Chapter 4

Mom was disgusted whenever my name was mentioned.

"How did I give birth to a daughter like that?"

"Chloe always loves to draw attention. I even heard she went to a hotel with a man a few days ago, and private photos were posted online..."

Ashley saw their grim faces and covered her mouth.

"Mom, Liam, did I say something wrong?"

"No, Ashley, she's fallen so low. Even if that female corpse is her, I wouldn't be surprised."

Mom cursed, then saw the private photos Ashley took out.

My eyes widened.

These photos were taken the night I was attacked.

Ashley was using photos of my forced assault to slander me.

Liam threw the photos to the floor.

"Disgusting."

I turned my head away, my nose burning.

"She should have died two years ago, not still be alive to sicken us."

Liam's brows were tightly furrowed, and Mom's face was pale.

"If I had known she would be like this, I should have left her at the orphanage... Luckily, our family is fine, and she won't bother us."

"Mom, do you smell something bloody in the house?"

Liam suddenly asked. As forensic experts, they were always sensitive to the scent of blood.

"I smell it too. Something needs to be cleaned up quickly, or it won't be good for Ashley and the baby."

Mom looked worried and was about to stand up but was stopped by Ashley.

"Mom, it's just some pork I bought. I haven't had a chance to clean it yet. Don't worry about it. Just get some rest."

Mom's wrist was held, and she paused, then smiled and said,

"Okay, you rest early too."

After saying that, she went back to her room.

Inside the room, Mom saw a photo tucked inside a book on the table.

She gently pulled it out. It was a picture of me, smiling radiantly, at eighteen. On my eighteenth birthday, Mom had given me a stunning pink sapphire necklace.

My name was engraved on that necklace.

"Chloe."

She found it an eyesore and tore the photo to shreds, throwing it into the trash can.

"Chloe Vance, you truly are heartless, not coming home for two years just because of one slap, and now trying to deceive me by faking your death."

"Mom..."

I called out softly, but she couldn't hear.

"Mom, right now, I hope you won't recognize that it's me."

Late at night, there was a sudden, urgent knocking at the door.

"Mom! Wake up!"

Mom opened the door to see a distraught Liam.

He rarely looked so anxious.

"What's wrong? Is something wrong with Ashley?"

Mom's heart leaped to her throat.

"Not Ashley, it's about Chloe Vance."

Liam hesitated before speaking.

"The police just called. Dennis is sticking to his story that it's Chloe Vance, and... and he even pulled out a necklace."

Liam showed his phone, and Mom saw the necklace on the screen.

It was that pink sapphire necklace.

Her mind went blank instantly. The name "Chloe" engraved on the necklace stung her eyes.

Even more striking than the pink sapphire were the dried bloodstains on it.

Mom stumbled backward. I instinctively wanted to reach out.

Liam steadied Mom, his lips trembling.

"Also, Dennis said he knows where the head is, but we need to go to the scene ourselves."