"Why are you criticizing Erica so badly? Isn't Erica your girlfriend?"
Kora pretended to be surprised. It seemed like Kora was speaking up for Erica's fairness, but in reality, she was subtly influencing Max to compare her even more to Erica. To make Max realize that only Kora was perfect.
"Erica was just a girlfriend by name. I never loved Erica." Max bluntly emphasized
"So why did you date Erica and even publicly declare her as your girlfriend in front of your friends?" Kora asked with a hint of jealousy.
"Didn't I do that because you wanted me to?" Max asked, pinching Kora's cheek.
"Why would it be for me?" Kora feigned innocence. "Don't speak recklessly, Max."
"Didn't you say you hated Erica? You said you would agree to date me after I helped you play a prank on Erica, didn't you?" Max reminded Kora of their past conversation.
Max casually revealed a despicable secret. It turned out that it was all just a show that Kora had staged. Kora knew that Max liked her, so she took advantage of him. She suggested that Max approach Erica and make her fall in love with him, and when Erica became completely dependent on Max, Kora would achieve her desired outcome. Kora said that this was a challenge for Max to prove his feelings for her. If Max succeeded, Kora would agree to date him. Max believed it was real and agreed to participate without caring about the harm his actions would cause Erica, a girl who sincerely loved him.
This is not okay. Other things Erica could control, but this has gone beyond her limit. At this moment, Erica felt a raging fire of hatred burning within her. This time, the demon of emotion had overwhelmed her normally rational mind.
"So did you do it for me? Did you really do it for me?" Kora asked with a hint of doubt.
"Kora, I'm being honest. You have to trust me," Max said with a determined look on his face to show Kora his sincerity.
"Is this true?" Kora still looked skeptical.
"I can prove it," Max declared confidently.
"How would you do that?" Kora continued to lead Max into her next plan.
"What do you want me to do?"
As soon as Max asked, Kora immediately said:
"I want you to leave Erica in the most cruel way. Let her suffer. No matter what method you use, you must make Erica taste the ultimate pain." Kora emphasized this in a hateful tone.
"Do you hate Erica that much?" Max asked. In fact, Max has never cared about Kora's motives for harming Erica all this time. But today he suddenly wanted to find out.
"Why are you asking that?" Afraid that Max would discover her scheme, Kora immediately showed her attitude, sulking: "You can't bring yourself to harm Erica, can you?"
"I'm just curious why." Max defended himself: "I want to know what Erica did wrong to you. If that is unforgivable, I will help you make Erica pay the price."
Kora chuckled, extremely pleased that she had manipulated Max's mind, making him obediently take her side. Indeed, Kora's talent for seducing men caused Erica to give up. Is Kora too skillful, or are the men she toys with simply foolish and deceived by Kora's beauty?
"Do you know how ugly and cruel Erica is?" Kora suddenly shed tears, expressing her bitter resentment.
"Kora, calm down; tell me what happened." Max soothed his girlfriend, comforting her with sweet words: "I will help you."
Sure that Max would willingly do everything for her, Kora was excited in her heart but still pretended to be pitiful on the surface. She continued to narrate:
"When I was young, I was often scolded and even beaten by my father because of Erica. He always treated me unfairly, giving all the good things to Erica. Erica bullied and harassed me, but my father never held her accountable. Instead, my father blamed me for everything."
"Why is it so absurd?" Max asked indignantly.
Kora continued to sulk. "Whatever happens, my father always blames me and never holds Erica accountable. Do you know that the scar on my arm was caused by Erica? Yet no one ever scolded her for it."
Max lifted Kora's hand to examine the scar on her wrist. It was a burn scar that Kora had accidentally caused when she was younger. But she blatantly accused Erica of guilt.
"I can't believe it; you've been treated so unfairly," Max said with a hateful tone, expressing his anger.
"I promise to get justice for you, Kora," Max declared, embracing Kora and gently rubbing his hand on her scar.
Kora smiled contentedly as she realized her plan had succeeded. She was certain that Max would comply with her demands. After Erica was abandoned by Max, her state of mind would not be stable. At that time, Kora would easily approach Erica, playing the role of a kind-hearted cousin who wanted to help Erica overcome her pain. Then, taking advantage of Erica's vulnerability, she will trick Erica into signing over ownership of the assets that her parents left her after their deaths to Kora.
Actually, Kora's main purpose in doing these things is just to seize Erica's assets. Kora is not actually related to Erica by blood or kinship. Kora's mother married Erica's uncle after Kora's father died. At first, they pretended to be a harmonious family, but after Erica's uncle suddenly passed away in an accident, everything changed. Kora and her mother proved to be bossy people, often bullying and tormenting Erica mentally and physically. Erica was unable to escape because, after her uncle's death, Kora's mother was given custody of Erica. This means Erica has to live with Kora and her mother. Kora and her mother had the heart to take over Erica's property, but they knew it wouldn't be easy to convince Erica to give them a portion of her assets. So they mistreated Erica and waited until she couldn't bear it anymore and protested. That was the perfect time for them to eliminate Erica once and for all. Of course, Erica was completely unaware of this plot.
Under the bed, Erica felt a surge of guilt. Everything Kora said was a lie. Erica never bullied Kora; it must be the opposite. Why does Max believe in Kora? After all, how can an evil girl like Kora manipulate Max? Erica couldn't explain, so she didn't want to find the answer anymore. What's important now is what Erica will do next. Should she continue listening or suddenly appear and confront Kora?