Chapter 1 The Screams

• Inside the chaotic room, equipment, set pieces, and cameras were scattered everywhere.
• Thud!
• Whitney Saltzman was roughly tossed onto the bed by the man who had a firm grip on her hair.
• Her face was marred with wounds of varying sizes. One of her arms was immobile, her body was smeared with blood, and she was barely clinging to life.
• “Even now, you're still not behaving,” the man sneered coldly, gesturing at the surrounding machinery. “All of these are prepared for you.” He continued, a chilling edge to his voice, “I spent thirty million to buy you from your mother, your sister, and your fiancé. I haven't made a single penny off you yet, and you're already thinking of running away?”
• Whitney's body couldn't help but shudder.
• “It seems you really can't grasp reality. Trey, show her that trade video. After you've watched it, we'll be live-streaming shortly. Put some effort into it.”
• A smartphone, streaming a video, was held up in front of Whitney.
• The video revealed a familiar setting. It was her home, or perhaps it wasn't really her home. Those people had never accepted her.
• In the video, the one speaking was her mother, Pamela Tomkins.
• “Fifty million, not a penny less.”
• Upon hearing these words, no matter how hard Whitney tried to hold back, she couldn't help but let the tears escape from her eyes.
• “Mrs. Saltzman, Ms. Saltzman is merely a D-list actress. She's not worth this price at all. Offering thirty million is already my limit.”
• “Thirty million? Even though she's not famous, she's still a celebrity. I know how your dark web operations work. I heard you purchase trending female artists and livestream their intimate shows. Depending on the amount of tips, you can even use props. You can make a fortune in just one night. Don't even think about fooling me!”
• “Mom, you can't sell off Whitney.”
• At that moment, a man and a woman suddenly rushed down from the second floor.
• It was Corbin Yandell and Lilah Saltzman.
• “Lilah, I told you not to concern yourself with these matters,” Corbin said, abruptly pulling Lilah back.
• “Corbin, please don't hold me back. Mom, you can't just sell Whitney off. She's my real sister, and Corbin, she's your fiancée... How could you both treat her this way?” Lilah hid the fierce look in her eyes while her pitiful tears swirled around.
• “Corbin, take Lilah upstairs!” Pamela commanded sharply.
• “Mom, if Dad's business really can't hold on any longer and you need a daughter to trade for this sum of money, I'm willing to go. I'm willing to exchange places with Whitney. I'm willing to sacrifice...” Lilah's voice was filled with pain yet tinged with tenderness and understanding.
• “Shut up!” Pamela exclaimed in anger. “Why are you just like Whitney? All the men in this world follow their noses. Whitney, being a piece of rotten meat, naturally attracts the attention of buyers. However, you're different. Corbin, take Lilah upstairs.”
• Pamela's face cooled when she saw Corbin standing still. “What's the matter? Are you also going to plead on behalf of Whitney?”
• Corbin said somberly, “I was just thinking that thirty million probably won't be enough.”
• When Whitney saw that, her heart ached so intensely it felt almost twisted. Corbin, why did you have to do this to me? Why did you have to hurt me?
• At that moment, Lilah choked back her tears and asked, “What's this about thirty million? Is that the price for selling Whitney? Is Whitney only worth thirty million? But she's so beautiful, even though I don't want Whitney to be sold, I believe her beauty alone could fetch at least a hundred million...”
• Ha! Lilah, it was you. It was you, Lilah! Whitney, with a tear-streaked face, watched the scene unfolding in the video. Yes, it was that day. It was that day!
• That day, Corbin called her, telling her to go home as the whole family was planning to celebrate her birthday.
• That day was her birthday.
• That was the first time her entire family had come together to celebrate her birthday. Whitney was overjoyed. She believed that she was finally being accepted by her family and that she could finally become a part of them.
• After she drank a glass of water and awoke, she found herself trapped in a cage. No matter how much she resisted or screamed, there was no one to rescue her.
• “Hahaha!” Suddenly, Whitney flung her phone aside and burst into uproarious laughter, tilting her head back.
• Someone nearby gave a signal, and suddenly, Whitney found her jaw seized, and a suspicious glass of water was forced down her throat.
• Struggling fiercely, Whitney flailed her arms and legs wildly, but she was firmly pinned down by countless hands.
• A moment later, she was lying in bed, her face drenched, her eyes devoid of any spark of life.
• The crowd around dispersed once again.
• Whitney saw that the livestream had already started and the camera that had a red light on.
• Also, on the screen directly in front of her, there she was, sprawled out on the bed, in a state of utter disarray.
• Suddenly, she felt that all of this was absurd.
• She worked tirelessly and endured indignity. In the eyes of her family, however, it was all nothing more than a joke.
• Lilah's status compared to hers was inherently worlds apart.
• Is it because I'm a stepchild brought into the Saltzman family after Mom remarried? Whitney was filled with hatred. I gave my all. Why did they treat me like this? Were we not family? Why? Why? Why?
• Her physical response intensified. Whitney's eyes flickered, a sheen of unshed tears pooling in her eyes as she focused on the lackey, who was busily preparing props nearby.
• Summoning strength from an unknown source, she suddenly sprang up, grabbing the lackey by his clothes. Swiftly, she reached for the handgun concealed at the small of his back.
• “Hey! What are you doing?”
• Bang!
• Whitney had no intention of losing her innocence, only to be tormented to death.
• Her mind was filled with a relentless buzzing noise, accompanied by a pain in her temples that felt like a burning fire.
• Whitney held a handgun, collapsing back onto the bed. Her face was damp and sticky with blood. With a slight smile, she closed her eyes. Whitney, in your next life, open your eyes and live properly...