Pain, excruciating pain that seemed to knot her internal organs together in a fierce collision, as if someone was striking her stomach mercilessly. But how could this physical torment compare to the emotional abuse she had suffered, falling from the heights of being the Doolittle familys daughter and heiress to being locked in a dark basement like a worm?
In her mind, she replayed the scenes from the moment that person entered her home. Her grandfathers had entrusted her with the Doolittle and Yun family fortunes, but she had been blinded by so-called love and kinship. Until the "sister" she had always protected stabbed her in the back, it was the gentle and handsome fiancé who had handed her the knife, even cautiously instructing the person not to cut their hand.
How foolish her parents had been to regard her, Eliza Doolittle, as a disgrace and to acquiesce to her imprisonment. Ha, such humiliation, even if she were in hell, she would not be content.
Really, it hurt so much...
Her hands clenched, her lips biting her fingertips fiercely, Eliza suddenly awoke, memories from before becoming clearer in her mind. How could this be? Wasnt she dead?
Air in her lungs slowly slipped away, her heart struggling violently before becoming weak. Only her bloodshot eyes, filled with hatred, remained wide open, as if to imprint that face deeply in her heart, never to forget it, even if they met again in another life, she would fiercely bite off a piece of her flesh!
But what about this pain now? Was death also painful?
Struggling to open her eyes, a blood-red world greeted her, the hazy blood in her eyes making it almost impossible to open her lids. Her entire body felt as if it had been shattered, a sensation all too familiar, buried deep in her memories.
Was it the car accident when she was fifteen? How could that be!
"Miss, are you alright?" Charles Bingleys voice entered her ears, and Eliza opened her eyes to see the car door beside her completely crushed, nearly flattening her into a meat pie.
"Im fine," a hoarse voice came from her throat, and Elizas memories became clearer.
Charles Bingley? The driver who had been assigned to her by her grandfather since childhood, wasnt he supposed to have died in the accident orchestrated by Isabella?
Could it be that she had really returned? Three months before Isabella was about to enter the Doolittle family!
Elizas eyes widened as she holds up herself and took out her phone from her bag, looking at the date on the screen, tears sliding down her face.
It was that car accident; she had truly returned.
She still remembered that this car accident was planned by her distant cousin, Catherine Morland, but she had been foolish and naive back then, easily believing it was an accident, completely failing to see the jealousy and malice that Catherine had hidden in her eyes since childhood.
Crawling out of the car with difficulty, Eliza felt pain in every part of her body. A girl rushed up quickly, reaching out to support Eliza, her palm pushing towards Elizas most severely injured waist, her eyes flashing with a strange light.
"Eliza, are you okay?"
The touching voice sounded in her ear, like a delicate little white flower trembling in the wind, looking pure and flawless from every angle, but not noticing the black heart that had already rotted through.
If this palm had pushed hard, her already severely injured lumbar spine would probably have dislocated!
With a slap, half of Catherines cheek was slapped crooked, her eyes filled with pure astonishment.
How could this be, how could Eliza hit her?
Although as the Doolittle familys daughter, Elizas character had become very rebellious due to her parents lack of affection, Catherine had grown up with her and knew very well how fragile Eliza was inside, almost taming her into a obedient pet. Even as the Doolittle familys daughter, she was nothing more than a pampered dog!
Today, she was actually hit by her?
Eliza stood with her hands down, feeling the numb pain from her palm. The force was indeed mutual; she felt a bit of pain too.
The red mark on her face gradually rose, and Catherine looked at Eliza, who was still injured but standing weakly, with a mix of disbelief.
"Eliza, how could you hit me? Im your cousin."
Unfortunately, it was a cousin far removed, and if it werent for the Morland familys eagerness to cling to the Doolittle familys wealth and status, Catherine wouldnt be living the life of a wealthy young lady now. But over the years, Eliza had always saved a share of her food and clothes for her, making her almost forget that Eliza was someone she should kneel before and look up to!
She hurriedly suppressed her anger, a flattering smile appearing on her face as she gently held Elizas arm.
"Eliza, you must be joking with me, right?"
"Yes, I am joking," Elizas heart just fell, and her next sentence left Catherine stunned, "Its just that since you hit me, even if I dont care, Grandfather wont let this go easily, so the specific compensation, let Grandfather discuss with your father."
Eliza gently pulled back her arm, the curve of her lips gradually falling.
In her previous life, she had only been tricked by Catherines tears and pleas, and she had personally begged her grandfather to let the Morland family off the hook, disappointing Elizas grandfather, Andrew Doolittle, and leading to his indifference towards his foolish granddaughter. This had allowed Isabelle to take advantage and infiltrate the family.
Thinking of this, Eliza didnt bother to say more to her, turning to look at Charles Bingley.
"Charles, has the car from Grandfather arrived yet?"
Charless face was filled with a smile, as Elizas performance today was beyond his expectations, and she was no longer an easy target for manipulation.
"Any minute now, Miss, it will be here shortly!"
"Very well."
Eliza stood in place, the breeze rolling her hair around her ears. Although she still had blood on her forehead, her elegant and pure temperament could not be suppressed no matter what. This was the girl educated by the Doolittle familys patriarch. When she one day shed her rebellious nature, others would realize what a fine piece of unblemished jade she was!
Catherine became more and more panicked, never expecting things to turn out this way. If Mr. Doolittle himself came to talk, her father would probably skin her alive. Thinking of this, she dared not put on airs any longer and quickly knelt down, crying pitifully without any regard for her image.
"Eliza, its my fault, its all my fault. Please dont tell Mr. Doolittle about this, or else - or else Im done for."
Her cry was mournful and miserable, but she was grinding her teeth, vowing to return the favor once she figured out Elizas transformation. Eliza, who had always been obedient to her, could not break free from her control; she must remain her puppet, offering everything from the Doolittle family on a silver platter!
"Blame you?" Eliza sighed softly, pursing her lips. "Blame you for what, for intentionally telling the driver to hit my side and kill me? Catherine, I really dont understand, do you think my parents would adopt you as their daughter if I were dead?"
Her thoughts were completely guessed, and Catherines face turned pale in an instant, staring at Eliza as if she were a stranger.
"I didnt..."
"You didnt expect that I wouldnt obediently forgive you, but instead, I would hold you accountable?" Elizas fingertips brushed her forehead, picking up a bit of fresh blood. She squatted down, her eyes tenderly looking at the kneeling Catherine, her fingertip wiping across her lips, adding a touch more color to Catherines already bright lipstick.
"Sister, Im back."
Catherine looked at the girl in front of her, graceful and exquisite, and an uncontrollable chill ran through her heart. Whats going on, what happened to Eliza?