Introduction

My summer internship was everything: a path to my dream career in marketing, years of hard work finally paying off.

Then my parents dropped a bombshell. My estranged rockstar uncle was gravely ill, and I, his favorite niece, had been chosen to be his full-time caregiver.

They spun a tale of liver problems, but a glowing blue text only I could see whispered a darker truth: "They' re not worried about his health, they' re worried about his royalties. Rick' s music just got licensed for a huge movie. They want to make sure they' re in his will."

My refusal was met with a cold, hard slap across the face, and the devastating news: "It' s done, Chloe. There' s no internship to go back to."

They' d sabotaged my future, then casually explained: "We' ve already made the arrangements."

The email from my dream firm confirmed it: "rescind our internship offer...wish you the best in your recovery."

Recovery? What were they talking about?

They took my ID, my money, my car keys. Then I overheard my mother' s chilling words: "Rick' s viral load is extremely high... a little contact... a shared utensil... a simple solution. Once she' s sick too, she' ll have no choice but to be quiet."

My own mother was planning to infect me with HIV.

I bolted, running into the night, only to find my father' s mistress and instigate a chaotic scene, creating my escape.

But they weren' t done.

A viral video appeared, featuring my tearful parents. "Our daughter, Chloe, is very sick," my father stated, "She contracted HIV through a promiscuous lifestyle... she developed a severe gambling addiction. She stole all of our savings..."

Hatred flooded the comments. My name, reputation, and future were completely destroyed.

Who would believe me over my grieving, concerned parents?

I was utterly alone, but one thought burned through my despair: they wouldn' t get away with this.