Chapter 4

"Why do you always do this?"

Facing the silver knife that Isabella brandished with a glint, Chloe's reaction was delayed.

The situation of being threatened by her own mother felt surreal.

However, the pain in her head from the recent blow confirmed the reality of the situation.

Chloe's mind went blank with shock.

"Mother... what are you..."

"Why, why, why! Why do you, a fool like you, get to live, while my husband, that child, had to die!?"

The words that Chloe finally managed to utter were drowned out by Isabella's tirade.

Hysterically screaming, Isabella left Chloe unable to respond.

Overwhelmed by the unprecedented hatred directed at her, Chloe was paralyzed with fear.

The reason for Isabella's violent behavior was simple.

After the death of her husband and younger son, the mental and emotional strain on Isabella accumulated day by day.

She had been venting these feelings on Chloe, who had accepted all the abuse and only apologized in response.

As a result, Isabella's treatment of Chloe escalated over time...

Until finally, Isabella's actions reached the point of wielding a weapon.

It was uncertain whether Isabella truly intended to kill her daughter.

But for Chloe, who was in no state to think clearly, it felt as if her own mother was trying to kill her.

Bloodshot eyes glared at Chloe.

"You are a cursed child! You bring nothing but disaster! You shouldn't even exist!"

Isabella raised the knife.

In that instant, Chloe's frozen body was driven by a single instinct.

– I don't want to die!!

Chloe's body sprang into action.

Her survival instinct, heightened by the threat of death, triggered an extraordinary reflex.

In that moment, the knife that had been aimed at Chloe stabbed the floor where she had been standing.

A hollow sound, more muted than expected, echoed, but to Chloe, it sounded like the swing of the Grim Reaper's scythe.

Thrown off balance by the sudden leap, Chloe fell to the ground.

Lifting her head, she saw her mother, knife in hand, on all fours.

Panting like a wild animal could be heard.

A moment of silence.

Isabella's head slowly turned toward Chloe, her eyes filled with hatred locking onto her.

– I have to run...!!

The voice echoed in her mind.

Her heart pounded fiercely.

Sweat poured from her body.

Struggling to move her entangled feet, Chloe fled the scene.

"Wait!!"

The trembling, angry shout from her mother behind her went unheeded.

"Damn... you..."

While Isabella struggled to pull the knife out, which had embedded itself deeper than expected, Chloe ran away.