Chapter 3

I gritted my teeth and went to the bank.

I wanted to withdraw all my savings and buy the earliest flight ticket.

Anywhere, as long as I could leave this place.

Even if I died on the streets of a foreign country, it would be better than being pointed at by everyone here.

At the counter.

The teller worked for a moment, then looked at me with a strange expression.

"Miss, your accounts have been frozen."

My ears started ringing.

"What?"

"All your accounts are frozen due to a massive civil lawsuit."

Before I could process this, several people walked up behind me.

"Serena, right? You've been served."

A thin piece of paper fell into my hands, but it felt as heavy as an anchor.

Plaintiff: Ethan.

Cause of Action: Medical Malpractice & Liability.

Damages sought: Fifty million dollars.

Fifty million.

Looking at that astronomical number, I laughed out loud.

That was the price of his mother’s life, and mine.

He wanted to cut off my every escape.

The money I had saved over three painful years—money I had starved myself and even sold my own blood to gather—was gone in an instant.

My Switzerland. My dignity. My pride.

All gone.

I walked out of the bank. Passersby seemed to recognize me, whispering and pointing.

"That's her, the killer doctor."

"I heard she's in massive debt now. Serves her right."

Suddenly, a car sped past.

Instinctively, I tried to dodge, but my stiff body refused to obey.

The side mirror clipped me, knocking me hard to the asphalt. My knees slammed into the curb, sending a white-hot flash of pain through me.

Instead of apologizing, the driver rolled down the window and yelled.

"Trying to fake an accident for cash? Look at yourself! You must be desperate for money!"

I lay on the ground, unable to get up for a long time.

No one came to help. There were only cold phone screens recording my misery.

With great effort, I dragged myself into a narrow alley.

I just wanted to hide.

But a few sketchy men blocked the exit.

The leader twirled a wooden bat, his eyes scanning me filthily.

"Well, well, if it isn't the famous Dr. Serena. I hear you owe Chloe... oh, sorry, you owe a lot of people a lot of money?"

They were hired by Chloe.

"I don't have any money."

"No money? Then you can pay with your body."

Dirty hands reached out, groping me.

I fought back with everything I had, biting one of their hands.

The man cursed in pain and delivered a brutal punch to my stomach.

"You bitch! We tried to be nice!"

Then came a rain of fists and kicks.

I curled into a ball, protecting my head.

The pain flared from everywhere, but strangely, this physical agony felt easier to bear than the crushing despair in my heart.

When they got tired, they spat on me and left.

"We'll beat you every time we see you!"

I lay in the filthy puddles, staring up at the narrow strip of sky.

The sky was gray.

My world was gray.

Using my last ounce of strength, I crawled out of the alley.

In this massive city of a million lights, not a single one was kept on for me.

By some strange pull, I found myself back at the funeral home.

It was where I had worked for three years, and the closest place to death.

It was late at night. The security guard was asleep.

Familiar with the layout, I slipped into the morgue.

Pushing open the heavy door, the freezing air hit me.

But it felt incredibly welcoming.

I found an empty gurney and struggled to climb onto it.

The moment I lay flat, a deep sense of peace washed over me.

It was cold here, but compared to the ice-cold cruelty Ethan had shown me, at least it was clean.

I could feel my life slipping away. My heart was slowing down.

The stiffness had reached my chest. Breathing became difficult.

I pulled out my phone. The screen was shattered, but it still worked.

I found my mentor Donald's number.

He was the only person left in this world who had shown me any kindness.

With trembling fingers, it took me a long time to type out that single line:

"Donald, my body is next. Please make me look beautiful."

Sent.

The phone slipped from my grasp.

I closed my eyes and waited for the final release.