Chapter 1

In front of the memory trial machine.

Countless sharp needles were densely packed before my eyes.

Soon, they would pierce my brain, pass through my nerves, and extract all my memories.

"Chloe Fisher, you never lost your memory, did you?

You must remember what the kidnappers looked like, right?"

Julian gripped my shoulders tightly, his eyes bloodshot.

"You knew to scream for help when that stranger pinned you down!

But why can't you imagine how much Clara hurt when the kidnappers killed her?

Why won't you help us find her murderer…?"

He screamed hoarsely: "I promise you, I'll marry you, and our engagement still stands. Just tell me what the kidnappers looked like!

I just want to give Clara a proper burial..."

My birth parents stood nearby, staring at me with resentment.

They said that ever since I returned to the Summers family, I had brought nothing but bad luck.

They also said I was jealous that Clara had stolen my identity for eighteen years, so I faked amnesia to hog all the affection.

But I really couldn't remember.

In my last life, I'd run away from here out of fear.

But in the end, I was subjected to revenge, dragging my adoptive parents down with me—our family destroyed, everyone dead.

This time, I didn't dare to resist.

I looked at Julian, trembling, and spoke with difficulty: "Will you... really find the killer if I do this?

Will it hurt?"

Julian sneered: "Still acting? Heh, it seems you never learn till the axe is over your neck!

In that case, let's begin the memory extraction!"

He roughly shoved me onto the operating table and said: "Do you really think I'm that stupid?

The reason you don't dare to speak is because you were jealous of Clara, and you personally threw her into that den of wolves!

You're afraid we'll find out the truth!

I wish the one who made it back alive wasn't you!

After the memory trial, you will be the main culprit behind Clara's death!

I will definitely bring you to justice!"

The doctor spoke up: "Mr. Ford, after the memory trial, the patient may never wake up. If you're certain, please sign the agreement first."

Julian signed without hesitation: "I only want the memories, not the person."

Chapter 2

Soon, the longest needle pierced through my temple.

My entire body shook uncontrollably.

A strong electric current surged into my mind. I widened my eyes in terror, trying to fight back.

But my body was already bound tightly by straps, completely unable to move.

Tears slid from my eyes as my consciousness blurred.

I clenched my fists tightly, digging my nails into my flesh, forcing myself to stay awake.

"It hurts... It hurts so much..."

But I also wanted to see just how Clara, the apple of everyone's eyes, had died.

Soon, the memory appeared on the screen in front of Julian and my birth parents.

It showed the day I'd barely escaped the kidnappers.

After running back to the Summers family on sheer will, I completely lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed,

and surrounded by strangers.

I was scared and helpless.

Finally, Julian slowly emerged in my blank mind.

I grabbed onto him like a lifeline, but he kicked me away viciously:

"Why you? Why did you have to come back alive?

Why didn't Clara make it?"

"What did the kidnappers look like?

What exactly happened in that warehouse?

Tell me, just tell me!"

The barrage of questions sent a sharp pain through my forehead.

I shook my head in agony, but I couldn't remember anything.

Then Julian grabbed my hair, slamming me against the wall in a fit of rage.

He spoke through gritted teeth: "Head hurts, does it?

I'll help you fix that!

You'd better start remembering now!

Remember, damn it!"

Crimson blood trickled down my forehead, mixing with my tears.

If the doctor hadn't arrived in time, I'm afraid he would have beaten me to death.

The memory began to break off as I gasped for breath.

Julian spoke, dissatisfied: "What the hell is this?

This isn't what I want!

You said you could extract all her memories.

I want all of her memories!"

The doctor quickly explained: "Julian, the patient has indeed lost her memory. Extracting even surface memories is hurting her badly. If we were to extract deeper memories, I'm afraid... the odds aren't good..."

Julian didn't even hear those last few words.

He said impatiently: "I paid you a hundred million!

I didn't hire you to play games!

Keep going!"

The doctor gave me a sympathetic look, then proceeded to operate the machine again.

Then, a deeper, thicker steel needle pierced the back of my neck.

I couldn't help but wail in agony, tears streaming down my face.

"No… please… it hurts too much…"

With the deep extraction, the screen lit up again.

This time, the memory was from when I had just returned to the Summers family.

Because I, the real heiress, had returned to the family, the engagement between Clara and Julian was rendered void.

Clara stood on the windowsill, threatening to kill herself.

I reached to pull her back.

But before my hand could even touch her, she fell straight from the second floor.

Everyone thought I had pushed Clara.

My parents punished me harshly out of rage.

A brine-soaked rattan cane landed eighteen times on my back before Clara woke, her beautiful face streaked with tears as she pleaded for me: "Dad, Mom, Chloe definitely didn't do it on purpose. Please stop hitting her!"

Julianclutched my throat tight, his voice a menacing snarl, "I agreed to marry you, but don't push your luck. If you ever dare to hurt Clara again, I'll make you pay for it in blood!"

My birth mother spoke resentfully: "So what if she didn't push Clara?

Clara pleaded for her later anyway!

I should have sent her back to the countryside that day, then my Clara wouldn't have died without remains..."

"That's right... Clara was so kind, how could you leave her in that warehouse to save yourself?!"

My father's eyes reddened too.

Suddenly, the screen began to flicker violently.

My whole body started to convulse, and I was foaming at the mouth.

Chapter 3

The doctor shouted: "Quick, the patient seems to be going into shock!

Get the defibrillator!"

My body jolted with the intense resuscitation.

The doctor explained: "The patient has already suffered brain trauma. This can't go on—it'll do massive damage. She might end up a vegetative state…"

Julian roared: "Isn't there a specific antidote for this?

Give it to her!

Money is no object, I just want the truth!"

Soon, I was forced to drink some unknown liquid.

My stomach churned violently,

but my heartbeat steadied.

I opened my eyes, staring at the stark white ceiling above, numb.

The trial restarted.

This time, more needles pierced my body,

filled with some unidentifiable drug.

The liquid surged through my veins, eventually mixing completely with my blood.

An intense pain gradually spread to every part of my body.

I wailed in despair.

But all that awaited me was Julian's cold voice:

"When you abandoned Clara to save yourself, did you ever think this day would come?

Everything you're suffering today, you owe to Clara!

It's what you deserve!"

The third memory flashed on the screen.

It was from my most desperate days, working as a hostess in a Karaoke Bar.

I didn't understand why those sleazy old men stared at me with creepy grins.

That day, a man offered me a thousand to sing for him alone.

Ignoring my fear, the manager shoved me into the private room: "Little girl, tthe boss was paying you—that's a favor. Don't be stupid and blow it!

Make him happy, or I'll make you regret it—got it?"

I huddled in the corner, picked up the mic, and sang through my tears.

The man watched me with a grin, moving a step closer each time I finished a line.

Until I sang the line "I love you," he suddenly pinned me down, responding excitedly: "Baby, I love you too, I love you too!

Let's be together right now, I'll take care of you from now on..."

I struggled desperately.

In a daze, I saw a familiar figure: Julian.

I even thought I was dreaming.

I saw Julian striding towards me.

But he just watched me calmly.

I screamed desperately: "Help me! Please! I'm scared—take me away, I want to go home…"

"Take me away, Julian, I'll do anything you ask..."

Hearing this, Julian finally made a move.

He paid the man off.

The man, though his fun was ruined, didn't dare argue with Julian and slinked away.

Julian stared at me, a vicious glint in his eyes, as if he wanted to rip me apart piece by piece.

"You'll do anything?

Then what about the memory trial?"

...

In front of the screen, Julian lost his patience and kicked over the coffee table in front of him.

He gave an ultimatum: "I want to see the memories of the day Clara was kidnapped. Stop fooling me with this crap, or I can have your hospital shut down right now."

Cold sweat trickled down the doctor's forehead.

As he added a double dose of the drug to the syringe, he explained, "Julian, the patient has suffered psychological trauma. That traumatic memory is buried in the deepest part of her mind. I'll be as quick as I can..."

Julian strode forward, jamming all the medicine from the syringe into me. "If double isn't enough, make it triple. My patience has limits."

The doctor trembled as he started the machine.

This time, it felt like my veins were about to burst.

Before long, my nose began to bleed.

Blood mixed with my tears, flowing past the corners of my mouth. It was incredibly salty.

My head throbbed like it was splitting as I gasped for air.

A mouthful of crimson blood spilled from my lips—and the screen lit up.

This time, Julian and my birth parents stared wide-eyed, their gazes fixed on the screen, terrified of missing a single detail.

In the memory, Clara took my hand and said, "Chloe, you've just come back. Let me introduce you to some friends."

Before I could refuse, Clara had already chosen a dress for me.

Once I had changed, she eagerly pulled me by the hand and led me out.

We arrived at the underground garage.

The next second, two sacks were thrown over our heads.

Then two heavy thuds from clubs.

A muffled grunt came from Clara, and then I lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a dusty warehouse.

Blinding sunlight seeped through holes in the sack—I caught a glimpse of the kidnapper's face.

Everyone's eyes went wide.

Julian blurted out first, "It's a man! He looks like Clara's cousin!"

My birth mother responded, "That's right. After Clara's identity was revealed, his family showed up… I thought he seemed fishy, kicked him out right away. I never thought he'd come back at Clara!

My poor Clara, kidnapped by her own cousin..."

The scene changed again.

Now, Clara appeared, completely unharmed.

A stark contrast to my own disheveled state, bound hand and foot.

On the sofa, a flicker of astonishment crossed Julian's eyes.