Chapter 2

The contract stated that I was to turn myself in at the police station and that I was responsible for the building collapse during the earthquake back then, the one that trapped Tricia and Jimmy in the rubble and killed one of them.

But at the time, I was hiking in the mountains, and I'd left Scott to handle everything at the company alone.

It was his cutting corners during construction that made the building unable to withstand the earthquake, leading to casualties. And now he actually wanted me to be the scapegoat and even transfer all the company shares to Tricia.

If I signed this contract, I'd probably spend the rest of my life behind bars.

After reading the contract, Nicky angrily tore it to pieces.

"Scott, you're despicable and shameless!" Nicky snatched the phone away and broke down in tears as she spoke to the person on the video call.

"Scott, take a good look at me! I'm your sister! Didn't you say you'd take care of me for life? Hurry up and come down to save me! I'd never let Arlene sign this contract!"

A bitter ache filled my heart.

After five years of marriage, Nicky and I had become best friends who shared everything.

Scott spat at her through the phone.

"You look like a hag, yet you're trying to pass yourself off as Nicky? That's not how you beg for mercy. I'm not saying Nicky is some legendary beauty, but she's been a lovely little gem since she was a child.

"How dare you compare yourself to her, you filthy whore! Arlene, my patience has its limits. Sign the contract or die!"

The bodyguards at the edge of the opening suddenly started shoveling dirt onto our heads at an accelerated pace. Someone's keys had gotten mixed into the soil, and the sharp edge cut right through Nicky's arm.

"Make up your mind fast, or next time I'll be throwing knives down there!"

"Nicky!" I frantically ripped at my clothes to bandage her wound.

Then, I looked up at Scott coldly. "You really think your plan is flawless this time, don't you?"

Scott scoffed and retorted, "So what if I do? No one can save you now."

I pointed at Tricia, who was standing beside him.

"Can't you see that someone's using you to do their dirty work? You think you're some kind of brave warrior charging into battle for love, but you're nothing more than someone else's attack dog."

"Who's using me?"

"You know exactly who I'm talking about. Keep going down this road, and you'll regret it sooner or later."

Tricia suddenly picked up a rock and hurled it at us. "Scott, don't listen to her nonsense! She's just stalling for backup. Bury her now!"

Scott's mind stopped short, and whatever patience he had left evaporated.

"What, did you all skip breakfast? Shovel harder!"

A dozen bodyguards swung their shovels frantically.

Seeing that our thighs were about to be submerged, I immediately took a can of pepper spray out of the bag behind me.

With every ounce of strength I could muster, I hurled it upwards, smashing it at the feet of the lead bodyguard.

Scott, however, burst into laughter.

"Pepper spray? Arlene, you're supposed to be an honors graduate from a top university. You might fend off one person, but can you fend off ten?"

The sand was piling higher and higher, already level with our stomachs.

Hopelessness had taken hold of Nicky. She wrapped her arms around my waist and pressed against my back, her tears soaking right through my clothes.