STIGMA

Lightning struck and thunder clapped, both were signaling an approaching storm.

Audrey Yang lay like a broken puppet on the dusty cement ground. She slowly opened her eyes that were immediately greeted by the dark.

The moment she moved a muscle, sharp pain surged throughout her entire body. She bit back her scream.

There were dark stains on the floor, which she guessed were blood. It was then that she felt the cold rattle her bones.

Was she about to die? It certainly felt like it. But it was a feeling that she was not ready to accept.

She bit her lip and flinched at the fresh wave of pain. She had not found her mother yet. She still had a lot to live for, a lot of things to do. She could not die in a dark, dirty room in the middle of nowhere.

As she struggled to breathe through the pain, she heard some footsteps approaching followed by a deep male voice that she would never forget.

"She's inside, Miss Yang. I've been standing guard so that she couldn't run away. I've contacted Mr. Bai again. We won't fail this time."

"We better not, because if things go south again, you can kiss your money goodbye," said a familiar female voice.

Audrey's eyes widened as adrenaline coursed through her veins and drowned out the pain. Gritting her teeth, she climbed to her feet and walked as quietly as she could to the door. She looked out through the crack.

Lightning struck once again followed by explosive, resounding thunder. The brief flash of light revealed the man and woman's faces in the dark.

What was Alia Yang doing with the man who kidnapped her and planned to sell her to a brothel owner?

Was she responsible for all of this?

Before Audrey could step back, Alia was already staring at the door as if she had sensed her presence behind it. The woman suddenly took a step forward and pushed the door open.

Rage flared in Audrey's chest and she snapped, "How could you do this to me, Alia? I've always regarded you as my sister and given you whatever you wanted. Why did you hurt me like this? You're so heartless!"

As her eyes burned with furious tears, she watched Alia put on an amused smile that made her eyes flicker with satisfaction.

"Your sister?" Alia retorted and then burst into laughter. She looked at her like she was talking to an idiot.

"You still don't know that we're only half-sisters? I tolerated you because I wanted to replace you, Audrey. I want your life as the eldest daughter of the Yang family and your man—Kase."

Audrey was stunned and then thought of all her previous interactions with her half-sister. She glared at her and said, "So you lied about Mom being in M Country just to get me to come here? You... You can't win, Alia. Even if you succeed in taking me out of the picture, Kase will never love you."

"You are so damn naive! I'm more beautiful than you are, and I can please him better than you can. Once you disappear and I take your place, he will be mine." Alia smiled complacently.

"You bitch!" That was her last nerve. Audrey charged toward her with every last ounce of her remaining strength, but before she could touch her, she was already on the ground. Alia had slapped her so forcefully that she tripped out of balance.

"Ah!"