C8 Don't Think about Escaping!

The estate sprawled at the foot of the mountain, stretching beyond sight, splitting the entire affluent neighborhood in two. Tall walls surrounded it, wrapped in several layers of metal wire.

Gu Chi glanced at her sideways.

"Little one, without my permission, no one leaves this estate unless they turn into a bird. The metal wire on the walls is electrified and can fry someone to a crisp."

Qiao Mo felt a pang of despair inside but kept a calm exterior. The vast estate resembled a medieval castle, with its Gothic architecture shimmering in the light. It was opulent!

The estate was bustling with servants. Gu Chi held Qiao Mo's hand as they walked inside, greeted by respectful calls of "Young Master," each face showing a hint of surprise.

"Young Master, you're back?" A man in his forties approached them.

"Mr. Da, arrange for a couple of trustworthy servants to look after her. Have someone buy her some clothes and shoes."

That evening, Qiao Mo soaked in a milk bath, letting the servants scrub her skin.

She often had nightmares, dreaming of being engulfed in flames. "It hurts, it hurts, stop the fire, stop the fire!" Her murmurs filled the room.

Waking up in the middle of the night, she'd climb into the bathtub, fill it with cold water, and sleep there until morning.

It was time to settle the score with those who had wronged her.

Two days later, Qiao Mo found Gu Chi in the study.

"I want to go out."

Gu Chi pulled her onto his lap and whispered in her ear, "Where are you going?"

Qiao Mo struggled a bit but couldn't break free. She crossed her arms over her chest. "I have something to take care of."

"Alright, let Ziheng go with you."

"No, I don't want to trouble anyone with my business."

"Okay, he'll just be your driver. If you need money, ask him. Come back when you're done, and don't think about running away."

"Can I borrow a thousand dollars? Don't worry, I'll pay you back."

"Sure!"

This was the first time Qiao Mo was allowed to leave Lu Garden.

She had Zhong Ziheng drive her to buy some things and get a prepaid phone card.

The drive took over an hour before they reached the Qiao family villa.

It was late at night, and the villa was dark except for the streetlights outside.

Standing in the yard, the rich scent of osmanthus filled the air. The only thing her mom left behind were these osmanthus trees, planted when Qiao Mo was still in her mother's womb.

As she looked at the home she hadn't seen in so long, tears rolled down her cheeks. She had grown up in this villa, and after her mom and brother left, her life was never the same.

A pretty woman moved in with a girl her age, and Qiao Jinnian told Qiao Mo to call her "Mom."

Qiao Mo had a mom, and she wasn't about to call another woman "Mom."

Joe Jinnian slapped Qiao Mo hard across the face, then started hitting her with his fists, beating her mercilessly.

“Jinnian, she's just a child, don't hit her anymore.” A woman intervened, gently pulling Qiao Mo into her arms.

“Mo, call me Auntie,” she said softly.

Qiao Mo's face was marked with several large handprints, and her nose and mouth were bleeding. She timidly whispered, “Auntie.”

“Chu, call her sister,” the woman said, pulling a little girl closer.

“I won't call her sister.”

Qiao Chu was only a month younger than Qiao Mo, the daughter of Joe Jinnian and Su Yunna. It was ironic; the daughter of the mistress was just a month younger, yet Qiao Mo was the one named as the older sister, while Qiao Chu was given the name that implied she was the first.

Qiao Mo didn't dwell on it for long. She got out of the car, entered the villa after punching in the code, and was suddenly greeted by a shadow darting toward her, wagging its tail and making a low whining sound.

Qiao Mo crouched down, placing two fingers to her lips and softly called, “Kaka.”

The dog immediately quieted down.

Kaka was a three-year-old golden retriever that Qiao Mo had found two years ago. She had begged for a long time before her grandfather intervened, and Joe Jinnian finally agreed to let the dog stay at the villa.

Qiao Mo petted the golden retriever's head and rolled around with it on the grass for a while.

Then, crouching low, he climbed up a tree, quickly jumped onto the second floor, opened a window, and slipped inside.