Chapter 3The Countdown to Zero

I watched them drift further away, my previous nervous joy instantly cooling to the extreme, as if falling into an ice cave.

Slowly opening my palm, it was already bleeding from my pinching, leaving deep nail marks.

Is this my image in her eyes? Like a villain, a murderer.

Clearly used to it, my heart still throbbed with pain, and my stomach stung too. I walked to the kitchen to find something to eat.

The tidy and clean kitchen had nothing. The refrigerator and cabinets were locked with passwords. Everyone was out, and the servants did this to guard against only me.

I looked at half a piece of dry bread left on the island, hesitated, and picked it up.

I found two shriveled walnuts in the living room. I kept chewing, but it was tasteless, and these things didn't make me feel full.

My stomach still hurt badly. I drank two cups of water fiercely to satisfy my hunger, but felt stomach acid surging up.

A servant passed by rolling her eyes. Seeing the bread in my hand, she exclaimed exaggeratedly.

"Oh my! Young Master, you aren't eating that, are you? That's leftover from this morning; even Lucky wouldn't eat it."

Lucky is the family dog.

"It's a pity the Misses and Young Master Henry are busy with serious matters, and we cooked a bit early."

"Young Master, if you want to eat something, I can make it now, although it's a bit troublesome."

The servant's troubled look made me frown.

I refused her with a wooden face, endured the slight stinging in my stomach, and returned to my room.

This home couldn't tolerate me, so much so that even the servants treated me sarcastically.

The burning pain in my stomach made me almost unable to control my emotions.

With trembling hands, I opened the painkiller packet, stuffed pills into my mouth, picked up the cold water beside me, and gulped it down. The physical discomfort seemed to ease a bit.

Changing clothes, I washed my face, trying to look spirited.

I went to the funeral supply store first. With only one day left, a custom urn was impossible, but fortunately, there were many other styles to choose from.

I chose a pattern I liked as my future "home."

Holding the urn happily all the way, I felt many puzzled or surprised gazes.

I ignored them and went straight to the next destination.

Stopping and going, I passed by Third Sister Chloe's school. It was break time, and laughter came from the school from time to time.

I looked at them enviously, vibrant teenagers.

But I haven't been to school since I was ten.

Just as I was thinking of leaving, I looked up and saw Third Sister getting out of a car preparing to enter the school.

Thinking it was only the last day, I summoned up courage and jogged towards Chloe.

But as I got closer, I saw her frowning and speaking seriously to someone on the phone.

Don't know if it was because she saw me, a trace of wariness flashed in her eyes.

She said into the phone, "I know."

Then she hung up and walked towards me.

I wanted to ask her to come home for dinner tonight but was intimidated by her gaze.

"Ethan, if you want to stay in this house, hide your little schemes well."

"If I find out you did anything to Henry, I will definitely make you wish you were dead."