Chapter 4

"There has to be some mistake!"

A man in the crowd let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"Listen to him."

"Every rapist has a parent standing behind him saying, 'My son would never do that.'"

"Maybe that's exactly why they keep getting away with it."

My father's face flushed red.

"Our front door has security cameras. If Jake left the house last night, it'll be on the footage."

Emily answered almost instantly.

“A security camera you installed yourselves doesn’t prove anything.”

“How do we know the footage wasn’t edited? You own the system. Changing the records wouldn’t exactly be difficult for someone with your resources.”

Several people nodded.

“Their own security footage? That proves nothing. Who knows if they edited it to make themselves look innocent?”

“This explains why they’re so arrogant. They came prepared with a fake alibi. They planned this from the start. That’s how ruthless they are.”

My mother's hands trembled.

“You have no evidence. You’re accusing my son based only on her side of the story. That’s slander!”

The moment Emily heard that, she suddenly pushed herself up against the railing.

Her eyes were red, filled with anger and pain.

“Mrs. Brooks, are you saying I would ruin my own reputation just to frame your son?”

“Yes, your family is wealthy. Someone like me could never fight against people like you.”

“Today, I’ll risk my own life to prove that I deserve justice!”

The boss immediately stepped forward, his face turning pale.

“Emily, don’t do anything reckless!”

“Whatever you need, we can talk about it.”

Emily bit her lip, her voice trembling.

“I want them to admit what they did.”

“I want accountability.”

She looked at my parents, her eyes full of resentment.

"I want your family to take responsibility for what your son did."

"If you truly believe in doing the right thing, then prove it with your actions, not your excuses."

With that, she stepped closer to the edge of the rooftop.

The crowd erupted into panic.

“She’s really going to jump!”

“Someone stop her!”

My boss spun around and shouted at me.

"Sarah, she's standing on the edge!"

"Whatever she wants, agree to it first."

“Your family has the money. Is one million dollars really worth more than a human life?”

Emily swung one leg over the railing, her body trembling as she clung to the edge of the rooftop terrace.

“If I die, I’ll haunt Jake for the rest of his life!”

“I’ll make sure everyone knows what kind of monster he is. A rapist. A murderer. I’ll never let him have peace!”

Her eyes were filled with desperation and fury.

My parents were terrified.

“Please, don’t jump!”

“Whatever happened, we can talk about it!”

“We can discuss compensation. Just come back over the railing!”

My father’s hands trembled as he pulled out his checkbook.

I knew what he was thinking. He wanted to get Emily away from the edge first, then investigate the truth later.

In my previous life, my father had written that same check.

He thought money could buy us time to investigate.

Instead, it became the first piece of “evidence” that our family had admitted Jake was guilty.

Seeing my father’s pen hovering over the check, ready to fill in the amount, a flicker of excitement flashed in Emily’s eyes before she could hide it.

“Wait.”

I reached out and stopped my father’s hand.

Under everyone’s stunned gaze, I turned to Emily.

“Emily, I’m going to ask you one last time.”

“Are you absolutely sure the person who came to your apartment last night was my brother Jake?”

Emily stared at the check in my father’s hand. Then she nodded firmly.

“I’m sure. I’d recognize him even if he turned to ashes.”

"There is evidence on my underwear. His DNA is on it."

I nodded.

“Good. Since you’re so certain, I’ll give you exactly what you want.”

I took out my phone.

Emily swallowed, unable to hide the eagerness in her voice.

“A bank transfer? Fine.”

“1 million dollars. Not a penny less.”

I let out a cold laugh.

“1 million dollars? No.”

“I’m talking about the justice you want. I’ll give you that.”

With that, I unlocked my phone.