Chapter 4

The moment Gerald and Gary approached, Zachary swung at Gary.

"You locked her up? Don't you know she has asthma? You're murderers!"

His voice cracked with fury, and watching his desperation made a lump rise in my throat.

Zachary and I had grown up together, and he had harbored feelings for me for years.

But every time I tried to return his affection, Sophia would intervene. Before a date with Zachary, she would pour paint all over me. She would even throw his gifts for me into the drain.

Because of her, my relationship with Zachary had always been rocky. My brothers had no idea; they simply thought I was trying to steal Sophia's man.

Gerald wanted to punch Zachary, but he held himself back when he saw Sophia. Straightening his collar, he forced his anger down. "Mr. Green, don't meddle in our family's affairs. Giselle was locked up because she did something wrong."

"Something wrong?" Zachary roared, his voice echoing through the corridor. "I've heard about this. All this because Sophia's dress was torn?

"Isn't Sophia wearing a fancy gown now? Did you really need to hurt Giselle like that?"

Suddenly, Sophia collapsed to her knees, sobbing into her palms, her shoulders shaking. "I'm sorry, Zach. It's all my fault. I made a fuss over nothing."

She crawled to Gerald and Gary, clutching their pants. "Let Giselle out! I won't do this again. I'll behave."

With every word Sophia spoke, Gerald's and Gary's expressions darkened.

Gary ordered a guard to subdue Zachary, pressing him to the floor. Then, Gary kicked the door open.

"You must be thrilled, Giselle, hearing Zachary defend you. But don't be naive! Unless you kneel and apologize to Sophia, you'll never leave the basement!"

Gerald trembled with rage. He glared at Zachary, who met his stare with defiance. "Take my advice—find someone else. You're blinded by Giselle's innocent face. We were fooled too. We thought she was the best sister in the world.

"But after Sophia came home, Giselle grew jealous of our attention and abused her to drive her away. Sophia grew up in an orphanage; her life was already hard. She finally found a family, only to be tormented!"

At that thought, Gerald and Gary grew even angrier. They helped Sophia to her feet and promised, "Don't worry, Sophia. We'll make sure she apologizes to you, even if it kills her. As for Zachary, I'll talk to his father and arrange for you to marry him."

"What? I don't want to marry her!" Zachary's head shot up.

Gerald and Gary didn't even spare him a glance. They yelled toward the metal door, "Still keeping your mouth shut, Giselle? Don't think that you'll escape just by staying silent!"

Gary turned to Sophia. "If she doesn't speak in three minutes, take off the gown Mom gave her. I'll cut it into pieces in front of her."

I looked at him incredulously. So he did remember that our mom had gifted that gown to me. And it wasn't just a gift; Mom had equally treasured it.

Our mother, whom we all loved!

How could they destroy her belongings for Sophia?

I screamed at them, but my voice never reached them.

The seconds ticked by. Soon, the three minutes were over.

"Go change, Sophia!"

Sophia bit her lip, mumbling, "Giselle would be sad if she found out."

"No way! If she did, she wouldn't have stayed silent," Gerald hissed. "Don't forget how she destroyed our parents' portrait just to get rid of you."

Sophia smirked smugly before heading off to change.

Once she returned, Gary raised his scissors and shredded the gown.

Zachary thrashed against the guard, shouting, "Giselle won't forgive you for this, Gary!"

But Gary kept cutting. Every snip felt like he was cutting away a piece of my heart. I watched from beside them, helpless.

I didn't want to be silent, my brothers. Before dying, I had screamed with everything I had. I had called for Gerald and Gary, begging them to save me.

I kept waiting, but the only person who came was Sophia. She took my inhaler and sealed the door tight, condemning me to suffocation.

As the last scrap of cloth fell, my heart shriveled.

After surveying the shreds strewn across the floor, Gerald and Gary kicked the door once more. Still, there was no response.

Gary swore under his breath and instructed the guards to open the door.

As the door swung wide, a gray corpse with swollen eyes appeared before them.