Chapter 1

By the time I arrived, Josiah Broadway was feeding Vivian Spencer a bite of cake, holding it right up to her lips.

They were smiling at each other like they were in a romance drama.

"With a real body as a prop, Vivian's performance is definitely taking home the gold."

Vivian immediately pressed herself against him, clinging to his arm and rubbing up against it.

"It's all thanks to you, Jo. Without you, where would I find something this realistic?"

The moment Josiah saw me, his face twisted with contempt.

"Your mom just died, and you're dressed like that? She never had much dignity when she was alive. Now her body's rotting like this… Guess the kidnappers figured her money was dirty and not worth taking."

I had thought Vivian had been the one who delayed the ransom.

But Josiah actually thought the dead woman was my mother?

Besides, what gave him the right to insult her like that?

Back when he had nothing, it was my mother who funded his startup.

Vivian wrinkled her nose as the body was wheeled in.

"That's disgusting. Don't let it dirty the set. This dress is couture."

I frowned. "She's dead. Show some respect."

Josiah scoffed and kicked the body.

"Respect? That shameless woman should've died a long time ago. If her body can be useful as Vivian's prop, that's more than she deserves."

I almost laughed from sheer anger.

A ten-million-dollar ransom meant nothing to Josiah. He had spent more than that on handbags for Vivian.

Yet he had dragged it out until the hostage was killed, and now he stood here, toasting champagne with Vivian like nothing had happened.

How cruel.

"Jo, don't be so hard on Sienna. Her mom just died, so it's normal she's upset," Vivian said sweetly. "Her mom can't come back to life. At least she can still be useful. If her sacrifice helps my art, that's meaningful, isn't it?"

Josiah pulled her closer and said, "See how kind Vivian is? Yet you just stand there with that blank face. Your mom deserved what she got."

He added with a smirk, "Don't worry. After the explosion tears her apart, I'll be generous and give you a plastic bag to collect the ashes."

Watching them cling to each other, I felt cold all over.

How long had they been sleeping together behind my back?

"Do whatever you want with the body. Blow it up, burn it, I don't care," I said flatly. "But insult my mother again, and you'll regret it."

Josiah shoved me. "Who the hell do you think you are to threaten me?"

He raised his hand to slap me, but his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and hung up immediately, annoyed. "My dad's assistant again. So damn irritating."

Vivian leaned into him, soft and clingy. "Is your dad pushing you about a meeting again? How annoying. He's always interrupting us."

She added, "Forget it. Don't let it ruin your mood. The next act is about to start. All the journalists are waiting to see your big moment."

At that, Josiah grinned and gestured for the crew to drag the body to the blast point.

"Set it up. We're starting now!"