Chapter 4

The second the screen lit up, my blood ran cold.

It was footage from that night three years ago.

They'd filmed what they did to me from every angle, just for fun.

My whole body started shaking. I went ice-cold, barely able to breathe.

"N-No..."

The words wouldn't come. I could only stare at the screen.

Evelyn had promised me she'd destroyed every copy.

My head snapped up. Eyes wide, I stumbled toward her.

"Please, Evelyn. Don't post it. Please..."

The pain and trauma wouldn't disappear just because I left this world.

But Evelyn was terrifyingly calm.

"I swore at Mom and Dad's graves that I'd raise you right. That's my responsibility as your sister."

Her expression didn't change. "I'm teaching you a lesson. If Mom and Dad were still here, they'd agree with me."

Then she hit send.

No hesitation.

Evelyn walked over and grabbed my wrist.

"Come on. Apologize to Finn for what you just did."

The second she touched me, the terror from three years ago came rushing back.

I stumbled backward.

"Don't touch me!" I screamed, fighting to get free. "Please! Let go of me!"

Evelyn frowned, clearly irritated. "Asher, this is ridiculous. What kind of stunt are you pulling now?

"To make sure you finally learn your lesson, I'm giving Finn half of Andersen Corp as a wedding gift."

My ears rang.

I couldn't hear a word after that. All I heard was their laughter from that night.

"Pull yourself together tonight. Tomorrow, at the wedding, you'll get onstage, apologize to Finn in front of everyone, and give him your blessing.

"Otherwise, don't bother coming home."

The second the door shut, my legs gave out.

I collapsed to the floor.

My phone wouldn't stop buzzing.

Unknown numbers kept calling. Message after message flooded in—insults, sick curiosity, cruel jokes.

I curled under the blanket, wishing I could die right there.

But I couldn't.

Not yet.

The next day, giant screens all across Hawthorne Bay showed the wedding of the century between the Andersen and Carlson families.

I stood at the edge of a rooftop, watching Evelyn onstage.

Her eyes kept scanning the crowd, like she was looking for someone.

Finn noticed and tugged at her arm, pushing her forward.

Then the scene in front of me blurred into an old memory.

Back when Natalie and I were about to get engaged, Evelyn had said through tears, "I can't wait to see my little brother start his next chapter."

She did.

It just wasn't me.

The System spoke in my head.

[Host, it's time. We have to go.]

I stepped forward without hesitation.

My stomach dropped.

Wind tore past my ears.

As I fell, Evelyn's eyes found mine for one brief second.

I smiled.

"Evelyn, how could three years of my life and all of Andersen Corp ever be enough to make it up to Finn?

"Let my life be the final gift at his wedding."