No More Taking the Fall

I took Shaun Fisher's place and spent three years in prison, counting every day until I could get out.

I thought when I was released, Joan West would keep her promise and marry me.

I thought my sister, Helen Fisher, would treat me the same way she treated Shaun, just like she said she would.

And yet, the day I walked out, they dragged me straight into hell with their own hands.

"Joan, your family isn't going bankrupt anymore. Helen, you're healthy again. Why are you still trying to please Shaun by hiring those thugs to humiliate me? I gave you a kidney! I spent three years in prison for you! Why are you doing this to me?!"

Too much had happened today. Every single thing felt unreal.

I shouted at them like I had lost my mind, my eyes burning as I asked the same questions over and over.

All I got back was impatience from Joan and Helen. They were afraid I would ruin the wedding, so they locked me up and left to attend it, all smiles.

I hated them for everything they had done. After calling the lab director, I was about to call the police.

That was when Joan pushed the door open and walked in.

"Joan? Are you here to apologize and let me out?" I asked.

For a split second, seeing her again made me hesitate. Maybe I had gone too far.

The thought had barely formed when she rushed forward, snatched my phone, and smashed it on the floor.

"Good thing Helen reminded me to come back for you. You were going to call the police on us? Matt, how could you be this vicious?"

Her fingers tightened around my throat, her face filled with disgust and hatred.

I felt like my neck was about to snap, and something in my chest ached just as badly.

"You begged me to take Shaun's place and go to prison. You said you'd marry me when I got out. Instead, you married someone else, hired men to assault me, and spread rumors that I'm into men. Who's the vicious one here?!"

I stared at her twisted expression, warped by anger.

I couldn't believe this was the same woman who had protected me all those years.

Joan shoved me to the ground. "You used to be so obedient and sensible. You never talked back. Three years in prison, and now you've learned all the wrong things from those people."

"So fighting for a way to survive is wrong now?" I lay on the floor, clutching my throat, my eyes stinging.

Joan frowned. "Marrying Shaun is just part of the system's task. You care too much about appearances. I was afraid I couldn't afford to support you if we went bankrupt. Even after I'm married, you can still be with me."

"You…want me to be your side piece?" My head spun with anger.

"What else? Shaun's the one tied to my system. If he thrives, the West family thrives."

I looked at her calm, matter-of-fact expression, and something finally clicked.

From the moment she bound herself to that system, her greed had already decided everything. She was always going to betray me.

I pushed myself up off the floor and let out a sharp, bitter laugh.

"You think pleasing Shaun will keep the West family rising? I've already activated the anti-system device. In one week, everything the system gave you will disappear. The West family will still go bankrupt."

Joan's face went pale.