Because this was about Emily.

I lifted my head slightly, wanting to speak but stopping halfway. In the end, I just let out a small, bitter laugh.

Lemon tea. That was where my nightmares began.

But who would ever believe me?

So I stayed silent.

Steve suddenly stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face.

“You stupid farm girl. Go on, keep pretending to be mute. This memory extractor was made just for you. Enjoy it while you can.”

Steve had always despised me, and that slap was full of hatred. My cheek burned, my head spun, and the taste of blood filled my mouth.

Ben stood off to the side, watching coldly.

Mary turned to Steve and snapped, “Steve, what are you doing? If you hurt her, it could interfere with the memory extraction.”

“She deserves it,” Steve snapped, his voice rising with rage. “It would be better if she died right here.”

He jabbed a finger at me, his tone dripping with resentment. “It’s been three years. Think about everything she’s done.

“The day we brought her home, she was like a stray dog. She even peed in the car, remember? And once she got here, she made Emily cry the moment she stepped through the door. Did she really think coming back meant she could be treated like a princess?”

The more he talked, the angrier he became. “Remember when Mom had a fever? Emily stayed up all night taking care of her until she nearly passed out. And what did this wild brat do? She slept without a care in the world, not even pretending to show concern or respect.”

He grabbed my chin, squeezing my bloody mouth until I could barely breathe, then spat in my face. “Even the smallest thing shows what kind of person you are. You’re heartless and selfish. You’re not even worth a single strand of Emily’s hair.”

Pain shot through my jaw, but his grip kept me silent.

I wanted to defend myself, but after three years of trying and never once being believed, I gave up.

Fine. Maybe I really was the selfish, ungrateful one.

Emily was the perfect daughter they loved so much.

“Enough. Don’t hurt her. Extracting her memories is what matters most,” Ben said. His voice was calm but carried a weight that silenced the room.

Mary sighed, gently wiping the blood from my lips. “Lily, don’t blame Steve for hating you. You really have done wrong.”

Yes. I did wrong.

I laughed quietly to myself again. Somehow, the fear I had felt toward the machine faded after Steve’s slap.

“Pain makes people ache, but it also numbs them. So go ahead. Let this so-called memory extractor do its worst,” I thought bitterly.

I closed my eyes and stayed completely still.

Steve sneered. “Not fighting back anymore? Guess you finally know your place.”

He reached to start the machine, but Ben stopped him.

Ben’s patience had worn thin, yet he still gave me one last chance. “Lily, this machine is one of Steve’s company’s latest inventions. It’s unstable and could easily damage your brain. So I’ll ask you one last time. Are you going to tell us where Emily went? If you do, I’ll give you ten million dollars and send you back to that little town you came from. After that, we’ll be done for good.”

“Back to that little town?” The thought hit me hard.

My eyes flew open. A deep, instinctive fear surged through me, and I shook my head immediately.

I didn’t want to go back there.

“See?” Steve said with a cold smile. “She only came back for the money and comfort. She turned her back on the people who raised her, and now even ten million isn’t enough. She just wants to stay here and play princess. Probably hopes to inherit the family estate someday. Pathetic.”

My parents exchanged uneasy glances. Their faces darkened.

I had always been greedy. Even a penny on the ground was something I couldn’t resist picking up and hiding away.

My family hated that about me. And now, when I showed no interest in ten million dollars and only wanted to stay in the city, they despised me even more.

“I’m not going back because…”

My voice trembled as I tried to explain, but before I could finish, Ben cut me off with a wave of his hand. “Enough. You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But you won’t get another chance. Mr. Wilson, come in!”

A man in a white lab coat walked into the room, holding a strange-looking pocket watch. His expression was serious and focused. Without a word, he bowed respectfully to my parents and to Steve.

Ben’s voice was cold. “Start the procedure. Extract her memories immediately. I want to know where Emily went.”

“Yes, sir,” Mr. Wilson replied without hesitation. He moved to the machine, pressed three buttons, and then handed three metal helmets to my parents and Steve.

“Mr. Zeller,” he explained carefully, “once the three of you sit down and put these helmets on, you’ll be able to view the subject’s memories through the built-in visual interface. Based on her brain activity, she’ll only be able to recall three memories. Anything beyond that is extremely dangerous and could cause brain damage, seizures, bleeding, or permanent memory loss.”

“Three times is enough. The first one should be about Emily’s disappearance. She definitely knows something,” Steve said impatiently as he grabbed a helmet and sat down beside me.

Mr. Wilson hesitated. “The subject’s emotions are unstable. I recommend guiding her through hypnosis to help her recall Miss Emily’s disappearance gradually. Forcing it too quickly could be harmful.”

Steve frowned but said nothing. My parents nodded in agreement, letting Mr. Wilson proceed as he saw fit.

A few moments later, all three of them were seated with the helmets in place. Mr. Wilson dimmed the harsh lights and stepped in front of me.

I stared at him numbly, completely still.

He pressed a button on my helmet, and soothing, rhythmic music filled my ears. I felt a cool sensation at the back of my head, as if some liquid had been injected.

“Miss Lily,” Mr. Wilson said gently, “please don’t resist. You know the more you fight it, the more painful it becomes. It’s better to—”

“Alright,” I murmured. My voice was calm, and I let myself relax completely.

Mr. Wilson paused for a moment, clearly surprised, but then focused again. He lifted the pocket watch and slowly swung it in front of my eyes.

“Miss Lily, go to sleep. In your dream, you’ll remember your first meeting with Miss Emily. It was a happy time between sisters.”

His voice was low and hypnotic. My eyes fluttered shut, and within seconds, I drifted into sleep.

Time folded in on itself, and distant memories began to surface, warm and golden, like sunlight breaking through the clouds.

*

I slowly opened my eyes and found myself sitting in a luxury car.

It was Steve’s Maybach S680. He was driving himself, taking my parents, me, and Emily, whom I was meeting for the first time, home with excitement.

Oh. I was dreaming about the first time I went home.

I turned my head and saw Emily beside me. Her bright hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail. She held my hand and talked nonstop, her smile warm and easy.

“Wow, you’re so tall, Lily. What are you, like five-five? I’m barely five feet. Guess I’m the short one here,” she said with a playful pout.

Then she looked down at my hands, her expression softening. “You’ve had it rough out there, haven’t you? Your hands are all cracked. You won’t have to do farm work ever again, I promise.”

My parents sat nearby, smiling warmly as they watched us.

I felt tense. My plain clothes and awkward posture made me look like a beggar next to Emily. But her warmth quickly eased my nerves, and my throat tightened as I murmured my thanks.

Emily waved it off, then reached into her backpack and pulled out a cup of lemon tea.

“Lily, our family already has everything. Giving you something expensive wouldn’t mean much. You can buy whatever you want anyway. But I thought this lemon tea would mean more.”

Her tone carried a touch of pride. “It’s my favorite drink. I usually have the housekeeper make it, but this time I made it myself. I hope you like it.”

Ben chuckled. “That’s a pretty modest gift for Lily’s homecoming.”

Emily shot him a playful look. “You don’t get it, Dad. It’s not about how much it costs. It’s about the thought that counts.”

The car filled with laughter.

I blinked, soaking in the warmth around me. For the first time, I thought, “So this is what it feels like to be a daughter who can laugh and tease her father.”

I took the cup and, under Emily’s expectant gaze, drank every drop.

It was delicious.

But within moments, I felt a sudden pressure in my bladder.

It wasn’t normal. It hit all at once, like a dam bursting inside me.

My legs started to shake. My lips turned pale. Cold sweat slid down my back.

“I can’t wet myself,” I muttered to myself.

This was my first time meeting my family. I couldn’t humiliate myself like that, not in Steve’s car.

“I have to get out,” I thought frantically.

But we were on the highway.

“Lily, are you okay? Do you feel sick?” Emily noticed something was wrong and grabbed my hand.

My family turned to look at me.

Steve cracked the window open a little to let in some air, trying to be considerate. But the rush of cold wind only made it worse.

“Can we… stop for a minute?” I asked weakly.

“This is the highway,” Emily said softly. “There’s a rest stop in about six miles. Just lean on my shoulder for a bit and relax.”

She pulled me close before I could protest. My parents reassured me, saying it was fine, that we were family.

I opened my mouth to explain anyway, squeezing my legs together as hard as I could.

“Dad, Mom, Steve, we really should stop the car. I—”

Before I could finish, Emily shifted slightly, and her hand accidentally pressed down on my stomach.

A shiver ran through my whole body.

I lost control of my bladder.

Warm liquid spread between my legs, soaking through the seat and dripping onto the floor mat.

The sharp, embarrassing smell quickly filled the small space.

Emily gasped and instinctively pulled away. “Lily, you—”

My parents turned to look at me, their faces stiff with a strange mix of surprise and discomfort.

Steve braked hard on the shoulder and glanced back in disbelief, his eyes fixed on the large, wet stain.

He had always been a clean freak. His car was spotless. And now it was filthy and stinking of urine.

My face burned with shame. I stared at my lap, trembling.

I was terrified of being scolded. Terrified of being hit. I couldn’t bear any of it.

When the car started moving again, the mood had completely changed.

Emily tried to keep things light, chattering as if nothing had happened. My parents comforted me, telling me it was alright.

Steve said nothing. He hated the mess, but he didn’t yell. He just drove in silence, his expression dark and heavy.

Then I heard his voice again.

“This stupid girl is really making us watch this crap? Disgusting. My car was ruined because of her piss.”

The voice sounded distant. It wasn’t from the memory.

Oh.

I understood then.

It was Steve in the real world, the one watching my memory, still disgusted by me.

But I couldn’t wake up.

All I could do was listen to his contempt.