He Burned Me Alive, Now I Shine Like the Stars

Jacob turned back, a face full of fake guilt as he squatted down in front of me. "Babe, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault for being so late and making you suffer so much. Don't worry. No matter what it takes, I'll definitely fix your skin and face. I'll get you back on that runway." I stared blankly at his Oscar-worthy performance, a bitter taste in my mouth. "Can I really get better?" "Yes, you absolutely can." His confidence lies just made me feel like a complete idiot. To get rid of me, this obstacle in Kimberly's way, this man who went from school uniforms to wedding vows with me, who swore he'd love me forever, used lie after lie to push me to my breaking point. Even my mother, who'd treasured me like a princess since I was little, had chosen to raise the knife for Kimmy, the two-faced adopted daughter she favored more than her own blood. At that moment, I really wanted to scream at them, to ask why they were being so cruel to me. Alas, all the words just froze in my ice-cold heart, turning into dead silence. A few doctors walked over with antiseptic, their faces showing pity and sympathy as they looked at my horribly burned body. "Miss Stewart, the specialist hasn't arrived yet. We'll have to disinfect the wounds first. It's going to hurt a bit. Please bear with it." Still, "a bit" was a joke. The moment the disinfectant touched my skin, the pain shot through my body like fire. It felt like I was being thrown into the flames all over again. My fragile veins burst open and the entire bed was soaked with blood and pus. My mother stood there watching, clutching her mouth, her whole body shaking as she sobbed. Jacob's eyes were red. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white like he wished he could take the pain for me. Their concern looked so real, but I knew the truth. It was all fake. The only real things were the lies and the pain. When I woke up again, two days had passed. I could hear Jacob and my mother talking outside the ward door. "Jacob, Lily's condition is already this bad. We've been delaying treatment for two days. Do we really have to give her that new experimental psychiatric drug? The doctor said the drug hasn't been fully tested yet. The side effects could be seizures and incontinence." After a few seconds of silence, Jacob's voice was firm. "That's exactly the side effect we want. Today is Kimmy's celebration party and a lot of important people will be there. Anyway, Lily is already a mess; a little more embarrassment won't hurt. Only when she's completely lost her dignity will she not compete with Kimmy. After tomorrow, I'll announce our engagement. That can be considered my compensation to her." After speaking, he carefully instructed, "Mom, have those specialist doctors wait outside the house. As soon as the celebration banquet ends, they can treat Lily." My mother agreed immediately. I stared blankly at the ceiling as silent tears streamed down my cheeks. The salt stung the open wounds on my face, sending waves of sharp, searing pain through me. Still, none of it compared to the pain in my chest. These were the two people closest to me. They knew how weak and sickly I'd been since I was a kid. They saw how hard I worked and how much I gave up to become a model. Now, just with a few careless words, they had destroyed my lifelong dream. If I had known I would end up like this, I would have instead been burned to death in that fire. The hospital room door was pushed open. Jacob saw I was awake and handed me two pills with a look of tenderness. "Babe, I just asked the doctor. This is a new painkiller the hospital developed. It has no side effects and will help ease your pain a lot." I lowered my eyes to look at the two bright red pills, my throat feeling like it was full of rust. My voice was hoarse as I spoke, "Jacob, the medicine is too bitter. I don't want to take it." Jacob hesitated for only a couple of seconds before smiling and squeezing my hand. "Seeing you suffer every day breaks my heart. Can you bear to see your husband in pain? Please, honey, just do it for me."

Before I could even say no, Jacob shoved the pills toward my lips. "Come on, be a good girl. Let hubby feed you." The bitter medicine slipped into my mouth as he half-forced it in. That sticky, nauseating taste spread instantly and the next thing I knew, the world spun around me. Taking advantage of my dizziness, Jacob grabbed my hand. "Honey, today's Kimmy's celebration party. Her biggest wish is to get your blessing. If you don't show up, people on the outside will start rumours about you being petty and not accepting your adopted sister. I'll go. Just get my clothes ready." I knew Jacob had everything planned out. He wasn't going to give me an opening to say no anyway, so there was no point in arguing. Just then, my mother walked in and caught the end of our conversation. Her face lit up. "My sweet girl, I knew you were the sensible one. Once Kimmy's celebration is over, I'll personally organize your wedding with Jacob," she added with a smile. I numbly pulled my hand back. At that moment, my heart felt like it had turned to ash. The car arrived at the house quickly. The moment I was helped out of the car, countless camera flashes suddenly swarmed me. I panicked and reached for Mom's hand but grabbed nothing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her walking quickly away with Kimberly in her arms, not even sparing me a glance. My face turned pale. I lowered my head, clutching my hat tightly. "Miss Stewart, we heard you were afraid your own sister would win the modelling competition, so you deliberately started a fire to burn her to death, but it backfired and you ended up burning yourself. Is that true?" "Miss Stewart, someone as vicious as you still dare to come to your sister's celebration party? Don't you have any shame?" "Miss Stewart, you're so good at twisting on the runway. How could you be afraid of losing your sister? Is it because the sugar daddies you're serving aren't satisfied?" As one of the reporters spoke, they suddenly yanked the hat off my head. A collective gasp echoed all around. My burned, disfigured face was exposed under the harsh flashes of their cameras. "Oh my god, that's disgusting! Is that a monster?" "I'm gonna throw up! That's so damn ugly, like seeing a ghost in broad daylight!" My heart pounded and my vision started to go black in waves. Sadly, they had no intention of letting me go. Several phones were held up, starting a live broadcast. "Famous model Lilian Stewart, corrupt and malicious. Tried to set her sister on fire and ended up getting burned herself. Word is, there isn't a single patch of good skin left on her. Let's see what karma really looks like." Someone started shoving me and I fell to the ground. The loose clothes I was wearing ripped easily. My arms, thighs, stomach, everything was exposed. A hoarse, broken sob escaped my throat. Then, my hands and feet started shaking uncontrollably. My whole body jolted like I was being electrocuted. The reporters tearing at me seemed to have discovered something new and shouted excitedly, "She's having a seizure! This is amazing! Quick, get a close-up! This is all great footage!" I rolled my eyes back in pain and white foam kept bubbling out of my mouth. I knew the drug was taking effect, but there was nothing I could do. Like a clown stripped bare, I let them tear my dignity to shreds. Suddenly, someone shrieked. A warm liquid flowed out from under me and a fishy, foul odour instantly filled the air. The immense humiliation made me unable to even cry. I wished I could just die right there and then. While they kept expressing their disgust and insulting me, the camera flashed focused on my lower body, snapping away like crazy. I was like a dead dog, without a shred of strength left to struggle. "What are you doing! Who gave you permission to take pictures like that?"

Jacob stormed out of the crowd in a fury, snatching the lead reporter's camera and smashing it to pieces. "Get the hell out of here. All of you!" My mother frantically wrapped a coat around me, tears streaming down her face, her voice cracking. "Security! Are you all useless? How did reporters even get into this celebration party? You're all fired!" Kimberly stood to the side, covering her mouth in shock. "You guys are going too far! How can you treat my sister like this? You'd better not publish any of those photos of her having a seizure and wetting herself!" Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. Do you guys want the championship? Do you want to give all your love to Kimberly? Fine by me, have at it. But why do you have to do this to me? My mind was hazy. I just let Jacob kneel down in front of me, holding my hands tightly. "Wife, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault for not protecting you. Don't worry. From now on, I'll never let you suffer even a little bit. Let's get married right away, okay?" I wanted to say no, but the metallic taste rising in my throat came out as a mouthful of blood first. Jacob was splattered with my blood. His pupils shrank and his face went instantly white. Before my consciousness faded into darkness, I heard him and my mother yelling for a doctor in a panic. "Her injuries were already severe and the delay has made it much worse. Plus, she's taken an overdose of psychotropic drugs. Her internal organs are severely damaged. The surgery only has a thirty percent chance of success." Jacob's voice trembled. "How could this happen? I don't care! If you can't save my wife, you'll all pay with your lives!" Tears fell onto the back of my hand. He sobbed uncontrollably, "Babe, we promised we'd be together forever. You can't leave me here alone." My mother knelt down, begging the doctor. "Please, you have to save my daughter! I don't care what it takes. I'd even give my own life for hers!" I heavily closed my eyes. Maybe dying like this wouldn't be so bad. When I woke up again, I was back in my own room. I could hear faint voices talking outside the door. "Mom, are you really going to transfer all of Dad's inheritance to me? Won't Lilian be mad when she finds out?" My mother chuckled indulgently. "She has no right to be mad. She'll marry Jacob and won't have to worry about food or money. Why does she need this little money? Back when your dad passed away and things were the worst, I got acute leukaemia. You were the one who gave me blood every day and even donated your bone marrow. From that moment on, I swore you're the only daughter I'll ever recognize in this life. There's not much money left and I still feel like I owe you. I know you love Jacob, too and I already talked to him. Your sister's in no condition to have kids anyway. So on their wedding night, you'll take her place. You'll be the one to give birth to Jacob's first child." Kimberly blushed and replied sweetly, "I'll do whatever you say, Mom." My mother pushed open the door right as my eyes met hers. A guilty look flashed across her face and she stammered, "Sweetheart, since you've heard everything, I won't hide it from you anymore. The Tang family is big and needs an heir. But don't worry, the position of Mrs. Todd ... " "I agree," I interrupted calmly. "In my condition, it's not convenient for me to attend the wedding anyway. Let Kimmy go in my place." A smile instantly spread across my mother's face. "Good girl, Baby. You've really grown up and become so understanding." Kimberly glanced disdainfully at my unsightly skin, pretending to be concerned. "Don't worry, sis. I'll take good care of your husband for you." I wearily turned my head away, not wanting to look at them anymore. I just hope that the day my mother learns the truth, she won't regret it. Because her so-called "precious daughter" had done a hell of a lot more than just donate blood when she was sick.

The wedding was happening at my house in Eastlake. It was Kimberly's idea. I knew she was doing it to make me watch as everything I cared about was taken away from me, piece by piece. Still, I hadn't expected her to be this vicious. She barged into my room, dressed in a luxurious, elegant wedding gown. Her face twisted into a nasty sneer. "Not even that huge fire could kill you, Lilian. You really are one tough little cockroach." I didn't want to waste words on her. "You've already got everything you wanted. What more do you want?" She scoffed. "Of course, I want you dead. Only when you're dead can I rightfully become Mrs. Todd." After that, she pulled out a lighter and set the curtains on fire. The moment I saw the flames shoot up, the colour drained from my face. I dragged my broken body, trying to stop her, but she kicked me hard against the bedpost. Then she ran to the door and started screaming for help. Jacob practically teleported into the room. He held Kimberly tightly, all worried. "Kimmy, what's wrong? Where are you hurt?" My mother was right behind him. Even though she clearly couldn't see a single scratch on Kimberly, she still yelled anxiously, "Quick, get Kimmy to the hospital!" Everyone swarmed around Kimberly. Not a single person noticed that Kimberly had slammed me hard enough to make my head bleed. Kimberly nestled in Jacob's arms, crying with wide, scared eyes. "Jacob, I was just worried that my sister was upset, so I came to comfort her. But she said since her face was ruined, I don't deserve to wear a pretty wedding dress either. Then, she started a fire, saying she'd burn me beyond recognition, too. I was so scared..." Jacob looked at me like he wanted to tear me apart. "Are you insane? Kimmy was just trying to help you finish the wedding ceremony. Instead of being grateful, you try to hurt her? Look at you! You're disgusting!" My mother's eyes were full of disappointment. "If I'd known how twisted you are, I would've let that fire burn you to death. You're not even worth one of Kimmy's fingers. Someone as malicious as you doesn't deserve to be my daughter. You deserved to be burned like this." They picked up Kimberly and left without even looking back. As he reached the door, Jacob glanced back at the flames licking the curtains and sneered. "You like playing with fire so much, huh? Then play to your heart's content." He locked the door. "No one is allowed to open this." My desperate pleas for explanation and mercy were cut off by the cold slam of the door. Listening to the frantic banging on the door from inside, a hint of unease flickered in my mother's eyes. "Jacob, is it really okay to just lock Lily in there? Won't something happen?" "What could happen? She set the fire herself. Do you think she'd really burn herself alive? She probably has an extinguisher hidden somewhere." Jacob rushed Kimberly straight to the hospital. After the check-up, she was confirmed entirely unharmed and he finally remembered me. He sighed and opened his phone, only for a breaking news alert about a massive fire at the Eastlake to pop up on the screen. He frowned and was about to call the butler when the butler's call came through first. "Let her out," he said. "I'll go pick her up now. We're heading off for the honeymoon. I've already picked the place. France, her favourite." The butler's voice trembled on the other end. "Sir, the fire was too big. Madam … she didn't make it out."