Chapter 3

Zoe lay on the ground, clutching her head and thrashing, letting out sharp screams.

The crowd watched and murmured among themselves.

"What's wrong with Miss Stephens? She was perfectly fine a moment ago."

"She doesn't look like she's acting."

"Don't forget, back then Miss Stephens faked being unconscious and lay in a hospital bed for three whole months just to get out of going abroad. If she hadn't been caught sneaking food at night, she probably would have kept it up for life."

At that, everyone's eyes toward Zoe changed at once.

No one stepped forward to check on her.

Zoe forced her upper body up, staring at the corner of my mouth as it curved up, fear in her eyes.

"It's you! Jessica! You're behind all of this!"

I looked at her innocently.

"I don't understand what you're talking about, Miss Stephens."

She couldn't even endure this little bit of pain.

Then she probably wouldn't last long.

Zoe's face was twisted with pain, her voice trembling so badly it barely came out.

"My headache is in the exact same spot as the wound on your forehead. What kind of evil sorcery did you use?!"

"Jessica! If you don't stop, I really will kill you!"

Quinn stared hard at Zoe.

"What do you mean by that?"

By now Zoe was already struggling to breathe, forcing the words out.

"Wherever we hurt her, it comes back on us—even a thousand, ten thousand times more painful than hers."

"Get me to the hospital, quickly, I really can't take it..."

Panic flickered in Quinn's eyes, and he unconsciously touched the hand that had wielded the knife.

Aunt Adela, pressing down on my wound, spoke up.

"Let's get to the hospital. Jessica's wound won't stop bleeding—something bad will happen."

Quinn hesitated only a few seconds before ordering his bodyguards.

"Take Zoe and Jessica to the hospital."

Uncle Lionel blocked him.

"Both of you from the first branch got what you wanted, so why is it that the second it's my second branch's turn, you start putting on an act?"

"Trying to take them away? Don't think that'll fool me and your aunt Marilyn!"

A flicker of displeasure crossed Quinn's eyes.

"Whether it's an act or not, we'll know once she's checked."

"And if what Zoe said is true, isn't that saving you too?"

Uncle Lionel was about to say more when Marilyn stopped him.

"We've been watching them the whole time, they can't run. I don't think Zoe looks like she's acting."

When we reached the hospital, I was taken to have my wound dressed.

By the time Zoe was wheeled into the examination room, she had already slipped into unconsciousness.

Aunt Adela stayed by my side, comforting me softly.

"Jess, don't be afraid. Secretary Winfield is sure to find a way to get the old master back to save you."

I nodded to her.

Aunt Adela is the only person in this family who is genuinely good to me.

But there's no way I can tell her the truth right now.

The Stephens family only knew me as the adopted daughter Lucius Stephens had brought back from the temple with three bows and nine kowtows.

He gave me the finest food, clothes, and everything else.

I became the young heiress everyone in the capital's elite circle envied.

But what they didn't know—

was that all of it came from a contract Lucius forced me to sign by holding my mentor's life over me.

It demanded that I stay with the Stephens family for the rest of my life.

The only way to break the contract was for the Stephens family to harm my life.

As long as the temptation I offered was great enough.

I didn't believe this greedy family could hold back from turning cruel.

And in the end, everything they did to me would come back on them.

Zoe's test results came back quickly.

The doctor looked over the report.

"The report shows there's nothing wrong with Miss Stephens's brain. As for the pain she describes, I suspect it's psychological in cause. I'd suggest you have her seen by a psychiatrist."

Zoe's face went deathly pale.

"How could that be..."

After being given sedatives and painkillers, her head no longer hurt.

But the pain from before still lingered, impossible to shake from her mind.

Once he was sure Zoe was fine.

The dread hanging over Quinn slowly eased.

"Maybe you were just too tense, and that's what gave you the headache. If a little injury like this could cause real harm, would the old master still be alive today?"

Uncle Lionel charged into the ward and grabbed my arm.

"Now it's our second branch's turn to get the benefits off of Jessica."