter. I’d do anything for you! If you want me to eat it, I’ll eat it.” She picked up a piece of the rotting meat, bringing it to her nose. The stench made her gag, and she hesitated, her fingers trembling. She wasn’t eating. She was waiting—waiting for me to crack, for me to snatch the plate away and protect her like I always did. But this wasn’t my first life. I’d seen this too many times before. Her fake tears, her empty promises of love. I’d tasted the maggot-infested meat myself, forcing it down my throat while she stood by, pretending to care. This time, I simply stroked Scout’s fur and looked away. Luke’s patience finally snapped. He grabbed Anna by the hair and shoved the meat into her mouth, piece by piece. She choked and gagged, tears streaming down her face as bits of meat and maggots spilled onto her clothes and crawled over her skin. Her face twisted in agony, but Luke’s expression was one of satisfaction, almost ecstasy. He gently brushed the crumbs from her shoulders, his voice soft and loving. “Anna, I love you. I’d never treat anyone else like this. This… this is how you know you’re special to me.” Anna’s tear-filled eyes glowed with a disturbing intensity, her lips curving into a trembling smile. It hit me then. She liked it. She wanted it. They deserved each other.
I never met my mother. Not really. Growing up, whenever I dared to ask about her, the housekeepers would shuffle nervously, muttering vague excuses before quickly changing the subject. It wasn’t until I was seven years old that I learned the truth. I wandered into the basement by accident one day and saw her. She was chained to the wall, a rusted dog collar wrapped around her neck like a noose. Her red dress was torn and filthy, clinging to her skeletal frame. Her skin was ghostly pale, the kind of sickly white that comes from years without sunlight. The air reeked of mildew, blood, and something worse—something rotting. She sat slumped against the wall, combing her brittle, thinning hair with a broken comb. Her bony fingers moved mechanically, and every now and then, she’d hum a tune or let out a soft, eerie laugh. Her hollow cheeks and sunken eyes made her look like a corpse, but even then, I could see it—the faint resemblance between us. That’s when she noticed me. A little girl clutching a doll, chubby and wide-eyed. “Are you… Lila?” she croaked, her voice raspy and strained. Before I could answer, she lunged at me. Her bony hands grabbed my arm, her grip so tight it left five bloody scratches. “You’ve grown so much,” she whispered, her face inches from mine. “I’m your mother, Lila. I’m your mother!” I froze, too scared to move, but then her eyes dropped to my bare feet. Her expression twisted into something monstrous. “You walk around like that in front of your father?” she screamed, her voice shrill and hysterical. “You little whore! You think you can seduce him, don’t you?” Before I could react, her hand shot out and struck me across the face. I was sick with a fever for a month after that. The next time I saw her, Luke—my father—had brought her to my bedside. She stood by my bed, her posture stiff and submissive. Her trembling fingers brushed my hair as she leaned down to whisper, “Lila, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have hit you. Can you forgive me?” Her apology felt hollow, her voice shaking with every word. She kept glancing at Luke like a frightened animal, her whole body trembling whenever his shadow crossed hers. I forgave her, of course. I was desperate for a mother. I’d longed for her my entire life. From then on, I shielded her from everything. When Luke whipped her, I threw myself over her body, letting the lashes tear into my back instead. When he drained her blood, I held the knife myself, matching each cut on her skin with one on my own. When he forced her to eat rotting meat, I swallowed bite after bite until I was retching and sobbing, just to spare her the pain. Eventually, Luke’s affection for me faded completely. “You’re just like her,” he said one day, his cold, sharp eyes boring into mine. “Stupid and weak. It’s in your blood, Lila. You inherited her pitiful, filthy nature.” From that moment on, he stopped trying to mold me into his perfect heir. No more lessons in etiquette or business. No more late nights learning foreign languages or memorizing the weaknesses of his corporate rivals. When Anna heard, she was overjoyed. “Finally, he’s letting you off the hook!” she said, her laughter bubbling like champagne. “Girls don’t need to learn all that nonsense. What, does he think you’re going to inherit the company? How ridiculous. “Your job is to grow up pretty and happy. Find a good man to marry. That’s all that matters. Come, let me teach you how to make men adore you…” I sat there, confused, her words gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. She’s my mom, I told myself. She wouldn’t hurt me. Would she? When I turned eighteen, I was accepted into a university overseas. That summer, Luke left town for a business meeting. The moment he drove off, I ran to the basement, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. “Mom,” I whispered, fumbling with the lock on her chain. “We’re leaving. I’m getting you out of here.” The collar fell away, clattering to the floor. For the first time in eighteen years, she was free. “Dad’s gone,” I told her, my voice shaking with excitement. “I already bought tickets. We’re flying to a new city. I’ll go to school, and I’ll take care of you. I’ll fix this, Mom. I’ll fix everything.” Anna blinked at me, her eyes flicking to the chain on the floor. Slowly, a smile spread across her face. “Okay, Lila,” she said, her voice bright and cheerful. “Let’s go.” The plane was in the air when I finally allowed myself to breathe. It was over. We were free. I turned to share my relief with her, but she was staring at me, her expression unreadable. And then she smiled. It wasn’t a kind smile. The intercom crackled. “Attention passengers, this flight will be making an emergency return to the airport. We apologize for the inconvenience.” My stomach dropped. Ten minutes later, the plane landed. The other passengers were ushered off, leaving just me and Anna. Luke was waiting for us at the gate. Anna ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, “Luke! You stopped a plane for me! You love me that much…” She looked like she might faint from the joy of it all. For her, it was a grand romantic gesture, proof that no one could ever come between them. She turned to me, her expression hardening. “She forced me,” Anna said, her voice trembling. “She wanted to send me away so she could have you all to herself. She’s jealous, Luke. She’s always been jealous of us.” I was dragged back to the basement, my neck chained to the wall where hers had been. Luke tilted my chin up with his foot, sneering. “You’re useless,” he said. “Just like her. But at least she’s entertaining. You? You’re nothing.” He turned to Anna, his voice softening. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve adopted a son. He’ll take over the company someday. You don’t have to think about her anymore.” From that day on, I became Anna. She thrived. The life of a wealthy socialite brought color back to her cheeks. She draped herself in diamonds and pearls, smiling down at me like a queen visiting her subjects. “Lila,” she said one day, letting a box of pastries fall to the floor. “Luke only does this because he loves you. You should be grateful. No man will ever love you as much as he does.” When Luke demanded my blood, she wielded the knife. When he forced me to eat rotting meat, she shoved it down my throat. When he set his wolfdog on me, she handed me a knife and told me to fight. She laughed as I bled, her voice as bright and clear as a bell. “She’s more dog than the dog itself!” she said, grinning at Luke. The night I killed myself, she cried. “Lila,” she sobbed, clutching my lifeless body. “Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me alone with him. I need you…” But I was already gone.
It took a death for me to see things clearly. In my past life, I thought saving Anna—dragging her onto that plane bound for a new city—was the right thing to do. I was so wrong. How could I have been so delusional? How could I have believed she wanted saving? Anna and my father were a match made in hell. Luke was right about one thing: kindness without strength always comes at a cost. Looking into Anna’s hollow eyes, watching her revel in the torment she claimed to hate, I felt nothing. No pity. No anger. Just a cold, detached clarity. Without a word, I turned and walked away. When I was reborn, I knew exactly what I needed to do. This time, I wouldn’t waste my energy trying to fix what couldn’t be fixed. I resigned as student council president, stepped down as class leader, quit all my extracurriculars, and declined every invitation to events or parties. I poured every ounce of my time and focus into my studies. Because I knew what was coming. Soon, my father’s company would welcome a new rising star—a man as sharp, ruthless, and cunning as a younger version of Luke himself. His name was Jason King. In my past life, by the time I died, Jason had already climbed the ranks to the boardroom. He wasn’t just a rising star—he was a force, someone my father trusted to make major decisions for the company. I remembered the night Jason was promoted. Luke brought him home to celebrate. They stood at the top of the basement stairs, dressed impeccably in tailored suits, red wine swirling in their glasses. From where I was chained below, I could see the faint smirk on Jason’s face, the glint of amusement in Luke’s eyes as they both glanced at me. “Mr. White, such… refined tastes,” Jason had said, his tone polite but laced with mockery. Luke chuckled, pleased by the compliment, but Jason’s gaze never left me. After Luke left the room, Jason came down the stairs. He handed me a sandwich, his expression soft with pity. “Poor girl,” he murmured, his voice almost kind. Starved and desperate, I devoured the sandwich without hesitation. And then I felt it—the sharp, cold edge of a razor blade slicing through my throat. I choked, blood gushing from my mouth as I clawed at my neck. Jason crouched down, dipping his fingers into the pool of blood spilling onto the floor. He brought them to his lips, licking the crimson from his fingertips, his eyes shining with a sick, twisted excitement. He was just like Luke. In this life, I knew what I had to do. The day before my final exams, I returned home. I made a calculated choice to gain Luke’s favor. I prepared a dish—one I remembered from my past life—a delicacy meant for Anna. When I brought the dish to him, Luke looked at me with something I hadn’t seen in years: approval. For the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled. “Lila,” he said, his voice warm. “You’re finally starting to remind me of myself.” I lowered my eyes, smiling sweetly. “Of course, Father. I am your daughter, after all.” The dish was called “Three Squeaks.” When I opened the container, the tiny pink baby mice inside squirmed and squeaked loudly, their little bodies writhing as they tried to escape. Anna gasped, her face pale with horror. I turned to her, my smile bright and cheerful as I gently patted her cheek. “Mom,” I said, my voice soft and sweet. “I made this just for you.”
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295432”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn
Leave a Reply