Sabrina rushed over and grabbed Amelia's hand, looking genuinely aggrieved. "Sis, why didn't you tell me when you got back? I was so worried about you..."

Amelia suppressed the anger rising in her chest, her expression neutral. "Sabrina, didn't you book a hotel room for me to rest? I couldn't sleep well there, so I came back early."

Sabrina froze for a second. Was Amelia onto her?

No one in the Johnson family ever really celebrated Amelia's birthday. Earlier that evening, Sabrina had taken her to a hotel under the pretense of a celebration. She had drugged Amelia's drink; after Amelia passed out, Sabrina had two men carry her into a hotel room.

She had been sure those men would do the job, that Amelia wouldn't dare speak up even if something happened.

But now, Amelia stood there completely unharmed. Had those two failed?

Grace chimed in, putting on a show of concern, "Amelia, even if you came back, you should have let us know. Your sister was worried sick, and you've gone and disturbed your father and me in the middle of the night."

She had been in on the drugging plan, too. But seeing Amelia perfectly fine now, Grace began to doubt whether their scheme had worked at all.

"It was already late. I didn't want to bother anyone," Amelia blinked her large, clear eyes, her voice dripping with innocence. "And Sabrina seemed fine with me staying at the hotel alone... Dad, Grace, you knew about the room, right? I assumed you didn't mind, so I didn't think it was a big deal."

Richard turned his gaze to Sabrina, though it wasn't exactly suspicious. "So you were the one who booked the room?"

Grace quickly interjected, "Darling, Sabrina mentioned it to me-it must have slipped my mind to tell you."

"Yes, I did tell Mom," Sabrina nodded rapidly.

"Dad, please don't blame Sabrina. She's the only one who remembers my birthday every year. She just wanted to make me happy. We might have had a bit too much to drink, and she probably doesn't even remember booking the room clearly," Amelia said softly, doing her best to sound pitiful. Playing the innocent? She could do that, too.

Sabrina shot Amelia a surprised look-wait a minute, wasn't that her line?

Amelia used to be so transparent. In the past, she'd either stumble over her words trying to explain, making it sound like a weak excuse, or she'd just swallow the blame silently. Totally spineless. But today? Something felt... different.

"Just a few days ago, Amelia told me how she envied the big birthday parties I get every year. I really just wanted to make her happy. I didn't think it would turn out like this. Dad, it's my fault. Please scold me." Sabrina spoke sweetly, but her emphasis on "big birthday parties" was unmistakable-she knew it was a sore point for Amelia.

Amelia had returned to the Johnson family five years ago, at eighteen.

The first year, Richard had actually thrown her a birthday banquet. But thanks to a stunt orchestrated by Sabrina and Grace that ended up humiliating Richard, it was the first and last party she ever received.

Richard had always favored Sabrina, but deep down he carried a shred of guilt toward Amelia. He sighed, "Alright, that's enough. Everyone, get some rest. And from now on, no more drinking when you go out. If I catch you again, you're grounded."

In her previous life, Richard had flown into a rage over this incident. He had yelled at Amelia and grounded her for a month.

Back then, all Amelia had said was, "Sabrina took me to the hotel."

Sabrina had immediately turned on the waterworks, playing the victim, while Grace criticized Amelia for being ungrateful.

Afterwards, Amelia had asked Sabrina what happened, and Sabrina fed her a few vague lies-which she had actually believed. She hadn't pressed further.

Sabrina and Grace had always been so "caring" in daily life, and Amelia had mistakenly thought they were her real family. She had treated them with sincerity. But they had used that sincerity to dig trap after trap for her.

This time, however... she was going to return the favor in full.

*****

Back in her room, Sabrina tried calling the two men she had hired-but no matter how many times she redialed, the calls wouldn't connect.

Damn it. She had already paid them-now she didn't even know if they had done the job. Useless thugs, so unreliable.

Just as she was fuming, an idea sparked. Without hesitation, she stepped out into the hallway and headed straight for Amelia's bedroom...

"Sis, are you... oh my god-"

The second Sabrina stepped into the room, a full bucket of icy water slammed down on her, drenching her from head to toe, and the bucket itself even knocked her on the head.

Amelia rushed over, her face full of worry. "Sabrina! Are you okay?"

Clutching her head, Sabrina winced in pain. It was pounding. "You... what the heck, Amelia?"

Amelia quickly shut the door and grabbed her sister's hand, looking sheepish. "I panicked. I was scared someone might break in, so I rigged that booby trap at the door... I didn't mean to hit you. I'm really sorry."

Sabrina was fuming inside but kept her cool. With a forced smile, she asked, "Why would someone break in? Who'd even show up here like that?"

"At the hotel earlier..." Amelia looked away, clearly dodging something.

Sabrina narrowed her eyes, pushing, "What happened at the hotel?"

Amelia hesitated, clearly fighting herself. "I... I really don't wanna talk about it."

"C'mon, we're sisters. You can tell me anything," Sabrina said, trying a little too hard to look concerned. The way Amelia looked... it had to be something big. Judging by her face, probably lost her virginity, huh?

Amelia tugged on her pajamas, revealing bruises and red marks all over her shoulders and collarbone.

"Wait, what happened to you? Who did this to you?" Sabrina gasped, staring with fake worry while her heart was practically doing cartwheels. That confirmed it-the two guys totally went through with it.

Amelia pulled her pajama top back on, her face pale. "Sabrina, please stop asking. I don't wanna relive it. I just wanna be alone right now."

"But I can help you if you tell me. We're sisters. We always got each other's backs, okay?" Sabrina's lips curled into a brief, subtle smirk. The more unwilling Amelia was to talk, the more obvious it became.

"This whole thing... ugh," Amelia shook her head, looking totally defeated.

"Seeing you like this really worries me. Please, just tell me what happened," Sabrina practically begged, dying to hear Amelia admit it outright.

Looking at Sabrina, still dripping wet like a soaked cat, Amelia bit back a laugh and stayed in character. "Sabrina, I know you mean well, but really... I can't. If you keep pushing, I'll probably break down."

"Fine... I won't ask anymore. You rest, okay?" Sabrina turned to leave, but the glint in her eyes revealed her real thoughts: if not now, she'd get the truth out of Amelia sooner or later.

Amelia nodded slightly. "Thanks. Go shower before you catch a cold."

As soon as Sabrina left, Amelia walked to her vanity, grabbed some makeup remover, and started wiping off the heavy lipstick and eyeshadow.

Most of her makeup? Gifts from Sabrina. All ridiculously bright reds and purples-flashy and loud.

She opened her closet. Again, all from Sabrina. The clothes inside looked like a color explosion. Way too much.

Sabrina once told her it was Ethan' type. So every time they met, Amelia dressed like some overdone showgirl just to please him. The result? She'd always end up looking kinda tacky.

Her phone buzzed.

A text from Rowan Carter: [Happy Birthday!]

That boy was her bestie. Amelia smiled and called him back. "You almost made me think you forgot about me."

Rowan chuckled. "Never! I was just waiting for the last minute to make my birthday wish stand out."

Amelia laughed, "I'm seeing you tomorrow."

Rowan lit up on the other end, "No way! You're serious? Didn't you say last week you were gonna be a housewife for your fiancé?"

"Pfft-that was just talk. You really think I'd drop my career for a guy? What do I look like-someone who's lost her mind?"

Ending the call, Amelia saw a new friend request.

Request message: [I'm Damien.]

Damien didn't leave the Johnson neighborhood. His gaze remained fixed on the window Amelia had climbed through earlier. The light inside flickered on and off-she was clearly still awake. Using the number she'd given him, he sent her a friend request.

Amelia accepted almost instantly.

Damien typed: [Still awake?]

Amelia replied: [About to sleep. Are you home yet?]

Damien: [Just got back.]

Amelia: [Get some rest, then.]

Damien: [I'll pick you up tomorrow. I've arranged a dress for you.]

Amelia: [Okay. We'll talk then.]

Damien: [Good night.]

Amelia: [Good night.]

Only after her final reply did Damien finally start the car and drive away.

Amelia hadn't been asleep long when she drifted into a vivid, restless dream.

In it, she was with Damien-in bed, in the bath... the scenes were intense, leaving her flushed and breathless.

She woke with a start, cheeks burning, and sat up straight, pressing her palms to her face. What's wrong with me? She'd only met him once, and already her mind was running wild. So much for composure.

But when she fell back asleep, the dream returned-just as heated, just as vivid.

Early the next morning, a knock sounded at her door.

Sabrina's voice called through, "Sis, can I come in?"

"Come in, Sabrina," Amelia answered, still curled under the covers. She had no idea what drama was coming so early.

Sabrina usually barged in without knocking-maybe last night's incident had taught her some caution.

But then Ethan stepped into the room behind her.

In her past life, on this same morning after her birthday, though the two men hadn't succeeded in assaulting her, they had forced her into a degrading photo session. And Sabrina-who else?-had anonymously sent those photos to Ethan.

Before pushing Amelia from the building, Sabrina had even posted those images online. She'd said she wanted Amelia to die despised and ruined, without a shred of dignity.

No wonder Ethan had come to loathe her. In his eyes, she must have seemed utterly cheap. Just as she had once trusted him, he had fallen for Sabrina's innocent act. But not this time. Amelia was done with heartbreak and manipulation.

Maybe she hadn't loved Ethan as deeply as she'd believed-facing him now, she felt nothing but cold clarity.

Sabrina approached the bed. "Sis, who hurt you last night? Tell Ethan-he'll make them pay."

"No one hurt me." Amelia almost smiled bitterly. Is that what this is about?

"Don't lie to me, sis. Those bruises last night..." Sabrina reached for Amelia's pajama top, but her words trailed off as she froze.

The marks-the bites, the reddish bruises-were gone.

"What are you doing, Sabrina? Ethan is right here," Amelia said quickly, pulling her collar back into place.

"Where are the injuries? You had so many last night. Where did they go?" Sabrina looked stunned, as if last night had been an illusion.

Amelia lowered her gaze, her voice trembling just enough: "You left me alone at the hotel, remember? A few girls came in... they smeared makeup all over me, on my face and body... I was too drunk to fight back..."

Her voice broke as if she were on the verge of tears.

Ethan frowned. "Sabrina, you left Amelia alone last night?"