Chapter 1

The air instantly froze.

Scott Weber let out a cold laugh. His voice was full of irritation as he snapped, "Stop playing games and tell Shirley Weber to get out here right now! We've checked with the psychiatric hospital. She escaped from there two years ago.

"You're her only friend, so she wouldn't go to anyone else but you."

Devin Pollard frowned deeply as he scanned Vanessa Harper's apartment with eyes full of annoyance. "This is a matter of life and death, Vanessa. Nicole needs a kidney transplant as soon as possible, and Shirley is the best match.

"Tell her to come back with us, and I'll write you a big check."

After a pause, he added, "You won't want your son to keep suffering with you, do you?"

Vanessa curled her lips into a mocking smile. "She did come to me, but it's a shame she's dead."

Traces of anger flashed across Devin's face. "You won't stop lying, huh? We did Shirley a great mercy by not sending her to prison when she stabbed Nicole back then.

"She owes Nicole her life, yet now she stands by and watches her die. She's truly malicious."

Standing behind him, I let out a self-mocking laugh.

I was branded evil and malicious ever since Nicole Weber appeared, but I never imagined that even after two years, I would still be labeled evil just for failing to appear in front of him.

I couldn't help but marvel at how deeply Devin treasured Nicole.

When they stubbornly refused to believe Vanessa's words, she didn't bother arguing. Instead, she turned her back on them and went back to plating the fresh fruits and pastries on the desk.

Scott's voice turned cold when he spotted the milk cookies in her hand. "You claim Shirley is dead, so who are these pastries for? Are you preparing her favorite snacks for a ghost?"

Devin cast an impatient glance at the desk before looking away.

Despite being dead for two years, seeing their reaction still made my heart throb painfully.

They were Devin and Scott, the same people who used to cut business trips short and rush home overnight just to celebrate my birthday. But now, they had completely forgotten that today was my birthday, and they didn't have the slightest clue that today was my death anniversary.

Vanessa's expression darkened. She set the pastries down with a sharp scoff and snapped, "Can't I pay respects to the dead?"

Devin coldly stared at her for a long while until his patience wore thin. "We're only asking Shirley to give Nicole a kidney. It's not like we're asking for her life.

"If you don't tell me where she is hiding right now, we're taking your son."

Vanessa took a deep breath, nearly laughing out loud. "Go ahead. Jordan is your son and Shirley's anyway. I couldn't care less even if you strangle him to death."

The room plunged into a dead silence.

I watched as Devin's hands trembled at his sides before he let out a cold laugh and said, "It looks like you've gone just as mad as Shirley."

"I'm perfectly sane!" Vanessa snapped, cutting him off. "Shirley barely survived escaping that psychiatric hospital and bled out during labor three months later. She died without getting to look at her baby even once."

Scott stood frozen to the spot. He whipped his head around to look at Jordan Pollard, the baby cradled in the bodyguard's arms, with shock written all over his face.

As Devin stared into the raw hatred surging in Vanessa's eyes, a trace of sheer panic flickered across his face. He was just about to open his mouth and press further when he was interrupted by the buzzing of his phone.

It was a text from Nicole.

"Shirley must still hate me, Devin. I'm sure she'll do everything she can to make things difficult for you, just to avoid giving me her kidney.

"Please don't go through all that trouble. Just take good care of yourself when I die."

The brief sentences were enough to turn the pain in Devin's eyes into mockery. His hands shook as he typed back a reply. "This is what she owes you, so what right does she have to hate you?

"I'll bring her back and make her give you that kidney. I'm not letting you die."

Then, he raised his head to glare at Vanessa with eyes full of threat.

"Stop putting on an act, Vanessa. Shirley is coming with me today, and we're not leaving until we find her."

Vanessa smiled. "Fine by me. Your premature son cost me a fortune in medical bills, and he's a nightmare to take care of anyway. You can start by reimbursing me."

With that, she handed him a ledger and continued, "Every single expense is detailed right here, Mr. Pollard. I expect a prompt payment."

Without waiting for a reply, she turned around and walked out onto the balcony to tend to her chores.

Her attitude pissed Devin off. He hurled the ledger away and snapped, "Why should I believe anything you say?"

He threw his arm out with so much force that he accidentally knocked over something on her nearby shelf.

My heart missed a beat as I watched my diary drop onto the floor.