Chapter 2 Locked Up

I never once thought of chasing Erin away. Instead, I had been extremely nice to her since the day she arrived. Finally, I had a younger sister.

For some reason, ever since that day, my fathers began to distrust me. Even my friends started avoiding me.

"Who else could it be? You two were the only ones left in the mansion. All of the servants were on leave. That was your best chance of getting at her."

Bruce let out a bark of laughter before continuing, "Are we supposed to just believe you because you said so? Erin is an innocent and naive young girl. Why do you always bully her?"

My chest started to ache with a pain so sharp that my instincts screamed for me to curl up. However, I forced myself to stand tall. I did not want to appear weak before them.

"I've never targeted her at all." I lifted my chin proudly. "Ever since she arrived at our home, have you ever once believed me?"

"We gave you a chance when you stole her necklace."

Daniel got to his feet to stare me down. "You refused to admit it, and we had to thoroughly search your room for the evidence."

"She set me up!"

Bruce then said, "We gave you another chance when you mocked her for being an orphan. You stubbornly refused to admit you were wrong. That was why we forced you to write an apology letter."

"I never said that!"

"When you tore up her gown—"

I interrupted Jack, shouting in a voice so loud that even I was startled, "You guys never believe me since she came here. Not once!"

The room fell silent.

Daniel broke it, coldly stating, "That's because you've turned selfish in your fight for our love. You're no longer worthy of our trust!"

The words felt like a knife to the heart.

Suddenly, I wanted to break out in laughter at how I was reluctant to leave my fathers. Thirteen years of love turned out to be worth less than the affection they gave an adopted daughter.

"Since you refuse to confess, you'll have to reflect on your actions in the cold storage!"

"What?"

Bruce stepped forward, his tone just as icy. "You heard him."

My fingers clenched around my pants.

Just then, Daniel's phone rang.

His face twisted with shock within seconds.

"What? Erin is missing!"

The air in the room froze.

Bruce and Jack both shot to their feet.

I could not hear what the caller said, but when Daniel hung up, he immediately turned to glare at me. "Erin is missing. If anything happens to her, April, there will be no end to this."

I lowered my head.

Suddenly, I had the urge to tell them I only had three days left to live.

However, I stayed silent.

What was the point? Would they even believe me?

Something rose in my throat, and I swallowed it back. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

Before I realized what was going on, Bruce was dragging me out of the room by the arm.

I struggled hard. My feet scrambled against the floorboards.

"Let me go! I didn't do it!"

No one listened.

Up ahead, Jack opened the door to the basement.

It was an abandoned cold room that we once used to store our food. After the renovation, nothing was stored in there.

I was pushed into the room, and I stumbled, nearly tripping.

"Think about what you've done when you're inside."

Daniel looked blinding in his white coat as it reflected the dim light of the room.

"You'll be let out when we find Erin."

"I didn't do it, though!"

I rushed to the door and slammed my fists against the heavy metal door as it swung closed.

The door was slammed shut with a bang.

I heard the lock click into place.

The cold storage was a dark, empty room, lit only by a dim yellow bulb swaying from a wire above my head.

The cold seeped in through my feet and soon spread throughout my body.

I sat down and huddled up with my arms around my knees.

My chest began to ache once more.

It was the poison.

As I coughed, I covered my mouth with a hand. Warm liquid dripped through my fingers.

It was blood.

As I stared down at my bloody hand, I let out a chuckle.

What a joke.

I was dying, yet they only worried about Erin.

Memories surged to the front of my mind.

My mother passed away 13 years ago.

I was still an infant when Daniel cradled me in his arms as he gently soothed me. "Don't cry, April. I'll always be with you."

Bruce bought me the best toys in the world. "I'll give you anything you want."

Jack taught me how to sing and dance. "You're a genius, April. You picked it up so quickly."

I was the happiest and luckiest child in the world.

I had three fathers, and they all loved me.

Yet, that all changed when Erin appeared in our lives.