Chapter 1

It was extremely dark.

Through the live surveillance app on my phone, I saw my family gathered around the dinner table with four phones placed in the middle.

They were betting on how long it would take me to call them for help.

My younger brother, Nate Anderson, said confidently, “It’ll take one minute.”

When I was ten years old, Nate poisoned my puppy on Thanksgiving.

I cried in defeat and rushed into my parents’ room. I begged them to take my puppy to the vet.

My parents did not take me seriously even when I sobbed my eyes out.

“Nate’s just pranking you. We can get another dog if this one dies.”

My puppy had a seizure and died in my arms.

It took exactly one minute.

After that, they did not even bring up the new dog that they promised to get me.

It was my parents’ turn. They said together, “Five minutes.”

There was once when I had a family dinner with them. Nate swapped my soda for pesticide.

My tummy was twisting in pain, and I rolled on the floor for five whole minutes before I finally begged for help.

That day, I had my stomach pumped in the hospital while they went out for a night stroll.

Ever since, I was wary of Nate’s pranks, and I never spent Thanksgiving with them again.

My girlfriend, Gwen Smith, felt bad for me. Despite her unique career, she would take time off every year to accompany me for Thanksgiving.

At that very moment, she suddenly seemed to recall something.

She stood up while the others laughed, grabbed a jacket, and ran toward the door.

I grabbed my phone instinctively.

I was about to send my location to Gwen when I saw her stop in her tracks before the door.

She looked at the clock on the wall and said confidently, “I bet Oliver won’t call for help tonight.

“The cell tower in that area is owned by my company. I just asked my assistant to put up a maintenance notice. After midnight, that area will have no signal at all.”

My heart sank.

Nate was pleasantly surprised. He rushed over to hug Gwen.

“It’s no wonder you insisted on changing the address to the outskirts.

“Gwen, you’re undoubtedly a prank master!”

In the past, Gwen had not allowed me to get close to that area.

She said that it was not developed enough, and a lot of robberies occurred there. There were even wild dogs that had attacked people before.

She was worried that I would run into danger.

However, to support Nate’s prank, she was willing to leave me there with no help.

My family members were cheering for a new team member who had joined their game. They hugged each other and jumped for joy.

The very last bit of hope that I had vanished.

While my phone still had a signal, I replied to the overseas offer that requested me to move there in three days.

In the past, I hesitated because the place was too far away. I did not want to be away from my family.

However, I did not like how they treated me.

I no longer wanted to be part of this family.

At midnight, my phone lost its signal.

I picked up a stick and walked forward nervously.

As I walked, I felt less afraid.

It seemed that once I accepted I had no one to rely on, I felt much braver.