The Price of Love Is Death

As the clothes George gave me were all exclusive, one-of-a-kind pieces, in order to create a fake version of me, he had to send people to hunt down knock-offs.

The pain was unbearable. Why was I not dead yet? Why was I not reunited with my parents?

Suddenly, a voice broke through the haze, tinged with impatience.

“What are you doing here?” George sounded irritated.

Annie let out an instinctive yelp and quickly released her grip on me.

My body, which had been suspended in the air, dropped suddenly, limbs contorting in unnatural ways as I hit the ground. My own weight crushed me, and I heard the sickening sound of bones snapping.

All my bones must be broken now, and I thought, ‘George, do I finally look like a doll to you? The one you always wanted me to be?’

I suddenly wondered what expression was on George’s face. It was too bad I could not see it anymore.

Annie’s lackeys hurriedly stuffed me into a filthy garbage bag, but I did not struggle. I just lay there obediently.

Annie's voice wavered with panic. "George, I couldn’t reach you, so I thought I’d wait for you here at the estate..."

“You know, without my permission, no one is allowed to set foot into this part of the estate.” George's voice carried an undeniable authority, and I could sense Annie collapsing to the ground in fear.

It was getting boring. Could they just hurry up and stop with the bickering? I wanted George to come and witness my death with his own eyes. I wanted him to see what he had done to the free-spirited life I once had—how he tortured me.

I could not wait much longer. As my mind started to slip, I felt my life ebbing away. Images of George and me flashed in my mind.

When we first met, I saved him from drowning during one of his asthma attacks. He had clutched my hand so tightly, refusing to let go until I told him my name and address.

Even then, George was a madman, and as we grew older, I became George’s greatest obsession.

“Luna, my life belongs to you. If you’re unhappy, you can take it any time.

“Luna, as long as you stay, I’ll agree to anything. I’d even die if you asked.

“Luna, don’t be foolish. You don’t have a home anymore. Where could you possibly run to?

“Luna, you pushed me to this. From now on, you won’t leave this estate, not even a step.

“Luna, if you try to end it all again, I’ll die with you. Even in death, we’ll be together—forever. You can’t escape me.

“Luna…”

"Take this woman and throw her into the sea. But be gentle, don’t scare her."

A familiar voice echoed, blending with my memories. It was George.

By the time he got to the second half of the sentence, his voice had softened, even carrying a trace of amusement.

He seemed to have thought of something and quietly instructed the people around him, "Oh, check if she's awake. If she is, take her down to have some cake. It’s her favorite flavor."

Annie, hearing George's last sentence, naturally assumed that the "she" he was referring to was herself, so she relaxed again.

"George, I knew you were just trying to scare me. You wouldn’t really leave me, right? Oh, and George, I have a birthday present for you!" she said.

George clicked his tongue in irritation, but Annie did not seem to notice. She gave me a swift kick, then yanked me up by my hair and tossed me at George’s feet. There was a smug smile on her face.

"I caught someone trying to sneak into the estate. Do you want to take a look at the trash, George?"

George, who clearly was not focused on Annie, replied indifferently, "Just toss it where trash belongs."

Annie sneered, "Exactly! And get this, she had the nerve to get plastic surgery to look like me. Look at her, wearing knockoff clothes and trying to imitate my style!"

"Oh?" George sounded smug. "No matter how hard they try, no one can compare to you. You’re my masterpiece… You’re simply perfect."

I heard footsteps approaching, and soon enough, I felt George standing in front of me. He casually kicked the corner of the garbage bag I was in with his shoe, probably curious to see who had the audacity to break into his estate.

However, the stench of blood and garbage must have hit him hard because he abruptly stopped. Covering his nose, he stepped back a couple of paces.

"Disgusting. Get rid of it, now."