Chapter 3

I shivered uncontrollably.

Suddenly, I remembered what I'd heard when I was sent to the drug lords in my past life. "Luckily, one of us got into that officer's father's Instagram and saw his post. Otherwise, we'd have ended up in her hands for sure."

A chill ran through me. Gritting my teeth, I threw myself at Wayne once more with all my strength.

However, he grabbed my neck, his voice slow and deliberate. "Everything I've done is for our family. Don't push me."

His grip cut off my air, and my head was pounding. Just as I was about to give up, someone came home. "Lara? Wayne? Are you here? Anna's been acting so secretive. What did she leave behind?"

At that, Wayne finally released me.

I crumpled to the floor, clutching my neck, gasping for air.

Gabriel froze for a beat as he came in, then immediately helped me to my feet. "Wayne! What the hell are you doing? How could you lay a hand on her?"

Gabriel had been one of the murderers in my past life, yet now he was the only one I could turn to. I clung to his hand desperately.

"Anna's on a mission. She's probably undercover. Wayne just posted her photo on Instagram. Get it down, quick!"

Gabriel's eyes widened, and he shot to his feet. "What? Wayne, hand over your phone! Anna's your daughter. Do you want her dead?"

Wayne sneered, showing not the slightest trace of remorse. "You'd have done the same if you were in my place."

Gabriel clenched his jaw, and fury drove his fist toward Wayne's face without a word.

Wayne staggered back, dodging by a step, but he couldn't withstand the sheer force of a man in his prime.

Gabriel wrenched the phone from his hand and deleted the Instagram post. "I've looked up to you all these years, and this is what you do? Anna's a police officer! We should be standing with her, not against her!"

Relief washed over me the moment the post vanished, but it lasted only a breath before I cried out hoarsely, "You've cherished Anna all these years! Why would you do this when she's staring death in the face? What could her death possibly give you?"

Bruises mottled Wayne's face. He pushed himself to his feet, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, the veins at his temple throbbing with rage.

"You idiot! You'll drag the whole family into the grave!" he yelled.

The memory of Anna's death, and my own in my past life, sent violent tremors through me. If I couldn't change the ending this time, I'd sooner see the whole family follow Anna into the grave. Even in the afterlife, I'd find out what was in that farewell letter.

I shot Wayne a cold glare. "If Anna comes to any harm, you'll pay with your life!"

We were still locked in a furious clash when, out of the corner of my eye, I caught Gabriel's gaze falling on the farewell letter. A chill shot through me.

I tried to lunge for it, but the legs I'd hurt in my fight with Wayne buckled beneath me, and I crashed to the floor.

"Gabriel, don't. Hand me the letter," I pleaded.

I pushed myself up through the pain, desperate to stop him, but I was too late. He had already read it.