Chapter 2

After canceling the card, I got a refund of $500 in cash.

From this moment on, Chloe wouldn't get a single penny of my money.

My phone started blowing up with call after call from her. Irritated, I finally picked up.

"Dad, look! The little snake is crawling right onto my hand!"

Hearing the word "snake" made my breath hitch.

There was a sudden gasp on the other end. Chloe clearly hadn't expected me to answer.

But in a split second, her cheerful tone turned incredibly defensive.

"Mom, why didn't you say anything when I called? And why did you hang up on me? That is so disrespectful."

I ignored her attitude. "What did you just say about a snake?"

"What? No... there's no snake," Chloe stammered, caught off guard, not knowing how to lie her way out of it.

"Just come home, Mom. I have a surprise for you."

The "surprise" was that damn snake.

Even though I had practically caught her red-handed, she still refused to tell the truth.

Leo had taught Chloe well. He taught her how to demand "respect" and use it as a weapon against me.

Yet, neither of them had ever shown me an ounce of respect!

Leo knew exactly how terrified I was of snakes, but he went behind my back and bought one anyway.

He had even lied to me, saying he didn't have to work overtime today so I could "take a break" while he picked Chloe up.

Chloe knew about my phobia too. Yet she wanted to lure me home, scare the life out of me, and laugh at my reaction.

"Mom, aren't you surprised? I've always wanted one, and Daddy made my dream come true!"

They knew I was terrified, yet they let the snake roam free in the house.

They let it slither around, even letting it crawl over my broken leg when I couldn't move, laughing hysterically as the color drained from my face!

Eventually, they "generously" told me that Chloe was willing to compromise for my sake and keep the snake in a glass tank.

Though I was still paralyzed with fear, I endured it for Chloe.

But even lying in bed, unable to move, I felt like a cold-blooded monster was watching me every second of the day.

During that recovery period, every minute in that house was pure torture. I would wake up from nightmares screaming, clawing at my skin to make sure the snake wasn’t crawling on me.

Once my leg finally healed, I was finally able to take a proper shower.

But Leo secretly let the snake into the bathroom.

I was washing the shampoo out of my hair, eyes closed. The moment I opened them, I gasped. The snake's head was inches from my face, staring at me. I jumped back in panic, slamming my head hard against the sink.

Dizzy and in excruciating pain, I screamed for Leo to help me.

He was standing right outside the glass door. I could see his silhouette.

"Aurora, your leg is healed now. You need to start cleaning the guest bathroom again. You have to learn to get over this phobia."

"If you keep acting like this, Chloe is going to feel guilty. You need to start thinking about your daughter."

"After all, you're the only one in this house who hates snakes. You're the odd one out."

I was desperate. So desperate that I climbed onto the toilet to get away.

But the snake didn't stop. It kept slithering closer.

As I scrambled onto the window sill, the cold, slimy scales wrapped around my ankle.

The wet, slippery sensation triggered a primal wave of terror. I forgot I was on the sixth floor. I kicked back and fell.

As my eyes closed for the last time, I couldn't understand why they had treated me this way.

I always knew Chloe loved exotic pets.

But Chloe also always knew that they were my worst nightmare.

It wasn't until my rebirth, hearing Chloe’s laugh over the phone, that I finally got it.

She carried Leo's blood.

All the love, care, and guidance I had given her since she was a baby couldn't change her cold-blooded nature.

Just like Leo, she loved reptiles.

And just like Leo, she looked down on me.