Torment 4

4 

She was convinced I’d completely humiliated myself this time. 

Just looking at the phone screen, I could feel her barely contained glee. 

I pretended to fall for it, playing along with Chloe’s words. “Are you really that hateful towards me? What do you gain by making such a mess?” 

“If I sign this big contract, I’ll have money to help with your illness. Wouldn’t that be 

better?” 

She let out a cold laugh, her tone chilling. “Why are you so much like me? And you stole 

my favorite brother… as long as you…” 

Perhaps she was too triumphant; her words slipped out too far. 

Realizing she’d let something crucial go, she immediately slammed the doll into water on 

the other end of the line. 

“If you don’t lose all your reputation, how can you be worthy of all the suffering I’ve endured over the years?” 

The splashing of water was the last sound I heard. 

Then, it was as if someone had choked me, my breath cut off, and I plunged into 

darkness. 

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed, surrounded by my colleagues. 

Facing their worried gazes, I swallowed hard, struggling to say, “I’m fine, just too tired.” 

The doctor standing nearby nodded. “All the tests are normal. She probably just passed out from exhaustion.” 

Well, what else could I say? 

I couldn’t exactly tell them I drowned with a doll and actually felt myself die, could I? 

After my colleagues left, I lay in bed, lost in thought. 

Just then, Blake’s call came in. The moment I answered, he unleashed a torrent of 

shouts. “Skylar! Where are you? Get over here right now!” 

“Chloe told me everything! You provoked her, that’s why her condition worsened!” 

“I must have been blind! You’re actually this kind of person! Just wait, I’m going to let everyone know how hypocritical you are!” 

I didn’t even get a word in before he hung up. 

Minutes later, a colleague forwarded me a post. The title was suggestive, the content 

insinuating, asking in every line what kind of scandalous things I’d been up to. 

Even my manager called, advising me to put my current project aside and get some rest. 

I took a few deep breaths, my fingers trembling as I clicked on the post. 

Sure enough, it was Blake, posted anonymously. 

In his words, I became a cunning, deeply manipulative, and jealous character. 

Even the collaborative project I’d fought tooth and nail to secure was twisted into something I’d achieved through illicit means. 

Being stabbed in the back by the person I trusted most-that pain cut deeper than any 

knife. 

All the grievances from both my past and present lives welled up, and for the first time, I felt utterly useless. 

Tears streamed down my face, soaking my pillow. 

In that moment, I genuinely considered just ending it all. 

Anything was better than being played with like a toy by Chloe. 

I fumbled for the razor blade hidden under my pillow, about to act. 

Suddenly, my mind jolted, like being struck by lightning. 

I understood! 

Everything became clear! 

How Chloe had made me and her doll share sensations! 

I violently threw the razor blade into the trash, vowing never again to waste another second on such despicable people. 

I immediately called a car to a certain place. 

When I emerged, a cold smile played on my lips. 

Chloe, so this was it. 

I could distinctly feel the strange connection had been severed. 

I felt like a thousand-pound weight had been lifted, completely refreshed. 

Just then, Blake’s FaceTime call popped up. 

I let it ring, ignoring it. 

Only when enough time had passed did I unhurriedly tap to answer. 

“What do you want?” 

“Skylar!” 

He roared as if he would explode. “What did you do?! Chloe suddenly started spitting 

blood!”