My Mom Killed Me Twice

Chapter 4

"Hey, wake up. Wake up." Jordan shook me out of the nightmare I was trapped in.

I bolted upright, gasping for air.

No matter how bad things got, he had always been right there by my side.

It finally clicked—maybe he really was the only one for me.

Finally seeing my own feelings clearly, I leaned in and pressed my lips against his.

Jordan was caught off guard, but a smile broke across his face and he quickly deepened the kiss.

"Does this mean you're finally saying yes to me?"

I gave him a firm, solid nod.

He slipped my nightgown open, and I straddled his waist, feeling his toned abs.

The heavy, sultry tension between us was about to explode at any second.

Right then, a knock echoed at the door.

Jordan frowned. "I'll go hide in the other room for a second." With that, he slipped away.

I nodded, walked over to the entryway, and opened the door.

Standing outside was my dad, Isaac.

I really didn't expect him to show up looking for me, which threw me off a bit.

Plus, he looked completely different compared to how he used to.

Without saying a word, he marched over to the sofa, sat down, and pulled out a document envelope.

"I know that pocket change from yesterday wasn't enough.

"Here's a little extra I put together for you. Take it and disappear."

I stepped forward and flipped through the contents. A bank card, a new ID, and a few other random things.

I let out a soft laugh and looked at him quietly. "Is this your way of playing the guilty dad?"

"I'm worried about my own reputation! Do you have any idea what people are saying online right now?!" his voice suddenly boomed.

Of course I knew. It was all about how much I looked like their daughter who supposedly died after falling into the sea abroad.

Everyone online was speculating that I hadn't actually died back then.

And that I was coming back now to get revenge on my parents.

The rumors were blowing up all over the internet, and it was already messing with their day-to-day work.

For a father who cared about his image above everything else, he obviously couldn't handle people whispering and pointing fingers at him.

I just sat across from Isaac, looking at him coldly with a slight smirk.

"Dad, if you didn't do anything wrong, what are you so afraid of? Or did you actually have a hand in it too? Are you coming to me now, begging me to let you off the hook?"

Like a poked pufferfish, he bristled instantly, getting completely defensive.

He stammered out, "I'm doing this because I don't want it ruining things for your mother and sister! We were all living normal, peaceful lives, so why did you have to come back?!"

Watching him look so desperate to clear his own name was honestly just pathetic.

A man who valued his ego over everything his entire life—his absolute worst nightmare was a scandal that could ruin him.

"Why did I come back? Dad, I'm your daughter too, and I want a stable life just like anyone else.

"Is there really no room for me in this family?

"You knew perfectly well that project was mine. You even praised me for it. What, just because she's your daughter too? I could have brought glory to your name, but you had to destroy me just to make her dreams come true!"

The more I said, the more worked up I got, and my eyes started burning red against my will.

He froze up, looking like he was getting lost in old memories.

Swallowing down my hatred, I tightly clenched my shaking hands and spoke up.

"Dad, you all have had it easy for so long. It's time for you to experience what it's like to live in total suspense and fear, just like I had to."

His eyebrows knitted together. He definitely hadn't expected me to talk back to him so fiercely. He sighed and said, "If you just take this new identity, you can have your fresh start.

"You also know that with a single phone call, I can have your current school expel you on the spot. With just one word from me, you won't ever survive in the research community either!"

It was true. With his network, he could squash me like a bug whenever he wanted.

He went on, "Right now, we're still showing you mercy. You really should learn to be a little grateful.

"You have to face reality, you don't have any proof."

The stuff that could actually prove who I was had probably been confiscated when they trashed my room and burned everything.

"Being able to give you this much is already the absolute best we can do as parents."

Listening to him lecture me about gratitude with a straight face just made me want to laugh.

This was the best they could do for me, yet they easily showered my sister with things a hundred times better!

Just as I was about to snap back, he looked down at a text message on his phone.

He tapped it open and flashed the screen at me. "Like I said, it's pointless even if you're back. Honestly, it would've been better if you had just stayed dead back then."

My heart instantly clenched with a sharp, stabbing pain.

That was the first time my dad had ever said something like that to me.

I thought he might be different from Mom, but I guess he was exactly the same.

In that case, there was no reason for me to hold back anymore.

I looked at his screen, which showed Sophie standing on stage at the opening of the preliminary exhibition.

She was holding her passing certificate, smiling from ear to ear.

Isaac pulled his phone back, looking incredibly proud.

"You aren't the only one working on this research. Professor Vina from abroad is studying it too.

"What's more, Professor Vina thinks the world of Sophie. Do you honestly think you can compete with someone like Professor Vina?"

He slowly stood up, straightening his back.

"Sophie already cruised through the preliminary exhibition, and Professor Vina flies in from abroad tomorrow.

"Once the final results are presented, Sophie is going to be internationally famous.

"When that happens, I'll get to enjoy the spotlight right alongside her."

"And what if I refuse to let things go your way?"

My dad let out a cold snort, a ruthless smirk crossing his face. "Your research direction is practically identical to Professor Vina's... Don't push your luck. Otherwise, Sophie and I will get Professor Vina to sue you for plagiarism!"

Watching his retreating back, I silently threw everything he brought right into the trash.

The next day, at the exhibition venue.

Big names from the scientific research community, both local and international, were packed into the room.

On stage, Sophie was fussing with the virus-free seedlings inside the experimental display case.

I sat back in the VIP lounge, watching the whole thing on the security monitor.

At exactly three o'clock, everyone had taken their seats.

The reporters pointed all their cameras right at the "genius girl" on stage—Sophie.

The event was being live-streamed globally in multiple languages.

On stage, she thanked everyone for their support, making sure to highlight that the person she owed the most to was her mentor—Professor Vina.

Right on cue, the host spoke into the mic.

"And now, please join us in welcoming the world-renowned Professor Vina to the stage!"

The room erupted into thundering applause that didn't stop.

Everyone stood up, craning their necks to catch a glimpse.

Meanwhile, I casually walked out of the VIP corridor and stepped right into everyone's line of sight.

And then, I sat down right in the dead center of the judges' panel—the exact seat reserved for Professor Vina.