Chapter 3 

Suddenly, Maya grabbed my wrist, her long nails leaving a red scratch on my arm. 

“Annalise, why won’t you let me finish talking? Are you looking down on me?” 

I winced at the pain and forcefully shook off her hand. She staggered backward, then dramatically fell. 

ensen, save me!” she cried. 

Jensen’s face changed, and he quickly caught her in his arms. Before I could react, he slapped me across the face. Benjamin, who had come over after hearing the commotion, shouted at me angrily. 

“Annalise, why are you always causing trouble for Maya?” 

“Don’t forget, if the Miller family hadn’t taken you in, you’d be a homeless orphan picking 

trash! Not only are you ungrateful, but you’re also biting the hand that fed you!” 

A ringing sound filled my ears. This was the first time in my life that I had ever been hit. In 

that moment, my entire world seemed to shatter. Jensen’s face showed a flicker of regret as he looked at me, as if realizing he’d gone too far. 

“Are you alright? I…” 

“I’m fine. I don’t blame you,” I replied, wiping the blood from the corner of my mouth. I 

didn’t blame him. I’d take this slap as repayment for all the kindness he’d shown me in the 

past. From now on, we’d be even, with no debts left between us. 

But Benjamin blocked my way, unwilling to let me leave. 

“Don’t go yet–apologize to Maya!” His fierce expression was a stark contrast to the boy who 

once trailed behind me, sweetly calling me “sister.” I knew how ruthless he could be. Back 

in school, when a guy harassed me, Benjamin took care of him in the shadows, and Jensen 

cleaned up the aftermath. The two brothers had coordinated flawlessly, forcing the guy’s 

family to flee Los Angeles. I never imagined that one day, they would turn this same ruthlessness against me. 

I glanced at Maya, who wore a smug expression, and suppressed the storm of emotions 

swirling inside. 

“I will never apologize. I’ve done nothing wrong.” 

I had nothing to fear. Without their interference, I was leaving anyway.