A Countdown on Camera

I stepped into the bedroom.

The closet was full of dresses Ethan had bought for me.

However, they were all the same: white dresses, just like the ones Winter used to wear.

I yanked one off the hanger — it was a birthday present Ethan had thrown at me last year.

He had said, "Wear this. Winter's got anemia, so go donate blood to her."

I spent three hours in that dress at the hospital, donating 400cc of blood, and all he said was, "You're kind of useful, I guess."

I grabbed the scissors and cut into the dress with all my might.

"Rip—"

One after another, they all got the same treatment.

I was like a robot that never tired, wildly tearing apart everything in sight.

All the "presents" I had once thought were treasures were now just torn fabric on the floor.

The livestream started up again.

Viewers zoomed up to a hundred thousand.

[Did something upset the host? Why cut up such nice clothes?]

[This is so satisfying to watch! Gifts from a jerk like that should be torched!]

[Hey, that's all money! Why not send it to me instead?]

I kept snipping away and flashed a smile at the camera.

"Money? To me, these things might as well be burial wraps."

Right when I was really getting into the cutting, the door was kicked open with a bang.

Ethan stormed in, emanating a cold aura.

He saw the mess everywhere, and his expression turned super dark.

"Nina! What are you going crazy over now?"

I stopped and looked at him, scissors in hand.

"I'm just cleaning up garbage, Mr. Larsen. Can't you tell?"

The scissors reflected some of the light, causing him to blink.

He stepped back without thinking, then grew even angrier.

"Put those scissors down!

"You think that wrecking this stuff will make me notice you? Nina, you're playing games, and you're not good at them!"

I tossed the scissors away.

They hit the floor with a loud "clang" right by his foot.

Ethan was used to weapons, so he did not flinch, but my act of throwing the scissors was akin to throwing down a challenge, and it made him look even angrier.

"When will you stop this nonsense? Winter's sick and needs peace and quiet. How can she stay with the house looking like this?"

Oh, so he was in a rush to clear the space for the new person.

I dusted off my hands and pointed to the mess. "Don't worry, I'll clean it up. I think it's gross here too."

Ethan squinted at me, trying to figure me out. "What do you really want? If it's money, just tell me. If you apologize to Winter and treat her well, I'll give you a credit card with no limit."

It was the same old game.

Harsh words, then a sweet promise.

I used to give in and receive these little "treats," but not anymore.

"Ethan, do you think I'm broke?"

Ethan snorted.

"Not broke? What about your dad who loves to gamble, and your mom in the hospital? They both need money. Without the Larsen family, you wouldn't even have enough to eat!"

When he talked about my mom, it hurt a lot.

Yeah, she was still in the hospital.

That was why I had been too scared to leave him.

However, the system was now about to get rid of me.

If I was gone, who would look after my mom?

Right on time, the system reminded me.

[Complete your daily live broadcast task, and you can make a wish come true after you're gone.]

With that, the last of my worries was gone.

A wish? I would wish for my mom to get better.

I gave Ethan a smile.

"Really?"

"Let's see who really needs who, you or me, the mafia Don."

Ethan was so mad he balled up his fists, but he did not swing them.

He just waved his hand, and his guys cut off my card.

"We'll see how tough you are now!"