"Nicole, stop. You don't have a choice."

"On what grounds?"

Gregory's voice, already low, turned to ice.

"On the grounds that you left Judith alone in that alley!"

"And when she was facing those four thugs by herself—did *she* have a choice?!"

The man's eyes began to redden. Behind him, Judith tugged timidly at his sleeve. "Gregory, please… let it go. It's fine."

Her words only stoked his anger. "She's just trying to use her dream to forget the pain. Can't you even help her with that?"

"Her dream? A dream built on a stolen voice?"

Looking into Gregory's eyes, Nicole finally understood: she would never change his mind.

"Is that so?" He leaned in, his voice a low murmur beside her ear. "I seem to recall your mother is still in critical condition at the hospital."

Nicole's pupils contracted; a cold sweat broke over her skin. "What are you trying to do?"

Gregory tossed the studio keys to her, a dangerous smile in his eyes. "Nothing at all. Have a great performance."

Without another glance, Nicole turned and walked into the recording booth.

The studio was fully equipped. Before her, a live feed showed Judith's broadcast room, ready for instant synchronization with the girl's reactions.

Moving mechanically, she began her pre-stream checks. Images flashed through her mind—her mother's frail, gaunt face, the man's low threat.

Once everything was set, Nicole watched, as she always did, while Judith entered the room, impeccably dressed.

In this pink-hued space, every detail had been handpicked by Gregory. The crystal necklace around the girl's neck sparkled brilliantly, its gleam like a needle in Nicole's eyes.

"Hey everyone! First, a huge apology for yesterday's stream. I was totally off my game, and I feel awful I couldn't give you all the best show. Seriously, thank you for sticking with me."

After the pleasantries, Judith gave the prearranged signal, and Nicole cued the backing track.

"Today, I'll be performing a new song I wrote myself—'Against the Light.' I hope you all like it!"

As the music swelled, Judith began lip-syncing before her adoring fans.

At the same time, Nicole's clear, ethereal voice filled the recording booth, streaming live into the broadcast.

She performed thirteen songs in all. The irony cut deep: only a few were covers; the rest were her own original compositions.

Yet Judith brazenly claimed them as her own, celebrated online as the city's "Musical Prodigy Princess."

All propped up by Gregory's unwavering support.

Judith's #1 fan, "Waiting for Snow," once again flooded the stream with extravagant gifts. The barrage of visual effects obscured the girl's bashful smile, sending fans into a frenzy.

A sharp, unmistakable ache lanced through Nicole's chest.

She knew exactly who he was.

Three hours later, the stream finally ended. But before Judith could shut off the camera, Gregory swept her up in his arms and carried her away, leaving the audience buzzing with speculation.

"Oh my god, who was that?"

"Is that our Snow Angel's boyfriend? So sweet!"

Nicole paid no mind to the chatter. She packed up without a word and retreated to her room.

Her bookshelf held rows of gifts. Some were from Gregory; others she'd had to coax and plead to get.

Like the button from his white dress shirt.

And the simple "Happy Graduation" scrawled on the back of his school blazer.

That year, after high school graduation, she'd mustered the courage to ask. The boy hadn't said a word—he'd simply unpinned the button from his prep school blazer and handed it to her.

Those cool, distant eyes… she'd remembered them for years.

Nicole lowered her gaze, tracing the button one last time with her thumb. Then, along with the engagement ring, she dropped them both into a cardboard box.

Nicole nearly collided with Gregory in the hallway, a cardboard box in her arms.

“Where are you going?”

Meeting his searching gaze, she answered evenly, “Just taking out the trash.”

Gregory didn’t press further. Turning away, he headed upstairs, a steaming mug of honey-lemon tea in hand.

Watching him go, Nicole lowered her head with a soft, bitter laugh. She tossed the box into the bin and went straight to the hospital.

“Mom, I’m here.”

In the quiet hospital room, Nicole took her adoptive mother’s frail hand. Her heart ached so fiercely the tears nearly spilled over.

Seven years. Judith hadn’t visited once.

“Mom… don’t you resent her at all?”

Her mother offered a weak smile. “What mother resents her own child? Knowing she’s well is enough. Even if she never comes.”

“But your illness—” Nicole’s voice caught, the rest of the words stuck in her throat.

“Having you remember me makes me happy enough.” Her mother patted Nicole’s hand gently. “Nicole, promise me you’ll live a good life, okay?”

Nicole nodded desperately, tears splashing onto her mother’s thin hand.

And that tender moment was exactly what someone chose to capture.

Later, her phone rang. Her father.

“You ungrateful girl! Get your ass home now!”

A cold dread settled in her stomach.

That dread turned to lead the moment she stepped inside and saw Judith in the midst of a hysterical meltdown.

“Dad, Mom, just let me go! I don’t belong here—not really!” Judith sobbed, clutching a suitcase, her breath coming in ragged gasps. “Don’t stop me, please… My sister already arranged everything with my birth mother to send me back…”

Before Nicole could even speak, her mother shoved several photos into her face.

“Look what you’ve done!”

Helpless frustration washed over her. “I was just visiting my sick mother. I didn’t—”

“And this?” Gregory hit play on a voice recorder. A voice eerily like Nicole’s filtered out:

“Mom, don’t you want her to come back?”

“She’ll always be your family’s daughter.”

Too exhausted to explain, Nicole recognized the clumsy AI mimicry—Judith’s handiwork. Yet someone was all too willing to believe it.

“Nicole, is there truly no room in your heart for your sister?” her mother cried, pulling Judith into a protective embrace. “She’s suffered so much because of you! Don’t you feel any guilt at all?! How did I raise such a cruel daughter?!”

Gregory stepped forward, his hand closing around Nicole’s throat. The warmth she once knew in his eyes was gone, replaced by pure malice. “Someone! Lock her in the basement! She stays there until she understands what she’s done!”

Nicole closed her eyes and gave up.

“I warned you not to lay a finger on Judith.” He shoved her into the engulfing darkness, his face an emotionless mask. “Nicole, I despise disobedience.”

The heavy door slammed shut, plunging everything into black. No matter how hard she pounded on the metal, no one answered.

Then, her phone rang. The hospital.

“Miss Nicole… I’m afraid we have instructions not to treat your mother.”

“What?!”

The world dropped out from under her. Her mother was critical. Without care, she would die.

The doctor’s voice fell to a whisper. “Administration says we can’t accept her. She’s been flagged system-wide across the city. I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do…”

“You can’t do this! She’s dying! She’ll die!” But her pleas met only silence. The line went dead.

“Gregory!! Let me out!!” Panic clawed at her throat, tears streaming down her face. “Please, let me out…”

The only reply was the faint, skittering sound of rodent feet in the dark beside her.