Chapter 17: Pupils Trembling, Knees Going Weak

She smashed everything in the house.

Screaming at the top of her lungs, she let out a frantic explosion of suppressed rage.

Even her habitually overbearing mother was terrified by her.

She slapped herself hard, over a dozen times, before hysterically questioning her mother, "Is this enough? Do you have to drive me to my death before you’re satisfied?"

She picked up a stool and wrecked the piano.

She grabbed her drawing board and tore her sketches to shreds.

"I’m sick of you choreographing my life! I’m sick of you controlling every breath I take! I am a human being, not your puppet!"

Her mother watched her madness in stunned silence for a moment before erupting in a fury of her own. "I poured my heart and soul into you, and this is how you repay me? You ungrateful brat! Get out! If you don't retake that year, don't you ever come back!"

Mia looked at her mother, her eyes so red they looked ready to bleed. "Fine! I never wanted to stay in this hellhole anyway!"

She bolted out of the house like a madwoman.

She ran until she reached Maple Mountain on the outskirts of the city.

Gasping for air, she reached the summit. Standing at the edge of the cliff, she opened her arms, yearning for release.

Just as she was about to leap and end it all, a hand clamped firmly around her wrist.

She was yanked back.

She opened her eyes to find a pair of clear, kind eyes staring into hers.

It was Jace.

He was followed by several staff members; they were likely on the mountain for a photoshoot.

"Hey, kid. Don't do something foolish."

He pressed a small MP4 player into her palm. "My songs are on here. If you’re feeling down, listen to them. Don't give up on yourself."

His voice was like a cool mountain spring, possessing a gentle, healing power.

Mia snapped back from her memories, her eyes red as tears spilled down her cheeks. "Clara, if it weren't for Jace, I would have died that day. I sat on the grass that entire afternoon, wearing the earphones he gave me, listening to his music."

From that day on, she fell in love with his songs.

Only when she heard Jace’s voice would those desperate, dark thoughts slowly dissipate.

"He pulled you out of the abyss, and you made him the light of your life, didn't you?" Clara asked softly.

Mia nodded vigorously, leaning her head against Clara’s shoulder. "Clara, you really are an intellectual; your words always hit the mark. When my mom found out I was a fan, she only called me a dreamer and a failure, saying I’d regret wasting my time."

They never understood that Jace had given her the will to live.

"Jace is such a positive idol. He often goes to the mountains for charity, donating books and stationery to kids. When he meets us fans, he never acts like a big-shot star."

"And you know, he grew up in a mountain village with no background or resources. He got where he is today solely through his talent as a songwriter and his incredible voice."

Clara patted Mia’s shoulder gently. "Based on what you’ve said, he sounds like a positive influence. If he gives you hope, I won't stop you from being a fan."

Mia’s heart swelled. She lunged into Clara’s arms, hugging her tight.

"Clara, you’re the best."

In her family, no one supported her; they all said she was delusional. None of them understood her.

"From now on, if anything is bothering you, you can always tell me."

Mia nodded hard.

"Meow, meow, meow—"

Suddenly, the sound of persistent meowing drifted over.

Mia pulled away from Clara and stood up, walking toward the bathroom.

"Lately, Snowball has been acting weird. He loves meowing in the bathroom for no reason."

Sometimes it was so loud she couldn't sleep.

Clara followed Mia into the bathroom.

Snowball was a stray cat Mia had rescued and raised for over six months.

Right now, he was crouched by the bathroom wall, scratching frantically at the tiles with his claws.

Mia tried to pick him up, but Snowball’s cries became even more urgent.

The sound was bone-chilling.

"What’s wrong with him? Does he have some kind of feline mania?"

Clara told Mia to let him go.

As soon as he was free, Snowball went back to scratching the wall.

Clara walked over and leaned close to the tiles.

As a forensic doctor, her sense of smell was far more acute than the average person's.

A faint, yet undeniable scent of decay drifted into her nostrils.

The hair on the back of Clara’s neck stood up instantly.

She stood up and scanned the wall.

It was obvious that these tiles were slightly shinier than the others, and the grout lines looked much newer.

"Mia, take Snowball outside." Clara’s expression turned grim.

Mia didn't know what was happening, but she sensed the tension and quickly carried the cat out.

Clara pulled out her phone and made a call.

Forty minutes later.

Sirens wailed in the distance.

Leo arrived with a team from the Criminal Investigation Squad.

Leo was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt today, with the top two buttons undone. His features were cold and sharp, radiating a powerful aura.

The moment she saw him, Mia was intimidated by his presence.

She shrunk behind Clara. "Clara, are they the police? What’s going on?"

Clara reassured her with a few words and handed her her car keys. "Take Snowball and wait in my car."

Leo walked up to Clara. "What’s the situation?"

Clara pointed to the wall where she’d caught the scent, her brow furrowed. "The smell is faint, but it’s definitely the odor of human remains."

Leo’s face darkened instantly. He signaled to the technical team behind him. "Break down the wall. Be gentle; watch for trace evidence."

As they began to dismantle the wall, Leo pulled Clara back a few steps.

Clara glanced at him, her eyes landing on his rugged profile. "Captain, keep your hands to yourself."

Leo: "I’m just making sure you don't get hit by a brick. No other intentions."

Clara smirked. "I know you don't. After all, you seem to enjoy wearing 'green hats'."

Leo: "..."

As the drill let out a tooth-grinding hum, Clara stepped outside to call Vicky, telling her to bring the forensic kit.

Leo stayed at the bathroom door, watching. As the bricks fell away piece by piece, a thick, suffocating stench of rot billowed out. It was incredibly pungent.

Tucked inside the wall was a decomposed body, the skin a sickly mottled green. Parts of the tissue had liquefied and fallen away, and the facial features were a blurred mess.

Even the technicians were overwhelmed by the smell and instinctively recoiled.

Mia had been curious about what was in the bathroom and tried to peek several times.

Clara held her back. "Curiosity killed the cat."

"But Clara, if you don't let me see, I’ll go crazy wondering."

Clara stopped resisting. Mia ran in and took a look.

She froze.

It... it was a corpse!

Heavens!

She had rented this place for nearly six months, living and sleeping every day with a dead body in the wall.

Oh god, it was horrifying!

Mia’s legs turned to jelly, and she collapsed onto the floor.

"Clara... Clara..." Smelling the acrid rot, Mia wanted to vomit, but nothing came up.

She was on the verge of a total breakdown.

Clara walked over and helped her up. "I told you not to look."

Mia was trembling as Clara helped her back to the car. "Clara, will I be a suspect? I... I haven't killed anyone!"

Clara comforted her softly. "That body was sealed in that wall at least two years ago. You aren't a suspect."

Mia nodded, her lips shaking. "Clara, I’m so scared."

"It’s okay. I’m right here."

Once Vicky arrived, Clara put on sterile gloves and a mask. Taking the kit, she headed back into the house.

Watching Clara’s tall, composed figure, Mia’s eyes filled with endless admiration.

Her sister was so cool, so brave, so badass.