Everyone around instantly became alert.

Connecting me with today's homeless attack, it wouldn't be hard to figure out the truth.

My heart leaped into my throat.

But Liam just sneered, pulled out his call history, and showed it to them.

"Her? Missing? Where could a jinx like her run off to? She called me this morning, playing pitiful!"

"She just loves to lie, loves to stage these dramas! Killing Mom wasn't enough, now she's pulling this stunt again!"

I anxiously circled around them.

I wished I could become solid, grab them, and explain everything.

I wasn't lying, and I wasn't playing pitiful! Everything I said was true!

Why wouldn't they believe me!

But I couldn't speak. Instead, the more Liam talked, the more convinced he became that he was right.

He practically wanted to drag me out and condemn me in public.

By the time he finished, I had completely lost hope, just staring blankly at Liam.

He was on the phone, talking to Dad about me.

"Chloe's just pulling her old tricks. Probably shacked up with some loser boyfriend again!"

"She doesn't feel any remorse at all! Even if she dies, she deserves it! Let's see how long she can keep this up!"

Dad's last words hit me right in the heart.

It hurt so much I clutched my chest, a familiar coldness spreading across my cheeks.

Of course.

Even if I died, they wouldn't care.

The matter was dropped. I followed Liam all the way home.

The next day, before nine, my school teacher called.

My homeroom teacher, Ms. Evans, was very responsible.

She was always worried I'd give up on school because of my family.

So she paid extra attention to me.

"Hello? Is this Chloe's brother? I got a report from her teachers that Chloe hasn't been to class in a long time. Did something happen to her?"

Her concerned voice came through the phone.

My eyes welled up, and big tears rolled down my face.

If there was anyone in the world who still cared about me, it was probably Ms. Evans.

I really wanted to thank her in person, thank her for remembering me.

But sadly, that wouldn't be possible now.

"Heh, homeroom teacher? You're Chloe's scumbag boyfriend, aren't you? What? Is she next to you, telling you what to say? Trying to make us worry about her? Why does she love playing these games so much?"

"No, you misunderstand..."

"Stop right there! You tell her to get her butt to the riverbank and kneel and repent, now. If she pulls any more crap, I'm cutting ties with her!"

"And you! Helping that jinx trick people, aren't you afraid she'll kill you too? She didn't even spare her own mother!"

Ms. Evans didn't even have a chance to say anything.

Liam hung up the phone fast.

His face still showed traces of his lingering anger.

Dad came out of his room, frowning. "Was that about Chloe?"

"Don't worry about her. If she doesn't want to come home, then don't come home. Keeping people up all night. I just finished writing up the disownment post. I put it online."

"Even if she wants to come back now, it's too late."

I stared blankly at Dad, frozen.

My heart sank completely, a dense ache spreading through it.

I squatted down, hugging myself tightly, feeling like crying.

Liam's number was the one Ms. Evans had made me put down as an emergency contact.

She'd told me Dad and Liam were just angry for a while, that they'd understand eventually.

She even gave examples, saying guys are often cold on the outside but warm on the inside, that deep down, Liam definitely cared about me.

She even said she sometimes saw Liam pacing around the school gate.

Her words moved me, and I impulsively put down Liam's number.

Hoping I'd never need to use it, but also hoping I'd stay safe and not cause Dad and Liam any more trouble.

Later, I found out Ms. Evans only said those things to comfort me.

Liam didn't care about me, and he wouldn't come looking for me.

And even though my emergency contact number was used today, it didn't seem to do any good.

It just made everyone unhappy.

And made Dad decide to disown me.

Dad, do you hate me that much?

Hate me enough to cut even our last tie?

Thinking this, the tears flowed harder, impossible to wipe away.

A dull ache in my chest grew stronger and stronger, pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Honey, Chloe, Liam, open up! My special assignment is over, I'm back!"