After my parents died in a bankruptcy scandal, they left my brother and me with a million-dollar debt. To pay it off, he became a "haunted house tester," sleeping in stigmatized properties to prove they were safe. I took gigs as an extra, playing corpses on TV sets. For five years, we worked ourselves to the bone, never daring to take a day off. Yet, the debt remained. At the end of the year, with just $13,000 left to clear the balance, I gritted my teeth and signed up for a high-risk clinical drug trial. When it was over, I dragged my exhausted body and the cash to find my brother, eager to share the good news. Instead, I walked in on him on the phone: "Mom, Dad, Ava is doing great. You guys enjoy your vacation in Europe." "She's learned her lesson about spending money. We can end the punishment next year." It turned out my parents weren't dead. The family wasn't bankrupt. These five years of hell were just a punishment for my "spending habits." The smile froze on my face. My stomach churned violently, and I vomited a mouthful of fresh blood. 1 "Think carefully. Once you sign this contract, we are not responsible for any adverse reactions." That was the warning from the pharmaceutical company rep during the drug trial. She emphasized that the contract was legally binding. After drinking the drug, I would be observed for five hours. If nothing happened then, even if I dropped dead later, I couldn't sue them. At the time, all I could think about was having a debt-free New Year with my brother, so I signed without hesitation. But now... Looking at the cash in my hand, I felt a wave of bitter irony. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth with my sleeve. I pushed open the door. My brother, Ethan, hurriedly hung up the phone. He turned around and immediately saw the blood on my shirt. "What happened?" His face paled as he rushed over. He grabbed my shoulders, checking for injuries. I pushed his hands away, my voice steady. "Prop blood from the set." "Oh, thank god. I thought you were hurt." He sighed in relief. Then he saw the money in my hand, his eyes narrowing. "Where did you get this?" "Ava, you didn't steal it, did you?" My heart sank. I suddenly realized I didn't know him at all. Steal. Is that what he thinks of me? I clenched my fingers, waiting a moment before whispering: "The director gave it to me. Year-end bonus." He frowned, still suspicious. "A bonus in cash?" "Do you want it or not?" I looked at him with annoyance. "Didn't you say we have $13,000 left on the debt? This is exactly enough." "If you don't want it, I can give it back." He was silent for a moment, then took the money. "I'll pay it off tomorrow." He changed the subject. "What do you want to eat? I'll cook." I looked around the room. A 300-square-foot studio apartment. One closet, a bunk bed, and a tiny bathroom. No kitchen, so we chopped vegetables on the coffee table. The $20 electric skillet had been used for five years. The cord had burned out twice, patched up by Ethan with black electrical tape. I suddenly asked: "Ethan, aren't you tired?" He smiled back at me. "Not really. My job is pretty easy, actually. Just sleeping in houses." "It's you I'm worried about. These past few years... you must be exhausted." What I really wanted to ask was: Aren't you tired of pretending? The family has billions in assets. We could be living like royalty. But to punish me, you chose this life. Aren't you tired? Unfortunately, he didn't catch my meaning. So I decided to be more direct. I looked him in the eye. "Ethan, do you think I love spending money?" I still didn't understand why they thought that. Even though we were wealthy, I never cared for luxury brands. I never bought anything over a few thousand dollars. In our circle of rich kids, I was practically a monk. Ethan's face stiffened. "Why ask that? You're much better now." "What do you mean 'now'? What about before?" I pressed on. He frowned. "When Mom and Dad were around, you really didn't know how to save." "They were self-made, started from nothing. Even I have to think before spending." "But for your birthday, you pestered them for a gift worth over ten grand. Don't you think that's excessive?" I stepped forward, emotional. "Our family has billions! I can't buy a $10,000 phone?" "Then what is the point of making money?" His face darkened. "Listen to yourself. It's just a phone. Doesn't a cheaper one work just as well?" "You're just vain, always comparing yourself to those trust fund kids. That's why you always want things." "Haven't you lived just fine these past five years with nothing?" I stared at him in disbelief, my blood running cold. In his eyes, was I living well these past five years? Playing a corpse every day, begging the director for extra scenes just to earn an extra $50. Lying in mud, in sewage ditches. Staying motionless for ten, twelve hours at a time. I developed chronic joint pain and severe cramps. My old rival, Chloe, seeing me down and out, used her connections to torment me on set. And I couldn't even fight back. Just because I wanted a good New Year with my brother, I became a human guinea pig for a drug trial, and I still don't know what it did to my body. Is this life really good? My stomach cramped again. I vaguely remembered Chloe's words: "Idiot, you brought this on yourself." "I'm going to follow you. Whatever set you're on, I'll be there. My family has money, I can invest and get myself in anywhere." "For the next five years, you're going to suffer in my hands!" I shivered, goosebumps rising on my skin. Five years. Why specifically five years? Did Chloe know something too? My gut told me there were more secrets my brother and parents were keeping from me. I clenched my fists, suppressing the urge to scream. "Okay. I'll change." Ethan put down the vegetables, patting my shoulder with relief. "That's my girl. Eat by yourself later, I have to go to work." I nodded. After eating, Ethan left for work. I tied up my hair, put on a mask and a hat, and quietly followed him. He left our rundown neighborhood and made a call by the roadside. Within five minutes, a black Maybach pulled up. He got in. I hailed a taxi and followed. Thirty minutes later, he entered a high-end steakhouse. I waited five minutes, then went in and sat at a table behind him. I was too nervous to look up, so I didn't see who he was with. But when I heard the voice, I froze. "Ethan, I've been messing with Ava just like you asked. I've been doing a great job lately!" It was Chloe! "Good. Only by suffering outside will Ava learn that money doesn't grow on trees." Ethan's tone was calm, as if discussing the weather. "In return, I'll send more business to your family." "Ava can't know about this yet. When Mom and Dad come back after New Year's, I'll tell them." My breath hitched. My heart nearly stopped. A waiter asked for my order. I dared not speak. I pointed randomly at the menu with a trembling hand. I signaled him to leave quickly, afraid Ethan would notice. Chloe's voice was sickeningly sweet: "Ethan, you told Ava you're testing haunted houses, but you have to detour home every night. Aren't you tired?" "Why didn't you go abroad with your parents back then?" My heart was in turmoil again. So the haunted house job was a lie too. While I thought he was suffering in spooky houses, he was going home to our mansion. So for five years, I was the only one suffering? Ethan sighed. "Ava is my sister. I couldn't leave her alone in the country." "Besides, even though the company moved operations overseas, we'll move back eventually." He sounded nostalgic. "The five-year punishment is over in a blink of an eye. Time flies." Fast? I laughed bitterly inside. These five years, every day was torture for me. Playing a corpse isn't easy. Under Chloe's instructions, I was always put in the dirtiest, hardest spots. Rain or shine, I couldn't move. My body broke down. But in their eyes, it was just a lesson. Hilarious... "Chloe, thanks for your hard work these five years. This is a gift for you." The conversation continued. Ethan handed Chloe an exquisite gift box. Chloe opened it and gasped. "Such a beautiful bracelet!" My heart plunged into hell. That was the bracelet I asked my parents for five years ago. They refused, saying it was too expensive. I didn't need it, so I forgot about it. Now I realize, maybe that bracelet was the trigger for my five-year sentence. But why? We were billionaires. Why was asking for a bracelet a crime punishable by five years of hell? Why could Chloe, whose family had far less money, easily get what she wanted? Was I a bad kid? Was I disobedient? I was always good. I never rebelled. Why did I have to suffer like this?! My emotions broke the dam. I couldn't hold it back anymore. Bang! I slammed the table and stood up. Everyone in the restaurant looked at me. Ethan turned around, his face instantly draining of color. "Ava? Why are you here?" "Is it fun? Is lying to me for five years fun?" I ripped off my hat and scarf, rushing over to grab his sleeve. "How am I a spendthrift? Why did you torture me like this?!" Panic flashed in Ethan's eyes. He looked around, embarrassed, and grabbed me. "Too many people here. Let's talk outside." "You're the one who should be ashamed!" I shook off his hand, eyes red, screaming hysterically. "You and Mom and Dad conspired to lie to me! You said we were bankrupt, in debt! You said you were sleeping in haunted houses!" "But the truth? They're vacationing abroad, and you go home to the mansion every night! I'm the only one suffering!" My breakdown worsened, tears flowing freely. "Ethan, why? Tell me why!" "Please tell me, with billions in assets, what does buying a $10,000 phone matter?!" Ethan's face darkened. "So that's why you asked me those questions this afternoon. You heard my call with Mom and Dad." He grabbed my wrist again. Harder this time, trying to drag me out. A waiter ran over to stop me. "Miss, you haven't paid! It's $800!" Ethan froze, frowning at me. "Why did you order such an expensive meal? Do you still not know how hard it is to make money?" Stares from all directions landed on me. Ethan deliberately waited. Until I was pale with embarrassment, he finally paid the bill. Outside, Chloe added fuel to the fire. "Ava, your parents and brother mean well. It's for your education. Don't be ungrateful!" "What does it have to do with you!" A nameless fire burned in my chest. I broke free from Ethan and slapped Chloe across the face. She screamed and covered her cheek. Slap! The next second, Ethan's hand struck my face. "Is this how you act?" "Ava, where does this entitlement come from? Where is this temper coming from?" "Do you think I had it easy these five years? If I weren't worried about you, I would have been abroad with Mom and Dad!" My mind went blank. My ears rang. I couldn't even hear what he was saying anymore. I stood there for a long time, then nodded resignedly. "Give me back the $13,000 I gave you." That was money I earned with my life. He glanced at me with disdain and made a call. Moments later, someone brought out my bag of cash. I wiped my tears, picked up the money, and prepared to leave. Ethan watched my back, about to speak, but Chloe stopped him. "Let her go. Let's see where she can go!" I closed the door on them and walked back to the slums with my money. I took out my key to open the door, but a hand grabbed my wrist. "Miss, this apartment has been sold. You can't go in." "Sold to a Mr. Vance?" I didn't even look up. "Yes. How did you know?" I smiled self-deprecatingly and walked away with my money. Two steps later, the piercing pain in my stomach returned. I went to a nearby hospital. While waiting for results, I went to pay the fees. But as soon as I handed over the cash, security guards pinned me down. My head was spinning, I had no strength to fight. In my daze, I heard words like "counterfeit money" and "call the police." Soon, the police arrived. The officer frowned at me. "Miss, these bills are fake. Where did you get them?" I was in shock. I fumbled to pull out the contract from my pocket. "I don't know! I earned it from a drug trial job!" "This has nothing to do with me!" He looked at the contract, his frown deepening. "You were likely scammed. This company is a criminal front." "Did they draw your blood?" My pupils constricted. I nodded mechanically. The officer sighed. "The drug might be fine, but the needles..." He couldn't finish the sentence. A bad feeling rose in my chest. Just then, the test results came out. The doctor handed them to the police officer. "Stage 3 blood disease. Those scammers are vicious!" Retrch— I couldn't hold it back anymore. I vomited black blood and collapsed, unconscious. Before my eyes closed, I heard the officer shouting: "Contact the family! Hurry!"
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