Chapter 2

When I woke up again, Regina had returned to the hospital with the surveillance footage from the villa.

She had intended to cement my guilt for deliberately framing Tyler. Instead, she accidentally presented the truth right in front of everyone.

After seeing the footage, everyone fell silent.

Mom was the first to finally react—by giving Tyler a hard slap.

"I'm so disappointed in you, Ty! Cal is your brother. How could you do something like this?"

Dad turned away without saying a word, his eyes red. Even Regina had a flicker of remorse in her eyes.

Tyler trembled in fear, tears instantly spilling out. Looking at me, he said in a shaky voice, "Cal went to prison because of me. I was scared that he'd take revenge on me now that he's out!

"After all, I'm just an adopted son… Mom, Dad, you have to believe me. I only did it out of a foolish desire to protect myself… If you're upset with me, then I'll just make it up to Cal by ending my life…"

After saying that, he acted like he was about to jump out the window, only for Calista to yank him back immediately.

Seeing this, the disappointment on my parents' faces was instantly replaced with heartache.

Calista looked even more devastated, as if someone had ripped her beating heart out.

"Mom, Dad, will you only be satisfied if Ty's dead? It's perfectly understandable for him to feel that way. Who wouldn't be afraid of having a ticking time bomb right beside them?"

My parents and Regina seemed persuaded. They exchanged glances and nodded.

Snorting coldly, Calista grabbed my wrist, mangled flesh and all, and snapped, "Calvin, do you still resent us for sending you to prison? Is that why you staged all this on purpose, looking for a chance to get revenge on Ty?"

The pain dimmed my vision.

"No. I've already learned my lesson over those three years. I'll do whatever you guys tell me to do. Even if Tyler wants me dead, I'll do it."

Calista didn't believe me, and neither did Tyler.

They started testing me.

Calista ripped the locket off my neck. It contained our family portrait and was the thing I treasured most. Normally, I wouldn't even allow anyone to touch it. But now, even after it was thrown to the floor and shattered into pieces, I didn't even blink.

For some reason, that aggravated her. "You really don't care at all?"

I calmly shook my head, replying, "Since you don't want me to care, Callie, I won't."

She froze.

"Mom, Dad, Callie, I'd really like to see whether Cal is telling the truth," Tyler said.

He slowly walked over to Regina and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Cal, I want to make Gina my woman right here, right now."

Regina's body stiffened slightly. She turned to glance at me, but she didn't push him away. They stood right in front of my hospital bed and started kissing.