Chapter 1

My mom, Lorelei, couldn't handle my dad David's cheating. She tried to take her own life by opening the gas valve.

She didn't die, but I, Aubrey, was burned and disfigured saving her from the fire.

Seven years later, Lorelei found a new boyfriend, handsome and rich.

A week before her wedding, she started packing my bags.

"Look, don't blame me for being heartless, okay?" she snapped.

"You look like a monster. What if you scare my boyfriend's daughter?"

"I've raised you for years; I've paid my dues. It's your dad's turn to take responsibility now."

Then, she dropped me and my luggage at my dad's apartment complex.

I was terrified waiting there because I'd dropped my mask and hat in Lorelei's car.

When I thought to chase her, she sped up, eager to get rid of me.

I stumbled and fell while desperately trying to catch her, making my already disfigured face look even worse.

After scrambling back to my feet on all fours, Lorelei's car was gone.

So I could only crouch on the ground, burying my face deep in my knees.

But thankfully, it wasn't long before a middle-aged man ran over, panting.

He called out tentatively, cautiously.

"Aubrey."

I quickly looked up. What met my eyes was a stranger.

Seeing my face, the man paused for a moment.

But after a brief second, he said, "Hello, I'm Mr. Thompson, your dad's good friend."

"Your dad's away on a business trip today, so he asked me to pick you up."

The man's voice was quite loud at first, but maybe it was because I was staring at him.

His voice grew softer, almost a whisper.

I'd encountered this scenario many times.

Ever since I was disfigured saving Lorelei from the fire, it's always been like this.

The first time I returned to school after being discharged from the hospital, with my face covered in twisted scars,

Ms. Davies, my homeroom teacher, was on the podium, trying to prepare the class emotionally.

She was telling them not to give me strange looks or treat me differently.

She spoke passionately and fiercely, but the moment I stepped into the classroom,

Ms. Davies was just like this man; her voice hitched, then she stammered a few times, finally forcing the words out to the class.

"Okay, cl-classmates… let's give Aubrey a round of applause for re-returning to school."

A scattered applause echoed through the classroom.

But no amount of clapping could hide the shaken, terrified stares that followed me.

After that, there were two kinds of people in my class.

Some felt sympathy for what I'd been through.

Others were terrified, saying I looked like a horrifying monster and were scared if I even looked at them.

But no matter what kind of person they were, in the end, no one was willing to interact with me.

Even my best friend, my best deskmate, grew distant.

I once overheard them talking in the restroom.

"Ugh, it's not that I don't want to be Aubrey's friend anymore, but I'm genuinely scared. Every time she looks at me, I have nightmares when I get home."

So, already used to such gazes, I calmly bent down, picked up my luggage, and said, "Let's go."

The man paused for a second before snapping out of it and quickly followed me.

"Aubrey, is your suitcase heavy? Uncle Thompson can help you with it, okay?"

I simply shook my head slightly and then lowered my head again, pulling my collar up to hide my face.

Seeing my action, the man quickly rushed ahead of me.

Watching him, I felt a pang of derision.

I wondered why he was so silly. Did he think his large build would somehow make me less noticeable?

But he didn't know that every step of the way, I was met with stares from children and adults alike, stares that openly labeled me a monster.