Chapter 2

Sophia was still known as the sister who spoiled her younger brother beyond reason.

Only now, that younger brother had become Zachary.

Gasping in pain, I watched as she ordered the bodyguard to lock me back inside the basement.

I never expected that, within moments, the basement would begin filling with salt water. Soon, it reached my calves.

I could endure the cup of salt water Zachary had deliberately poured over me, but being forced to soak in it was no different from a death sentence.

I screamed as if my soul was being sucked out of my body.

Even so, I refused to give up my last chance of survival. Staggering toward the iron door, I pounded on it with all the strength I had left.

"Somebody help me!"

The bodyguard outside finally got annoyed. He kicked the door.

"Shut up! Stop screaming! If you upset Mr. Zachary again, you'll really be dead! Do you think you're still the little brother Ms. Sinclair used to spoil? A vicious brat like you who bullies Mr. Zachary deserves to die!"

I swallowed the blood rising in my throat and clenched my jaw.

"It's salt water! If I stay in here for another thirty minutes, it'll kill me! If you don't want to get dragged into this, take me to the hospital now!"

He kept cursing me, but he also understood one thing. If I actually died, neither Sophia nor my parents would spare him.

After hesitating for a long while, he finally decided to call Sophia.

"Ms. Sinclair, Mr. Steven says the water in the basement is salt water. He's covered in injuries and says he can't soak in it. Should I take him to the hospital first?"

Sophia sounded confused.

"That can't be right. I prepared that solution myself to help his wounds heal."

She took a deep breath and said, "Go check whether the water really is salt, or…"

Before she could finish, Zachary's soft, aggrieved voice interrupted her. "Sophia, I mixed that solution myself. Don't you trust me?"

Hearing his hurt tone, she immediately reassured him.

"Steven lies every single day. We prepared a healing solution for him, and he's still being ungrateful. Ignore him!"

She hung up without another word.

From that moment on, the bodyguard ignored every one of my pleas.

The salt water slowly turned crimson with blood. My wounds softened and split open. My body swayed weakly. It felt as if closing my eyes for even a second would mean death.

Yet, my will to live persisted strongly. I refused to die like this.

I clung stubbornly to consciousness until nightfall, calling out from time to time and hoping someone would notice me.

Just as my vision blurred and I drifted toward unconsciousness, footsteps echoed outside the door. I gathered every ounce of strength and cried out for help.

At last, they heard me. The door swung open, and the blood-red salt water rushed out into the hallway.

Curious, they switched on their flashlights. When the beam landed on my face, I finally recognized them.

They were Sophia's circle of mean friends.

They had always sided with Zachary. Behind Sophia's back, they often bullied me just to entertain him.

I was terrified of them, but I was even more terrified of dying.

So I humbled myself and begged the very people who had tormented me.

"P-Please save me. I-I'm dying…"

The sight of the nails protruding from my body left them staring in shock.

"Who did this to him?"

However, the shock quickly turned into excitement.

"Isn't Sophia and Zachary's biggest wish to see him suffer? They'll love this. Come on! Drag him onto the yacht!"

Someone immediately objected.

"He's still Sophia's biological brother. No matter how much she hates him, she wouldn't want to see him like this. We should take him to the hospital first."

About half of them nodded in agreement.

The others scoffed.

"Oh, please! This is probably just another one of Steven's pathetic stunts to make Sophia feel sorry for him. Hurry up and move him. The yacht's about to leave!"