Chapter 4

Orson gently pushed Gillian aside, his face full of kindness.

"Your mother just missed you too much. That's why she got so emotional. Don't be scared. I've already contacted a lawyer. Once you come home with us, you can sign the papers right away and inherit our billion-dollar inheritance. Consider this our way of making it up to you."

The fear inside me hit its peak.

I quickly pulled out a strand of my hair and shoved it into their hands.

I made up an excuse about waiting for the DNA results before going back with them, so there wouldn't be any false hope, and then I bolted without hesitation.

The restaurant was crowded, so they didn't chase after me.

When I got back to the orphanage, the other three immediately surrounded me.

"So what actually happened?"

I said hesitantly, "I don't know."

All three of them looked like they were falling apart, eyes empty as they muttered.

"Between the four of us, we can't even scrape together enough for a single train ticket. We don't even have the option to run. Maybe we should just end it ourselves. Suicide has to be better than being killed by someone else."

Though they said that, none of them could bring themselves to do it.

Laurel grabbed everyone by the wrist. "How about this? We put sleeping pills in water and drink them together. Wouldn't that hurt less?"

I hurried to calm them down.

"There's still a way. I'll go and reconnect with the Coxes."

The three of them looked at me like I was an idiot.

"You already know you'll die if you go. What's the point?"

"Are you really that greedy? You want money more than your life?"

Memories of how the three of them had died horribly before came flooding back.

Mouth torn apart. Skin slashed all over. Thrown into a mastiff cage.

Any one of those deaths was unbearable.

I hadn't had it any better.

When I fell, I hadn't died right away. I had endured the agony of every bone in my body shattering, feeling my life drain away bit by bit.

That billion-dollar estate was nothing more than a ticket straight to hell.

I picked up the photocopied agreement, my tone firm.

"Yes, I know going back is walking into death. But it's also our only chance to live."

They couldn't understand.

"Why?"

I looked at the three of them and didn't explain further.

I wasn't sure I could actually expose the truth, so it was better not to say anything. Even if I failed, I could still buy them time to escape.

I took out all my savings and handed them over.

"Just use this to buy tickets and leave as soon as possible."

Laurel burst into tears. "You don't really have a plan, do you? You just want to buy time for us to run!"

Rebecca snapped, "How did I never realize you were this self-righteous? Don't even think about it!"

Vita slammed her hand on the table. "We're already being watched. There's no way we can run. Just tell us how we can help you!"

I was surprised and a little moved.

After all, the four of us had been competing since we were kids. None of us could stand to see the others doing well.

But thinking about it, none of us had ever really hurt each other.

My biological parents, on the other hand, had killed me without hesitation and let me die in agony.

Seeing how loyal they were, I stopped hiding it.

"When Mrs. Cox was desperate to drag me home, she knocked over a dessert. That's when I realized the truth. The heiress really is in our orphanage, and it's someone all of you know…"

Under their expectant gazes, I gave them the answer.