I stared at Steven in shock. He had just confirmed it.


    This meant that it was really true. I had won first ce in the geniuspetition that was held at


    Delmany. This also meant that it was true that I had worked as a tutor for those missing teenagers.


    My fingers felt numb. I suddenly found myself feeling unsteady on my feet because of an oing


    headache.


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    Steven quickly stepped forward to hold me. He started tofort me, saying, "It doesn''t matter.


    Their disappearance has nothing to do with you. It was just…"


    Steven''s voice was hoarse. He nced at Zion nervously and continued, "The geniuspetition


    back then was held just for show. The organizers enticed regr families to join through luxurious


    cash prizes. They targeted families that hoped their children could soar to great heights.


    "Stephanie was also a victim in all of this. She was just amodity the organization used, like a


    mannequin disyed at a clothing shop. She had no choice but to let herself be ced there as


    decoration. She did nothing wrong…"


    Steven was too eager to exin my innocence to me. His body trembled as he held me.


    "Stephie…" Rachel hurried forward and looked at me in panic.


    Zion furrowed his brows but remained silent.


    What was happening now clearly proved that Michael, Rachel, and Steven were treating me as if I


    really were Stephanie.


    But in Zion''s eyes, I was Stephany. After all, how could a person turn into another person just like


    that?


    It didn''t make any logical sense.


    "Stephie…"


    Suddenly, an image shed in my mind. The voice I heard was familiar yet chilling.


    "Do you know what the most sophisticated way to deceive everyone is?" In my memory, Peter


    circled around me with a smile as he said, "It''s with lies. Use lies that can deceive everyone around


    you, even yourself.


    "Have you ever heard of something called the montage of lies? Each and every sentence that


    comes out of my mouth is a fact. But when Ibine them in a particr order, it bes a lie


    that suits my needs.


    "Stephanie, you must first learn to deceive yourself with your own words.


    "Let me demonstrate. I''m going to tell you that the woman I''ve fallen for is in the arms of another


    man from a wealthy family. Each part of this sentence is technically true when taken alone, but I''ve


    switched the order around.


    "The sentence in the correct order should read, ''I''ve fallen for the woman in the arms of another


    man from a wealthy family''."


    The same words were used, but the meaning was expressed differently through stylistic changes. It


    seemed to change the meaningpletely.


    "Tell me, how are you going to make him fallpletely in love with you? How are you going to get


    him to love you to the point where he''ll do anything for you, even take his own life? How can you


    make him trust you and everything you say?"


    In my memory, Peter suddenly approached me. It made my headache intensify even further.


    It seemed as if Peter was teaching me ways to deceive people. He was giving me pointers on how


    to n.


    But I didn''t know who the target was.


    I had no idea who it was that Peter wanted me to deceive. I wondered if he was talking about


    Steven.


    "Remember that you''re the only one who can save this world we''re living in," Peter said. Then, he


    patted my shoulder and continued, "To make him believe you, you first have to deceive yourself.


    "You''re a genius. I believe you can do it. I want you to be his one and only love in this lifetime.


    I want you to get him to marry you, to make him obey your every word as if it were gospel. From


    then on, he''ll be nothing but a puppet for you to toy with."


    My head throbbed painfully. I tried to understand and work out who Peter was talking about.


    Finally, I caught a clear glimpse of a photo on the table in my memory.


    It was a photo of Michael.


    "Stephie, your families have already arranged for you two to get engaged. He''ll marry you, but that


    won''t be enough leverage."


    Peter looked at the photo on the table and continued, "If you don''t do as I say, I''ll find someone to


    rece you…"


    "Stephie?"


    "Stephie!"


    I suddenly snapped back into reality. I breathed heavily as I looked around.


    Steven and Rachel were staring at me anxiously. They were trying to ascertain if I was okay.


    I shook my head.