Chapter 1

When Lilith Caldwell returned claiming to be the true Caldwell daughter, my parents wasted no time shipping me off to Lolita Island.

Everyone knows what happens there—once you're on that island, you become a plaything for America's wealthiest predators.

My parents just shrugged off my tears and begging, leaving me to be passed around by every entitled billionaire who stepped foot on that hellhole.

It only took a few days before explicit photos of me on the island landed in my fiancé Klain's phone—the golden boy of DC's elite social circle.

Did he stand up for me? Hell no. He dumped me immediately and announced he was marrying Lilith instead.

Some reporter brought up my name during a press conference, and Klain's face twisted with disgust.

"Her?" he scoffed, his voice dripping with contempt.

"Even in Europe she couldn't keep her legs closed. Just another slut looking for attention."

My parents—total hypocrites—put on their best heartbroken act for the cameras. "We sent her to Europe for the finest education," my mother sobbed while my father nodded solemnly.

"We never imagined she'd turn out so... promiscuous! As far as we're concerned, Lilith Caldwell no longer exists!"

After the island's elites were finished with me, Klain and Lilith's multi-million dollar wedding became the biggest TikTok livestream of the year, breaking all viewing records.

But nothing went more viral than the wedding gift I sent them.

...

When the wedding host picked up my gift, the guests immediately started trashing me.

"Isn't she supposed to be rotting in Europe somewhere? What's this attention-seeking bullshit about?"

"That skank has no shame. Now she's crashing Lilith's wedding with some pathetic drama? Typical."

My spirit floated above the scene, eyes locked on that gift. How could I have sent anything when I was already dead?

Klain kept his face down, expression unreadable. I thought he might defend me like he used to, but he just muttered coldly, "Open it."

The gossip below got nastier. "Aurora was just Klain's side piece who couldn't stop whoring around behind his back. Of course he wants to see what trash she's serving up now."

Lilith tried to intervene, but Klain had already torn open the package.

Inside was my old phone, screen displaying seven unwatched videos.

The crowd erupted in cruel laughter. "Probably her amateur porn from Europe! What a desperate bitch!"

"Ten bucks says she's trying to blackmail Klain with some sex tape to take her trashy ass back!"

"Girl was nothing but Instagram thirst traps before the Caldwells took her in. That type will spread their legs for anyone with a wallet."

More than anger, I felt curious. How did my phone end up here?

Mom lunged forward and grabbed the device. "This trashy bitch! What the hell is Aurora thinking? It's Lilith's goddamn wedding day! She's always been jealous, always trying to ruin everything!"

"Worthless piece of garbage. Can't even let her sister have one special day without making it about herself."

Dad snatched the phone, ready to smash it. "Throw this shit away! I won't let that slut contaminate my real daughter's wedding!"

I laughed bitterly. They didn't know I was dead.

But when they shipped me off to that island, they'd already decided I was dead to them anyway.

Just as the phone was about to hit the floor, Klain's hand shot out and caught it. He glared at my parents, jaw clenched. "I said, we're watching this."

My parents froze. The entire room went silent.

He unlocked the phone and played the first video.

It showed Lilith's first day at the Caldwell mansion. She stood at the doorway looking fragile and terrified, eyes red from crying.

The moment she saw me, she collapsed to her knees, sobbing, "Sister! I know you hate me being here! Please! Stop sending your friends to beat me up!"

Mom immediately slapped me hard across the face. "You hired thugs to attack Lilith?! You're even more of a psycho than I thought!"

The phone went flying as I stumbled back. "Mom, I didn't do anything!"

Mom wouldn't listen. She jabbed her finger in my face: "Listen here, you ungrateful brat. You're just a charity case we took in. Know your fucking place and stop trying to steal what belongs to my real daughter!"

Before the video finished, my parents started screaming over it: "We had that shit investigated! Aurora hired those men to jump Lilith! She threatened her to stay away! We're not making this up!"

The video continued playing.

On screen, my shaking hands picked up the phone, tears falling onto the screen. "I really didn't do it."

The camera panned across my pale face, revealing several ugly purple-red bruises on my arm.

Someone in the crowd pointed. "What the hell happened to Aurora's arm?"

Chapter 2

Mom frantically cut in: "She staged the whole thing! Classic Aurora—fake victim act for attention! She's obsessed with making everything about her!"

The TikTok comments flooded in, a tidal wave of hate aimed at me: "Manipulative bitch! Playing innocent while plotting behind everyone's backs!"

"Looks sweet and harmless but she's toxic AF! Deserved to get kicked out of the family!"

Lilith flashed a smug smile and clung to Klain's arm. "Baby! It's our wedding day. Let's not waste another minute on this drama!"

"Yeah, my sister had people attack me, but she's already been punished for it. I've totally forgiven her!"

I laughed bitterly. Punishment?

Klain ignored her whining and kept his cold stare fixed on the screen. "Really? I want to see exactly how she 'staged' all this."

He tapped the second video.

On screen, I was adjusting myself in front of the camera, preparing to record an audition tape. Though I wasn't formally trained, I'd starred in several web series and gained a modest following.

Suddenly, Lilith barged in, wearing a guilty expression. "Sis, Mom and Dad moved you to the maid's quarters on my first day back. You're not mad, are you?"

Before I could respond, her face twisted into a cruel smile as she burst out laughing. "God, you're such a stupid bitch!"

"Can't you tell Mom and Dad only give a shit about me? Why are you still hanging around like some pathetic stray?"

"I casually mentioned you hired people to rough me up, and they immediately wanted to kick you out! Isn't that fucking hilarious?"

I didn't want to argue with her. "Not funny, Lilith."

"I don't want anything that's yours. Just stop with these games."

My calm response only pissed her off more.

She grabbed a fistful of my hair, her face contorted with rage. "Aurora! Who the fuck do you think you are, saying you don't want my things?!"

"Klain is MINE! If you hadn't stolen my position as the Caldwell heiress, I'd be the one marrying him!"

"Back out of the engagement now, or these bruises will be nothing compared to what's coming!"

The video cut off abruptly.

The crowd fell silent for several seconds before someone shouted, "What the hell? So Lilith was the bully all along, not Aurora?"

"Aurora never sent anyone after Lilith? The whole thing was Lilith's lie?"

"So the one staging everything was actually Lilith!"

Mom and Dad turned to Lilith, their faces drained of color.

Lilith's eyes instantly welled up with tears. "You've got it all wrong! We were just rehearsing for an audition!"

Dad suddenly seemed to catch on, his brow furrowing. "I see what's happening. Aurora planned this trap all along!"

Mom nodded vigorously. "Yes! Our sweet Lilith was just helping her rehearse! Aurora recorded it to smear Lilith's reputation!"

"I bet she's just bitter because she's a slut who couldn't be Klain's wife, so now she's trying to stop Lilith from having him! Absolutely vicious!"

Guests joined in with nasty comments: "She's definitely a slut—I've seen every one of those island photos. She looks like she's enjoying herself in all of them."

"For real. She had a DC power player wanting to wife her up and she throws it away? What a dumbass."

"Now it all makes sense... No wonder the Caldwells cut her off! She deserved everything she got!"

I shivered in my spirit form, instinctively looking toward Klain.

Don't believe them...

But Klain just smirked. "I'm curious what she was thinking too. Let's keep watching."

Chapter 3

Klain tapped the third video.

In this one, I was excitedly telling the camera: "Klain! I got the audition! Aren't I amazing?

"I'm gonna buy you something special, so you know your girl's got her own money too!"

"What should I get though?"

"You already have everything..."

"Got it! I'll get a cute dress to wear when I see you! Heh, I'm so clever."

On screen, I cupped my face in my hands, eyes literally sparkling.

A few comments scrolled by: "Wait, Aurora is actually adorable..."

"Is this really the 'evil heiress' everyone's talking about? Am I missing something?"

Klain's hand trembled slightly, his expression complicated.

Lilith grabbed his arm. "Klain, baby! Aurora is ancient history! I'm the one marrying you! Can we stop this bullshit?"

When he didn't respond, she burst into tears. "Everyone's watching! You're humiliating me on my wedding day..."

Mom chimed in: "She's right. Aurora's living it up in Europe, completely over you by now. Let's move on."

No...

My spirit hovered beside Klain, desperately wanting to tell him I never forgot him.

Surprisingly, Klain just smirked. He shook off Lilith's hand and kept the video playing.

On screen, I was still happily planning my future.

Suddenly, Lilith walked in. "Sis, what's got you so excited?"

She covered her mouth in mock surprise. "Wait, do you actually think Director Victor Rosol approved your audition?"

I froze. "What are you talking about?"

Lilith pulled out her phone and put it on speaker. "Darling Victor, how was Aurora's performance?"

A disgusting, sleazy laugh came through. "Her? Just a plaything."

"You should've seen her—I told her to unbutton her shirt and she acted all shy at first, but did it anyway."

"Zero self-respect but thinks she can be a star. Fucking delusional."

My blood ran cold, face burning with humiliation.

I pointed at Lilith, voice shaking: "Why are you doing this to me?"

Lilith crossed her arms, looking down at me. "Just teaching you a lesson. My things? Don't fucking touch them."

Hearing the argument, my parents burst in.

Mom immediately shielded Lilith. "Aurora, are you bullying Lilith again?!"

Dad's eyes bulged with anger. "You have absolutely no class!"

I bit my lip, not bothering to explain anymore.

What was the point?

Lilith suddenly broke into tears. "Mom, sis just said there's only room for one of us in this family. Is that true?"

"You—!" Mom trembled with rage, slapping me across the face repeatedly. "I'm sending you away! Right now!"

Lilith sniffled. "Maybe Lolita Island would teach her some manners."

Lolita Island...

I'd heard of that place—where wealthy men traded and used privileged women like commodities.

"No!" I fell to my knees, clutching Mom's pant leg. "Mom, please! Not there! Anywhere but there!"

Mom kicked me away, disgust on her face. "Too bad. You're gone tomorrow morning."

I desperately screamed, "I'm Klain's fiancée! You can't send me to Lolita Island!"

Another sharp slap answered me.

Dad sneered, "Once you're on that island being passed around by rich men, think the Alexander family will still want you?"

"By then, Lilith will be the only suitable match for their son!"

Though I was dead now, my cheek still stung from the memory.

My parents of twenty-something years had never loved me. Not for a single second.

As the video ended, someone in the crowd asked, "I thought Aurora went to Europe? She was sent to Lolita Island?!"

"Nobody comes back from there intact!"

Lilith panicked, lunging for the phone. "These videos are fake! She edited them! She went to that island willingly because she's a slut!"

Before she could reach the phone, Klain's security guards pinned her to the ground.

My parents tried to intervene but froze under the cold glare of Klain's family.

Klain's eyes reddened, his voice breaking: "What did Aurora experience on that island? We're going to watch every. Single. Minute."