Chapter 3

Emily's POV

Ding-dong—

The doorbell interrupted the Walker family dinner.

My spirit floated over the dining room, watching the whole family babying Lily. Carl was serving her food while my parents kept asking how she was feeling, like she'd just cheated death.

Not me.

"I'll get it." Carl got up and headed to the front door.

The moment he opened it, my soul shook.

Standing outside was Jeffrey—my boyfriend of three years.

He held an expensive bottle of French wine, wearing the warmest smile I'd ever seen.

"Carl, I heard what happened to Lily. Came to check on her." Jeffrey's voice was full of concern. "How's Emily? Is she okay?"

If my heart were still beating, it would be racing with hope. Finally—someone who gave a damn about me.

But Carl snorted: "Don't mention that little BITCH. She's too much of a coward to show her face—obviously guilty as hell."

Jeffrey nodded and didn't defend me: "Yeah... this whole thing is just insane."

I stared at him in shock. Was this the same Jeffrey who used to defend me when my family tore me apart?

"Jeffrey!" Lily's face lit up. "You came!"

Jeffrey walked quickly to the table and set down the wine: "I was worried about you. This is a 1982 Bordeaux—supposed to help with stress."

Then he actually pulled out the chair next to Lily and sat down.

That used to be my seat.

"Lily, you still look pale." Jeffrey picked up a knife and fork. "Let me cut that for you."

"You're so sweet." Lily blushed.

I knew she'd always had a crush on Jeffrey—another reason she hated my guts. I just never thought Jeffrey would...

I watched in horror as Jeffrey carefully cut Lily's steak—the same tender care he used to show only me.

Carl grinned: "Jeffrey, you should've ditched Emily years ago. She's cold as ice compared to Lily here. You two would be perfect together."

I expected Jeffrey to defend me.

But he just smiled shyly: "You might be right... Emily can be pretty..."

"Pretty what?" My father set down his wine, watching Jeffrey with interest.

Jeffrey hesitated: "Pretty... distant. I mean, compared to Lily..."

CRASH—

Something shattered inside my chest.

Three years. Three fucking years, and this is what it meant to him.

"Emily's always been calculating." Linda walked over with her wine. "Jeffrey, you've dated her long enough—you must see it too."

Jeffrey set down his fork, suddenly serious: "Actually... I've been thinking about ending things with Emily."

Everyone turned to stare at him.

"Ending things?" Lily looked surprised.

Jeffrey nodded: "She's so paranoid, always accusing me of looking at other women. And the jealousy—especially toward Lily."

"What kind of jealousy?" Carl leaned forward.

"She constantly complains that you guys favor Lily over her. Says she deserves to inherit the company instead." Jeffrey glanced at my father. "She even asked me to help her dig up dirt on Lily."

"She WHAT?!" The whole table erupted.

My world collapsed.

That wasn't dirt-digging—I suspected Lily was sabotaging me and wanted proof of my innocence. But Jeffrey was twisting it into evidence of me plotting against my sister.

How could he betray me like this!

"I refused, obviously." Jeffrey continued. "I mean, Lily's such a sweet person—what could there possibly be? But Emily got furious and said she'd break up with me if I didn't help."

Lily's eyes welled up: "She really wanted to..."

"I should have walked away then." Jeffrey looked at Lily with obvious longing. "Being around someone truly kind made me realize what I was missing."

Carl slammed his fist on the table: "I KNEW Emily was poison! She tried to drag you into her sick schemes!"

"We really underestimated how twisted she is." My father's voice was ice-cold. "Jeffrey, thank God you didn't help her."

"How could I ever hurt Lily?" Jeffrey shook his head. "Honestly, looking back at those three years with Emily... it makes me sick."

I understood. I finally got the whole picture.

Jeffrey had never loved me. He'd been in love with Lily from the beginning.

I was just his way in—a stepping stone to get close to Lily. But why didn't he just go after her directly?

"Dad." Lily's voice trembled. "If Emily really hates me this much... what if she tries to hurt me?"

My father tensed immediately: "What do you mean?"

"I'm scared she might come back for revenge." Fear filled Lily's eyes. "Especially after losing her inheritance..."

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll never let her near you again." My father grabbed his phone. "I'm calling my lawyer to cut all ties with her. And I need to track down that little brat to sign those inheritance papers."

He kept dialing my number. No answer every time.

"DAMN IT!" He roared and slammed his fist down. "She won't even take my calls!"

I floated beside him, watching his rage, feeling completely hollow inside.

Dad, I can't answer. I'm already dead.

My father took a deep breath and dialed another number.

"This is Arthur Walker. I need the medical examiner handling the kidnapping case."

When someone picked up, my father's voice was sharp: "Listen, when is my daughter Emily Walker finished with her statement? Tell her to get home NOW, or she's banned from this family forever!"

Complete silence on the other end.

Long enough for my father to lose his temper: "Hello? Are you there? Answer me!"

"Mr. Walker..." The voice was shaking. "Emily... she's..."

"She's WHAT? Speak up!"

After what felt like forever, the medical examiner's trembling voice delivered the news:

"Mr. Walker... Emily died from blood loss in that basement. She's been dead for a week."