Chapter 2

After Robert understood what was happening, he quickly said, "Victor, take it easy. We've wronged you. I'll call Melissa and have her come over. Just don't hurt Lucas. He just had surgery, and he's weak."

Victor's knife wavered. He seemed to believe Robert, at least for the moment.

Robert's hands shook as he pulled out his phone.

The line was noisy, and over the static, I caught a man's cracked, desperate voice.

Robert asked, "What is going on? Lucas has been stabbed a dozen times. He's fading. Why aren't you here yet?"

He had expected Melissa to listen to him. Instead, she laughed coldly.

"Dad, are you in on this, too? I already checked. Victor is still back in his hometown. Tell Lucas to drop the act. If he's really in trouble, he should call a doctor. By the way, I lined up a burial plot. We can schedule his interment whenever."

Her disgust bled through every word.

Then, a weary voice came through the phone. "Is Lucas just acting up again? Mel, don't get mad. He gets jealous and dramatic. Maybe you should sit with him... I really want to die. People online say burning is the worst way to go..."

I knew that the voice belonged to Ethan.

Robert's face darkened. "If you don't believe me, I'll send you photos."

Melissa went quiet for two seconds. She was probably looking at the pictures. But then, she sounded completely unbothered when she sighed.

"Wow, Dad. Lucas really splurged on this performance. Where did he find that extra who looks so much like Victor? And the blood looks exactly like the real thing.

"Oh, look at that pitiful face! Get him onto a film set before all that talent goes to waste!"

Robert opened and closed his mouth, rendered speechless.

For a heartbeat, a bleakness cut through me. How had I never seen Melissa for who she was?

Neighbors gathered on the rooftop. Some of them tried to explain the situation on my behalf.

However, Melissa still refused to believe it. "What now? Did he hire extras? Or are all those people really falling for his acting? Have fun up there. I'm going to calm Ethan down."

The roof went quiet for a few seconds after the call ended. I had no idea which of her lines set Victor off, but he suddenly shoved me to the ground and lost it. The knife rose and fell, again and again.

The blade cut through my skin, and a sharp, horrifying pain surged from my chest through my body. I tried to fight back, but I couldn't even lift an arm.

Just as the edges of my vision went dark, two officers barreled through the door.

It turned out that a neighbor had called 911.

It took both officers a hard minute to wrench the knife from Victor's grip and slap cuffs on him.

Meanwhile, my blood kept spilling, and my eyelids grew as heavy as iron.

Right before they dropped, I heard Melissa's soft voice coming from Robert's phone. She had forgotten to hang up.

"Ethan, I've wanted to divorce Lucas for a long time, but he takes such good care of my dad. In my eyes, you're my only husband. He's just a useful moneymaker.

"Don't be upset. Think about it. How could I love a man who lies through his teeth? I only love you because you're honest and dependable."

Each word she uttered slid into my chest like a fresh blade. However, what filled me wasn't sorrow, but hate.

...

When I opened my eyes, the smell of antiseptic hit me.

Robert hurried to the bed and let out a long breath. "Lucas, we failed you. I'm sorry you had to go through this."

I glanced at the thick bandages across my chest, my gaze turning cold. "I want some time alone."

He took in my cold demeanor, sighed again, and stepped out.

I pulled out my phone to distract myself and accidentally played a video clip from a livestream of Melissa talking Ethan down.

Gasoline had been splashed across the living room floor, and Melissa didn't even flinch. She stood there in a white wedding dress, held a diamond ring, and looked up at Ethan, her gaze filled with deep affection.