Chapter 1

The Protagonist Refused to be a Puppet

After I lost my memory, I realized something was really off.

My seemingly innocent brother secretly slipped into my bed in the middle of the night.

My successful businessman uncle kept sending me clothes.

My cold, sophisticated Professor Thorne gave me unsettlingly intimate instructions.

And Jax, the infamous bad boy from the other side of the tracks, pinned me against the wall and whispered, "Eighty bucks for the night."

I figured there had to be some huge misunderstanding, so I gathered them all together, planning to set things straight.

But to my shock, they just exchanged knowing smiles, looking at me like a lamb ready for slaughter.

"All four of us? Playing *that* kind of game? How thrilling," one of them purred.

I paused for a beat, then slapped each of them across the face.

"Thrilling *now*?"

I woke up, and my memory was completely gone.

All I remembered was my name, Anya. Everything else was a blank.

I looked around. It was a cozy bedroom, tastefully decorated.

On the nightstand, there was a photo. Tiny script at the bottom read:

*To my dearest Mom, Dad, and little brother.*

So, a family of four.

Just as I put the photo down, I heard footsteps outside the door. My bedroom door was suddenly pushed open.

"Sis, dinner's ready!"

It was a tall, lean teenager with a fair complexion and a bright, open smile.

He grabbed my wrist with an alarming familiarity, pulling me out of the room.

"What are you waiting for? Let's go!"

This must be my brother. Liam.

At the dinner table, the family felt so harmonious, so picture-perfect.

I quietly ate my food, listening to them chat.

"Liam will be a senior next year. It would be great if he could get into Anya's college. You two could look out for each other."

Liam nodded dutifully, "I'll definitely get in."

He then flashed me a smile. "You have to wait for me at school, sis."

He looked so innocent, just a typical teenager.

But even then, something about his words felt off, and his eyes held a disturbing glint I couldn't quite place.