For over a decade, these people had maintained a firm grip on Mandy, biding their time until she reached adulthood so they could mold her into their puppet. There were not chances they would simply release her with ease.
Cherise, peering through the iron door, bore witness to the agonizing sight of Mandy. She was clutching her head, relentlessly slamming it against the wall, and a profound sense of unease welled up within Cherise.
Cherise couldnât help but reminisce about the past, back when she first encountered Mandy at Sequoia. She remembered how persistently Mandy had referred to her as âSister. Cherise herself was only a nineteen-year-old girl, engrossed in thoughts of studying and exams.
Mandy had confided that she had never known family or friends, living an isolated and lonesome life for all those years. This revelation left Cherise struggling to keep her emotions in check.
She bit her lip, her thoughts unexpectedly drifting towards Damien.
He, too, had been living a solitary life for many years. Damien was fortunate, though. He retained control over his life and had the support of friends like Jacob and Lennon. In contrast, Mandy had Cherise as her only ally, a Sister,â recognized less than twenty-four hours ago.
Before long, the room fell into a hushed silence. Jacob commented, âSeems like they have stopped sending signal commands for now.â
âDo you think we should go in and check on her?â Cherise sought Jacobâs opinion.
With a heavy heart, Jacob retrieved a key and unlocked the thick iron door.
The basement was an oppressive, damp, and dim space despite Jacobâs efforts to illuminate it with intense, daylight-like lighting. Cherise could still feel the suffocating atmosphere.
Carefully, she proceeded to Mandy, and with a crouched posture, she observed her.
Mandy was in a pitiable state-her hair in disarray, and her entire b*dy was on the ground, limp and still trembling from the ordeal. She was hardly recognizable, concealed under blood and grime.
Cheriseâs heart ached deeply. Reaching out, she took Mandyâs hand, which was covered in chipped nails and stains of blood. The warmth of Cheriseâs touch caused Mandy to raise
her head from the ground.
1/2
Beneath the tangled locks of hair, Mandy gazed at Cherise through eyes filled with tears. Finally, her tears began to flow.
âSisterâŠ,â Mandyâs fragmented voice was like a knife to Cheriseâs heart.
âI donât want to live⊠Itâs too painfulâŠâ Mandy cried out, her voice hoarse and fractured. âEver since I was seven, every time I defied them, it was like thisâŠâ
Jacob remained at the door, his brows furrowed as he observed the scene. âYou could have returned to them, and we would have rescued you once we were more certain.â
âI donât want to go back,â the young girl declared between her tears. âI donât want to return, not even for one more day. S only wants me to be her puppet, and my father obeys. everything S says. My brother⊠He wants S to train me so I can earn money for him. No one cares about my life. No one cares if Iâm happy or not. They believe itâs my destiny because I resemble Maeve, that Iâm destined to be her replacementâŠâ
âI donât want to go back!â With her head raised, she gazed at Cherise with those reddened. eyes. âIâm so happy youâre willing to treat me like family. Even if we are not sisters, it makes me very happy.â
âI have a sister now.â Tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably. âPromise me. If you canât find a way to save me, end my life.â
Cherise held Mandy tightly, profoundly shaken by the heart-wrenching scene that had unfolded before her. She clenched her teeth, realizing that such a tragic life was not merely a trope from TV dramas or novels! It was a harrowing reality. Cherise couldnât help but recall her first encounter with Mandy. The time when she had been haughty, exquisitely beautiful, and dazzlingly gorgeous.
