Chapter 11

I hadn't expected it to be Tyler who called me."You ran off again?" His voice crackled through the receiver, edged with accusation."Sorry, Dr. Ford," I said. "I'm just not the kind of patient who follows orders."The wind was howling around me, and the roar of waves crashing onto the shore must've reached him too, because he paused. I could almost hear him stiffen."Where are you? Are you at the beach? Mindy, don't do anything stupid. That bastard Charles isn't worth it. Listen to me—if you're even thinking about ending it all, I swear I'll destroy him. I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life, I—"He'd clearly misunderstood.There was a new panic in his voice now—hurried footsteps, the clatter of things knocked over, some object shattering somewhere near him.I quickly spoke up to calm him down. "Relax. I'm not going to do anything reckless. Dr. Ford, I think I may have given you the wrong impression last time. Maybe I wasn't clear. Whatever I'm going through, it's n

Chapter 12

Madam Mankin stepped out from the inner room.She glanced at Charles before turning to me."He called earlier to check in," she said. "I mentioned you'd be dropping by. So he came."I forced a dry and awkward smile but didn't respond.Madam Mankin, clearly sensing my reluctance, let the subject drop. Instead, she turned to Charles again. "I need to speak with Mindy about something. Go clean yourself up. Just look at you."I didn't spare him a glance. Without a word, I followed Madam Mankin toward the inner hall.We were just passing the couch when, for reasons I couldn't begin to understand, Charles suddenly lost it.He shot up from the sofa like something inside him had snapped. In a few long strides, he was beside me, eyes bloodshot and feral, like something wild and cornered.Before Madam Mankin could say anything, he grabbed my wrist and started dragging me toward the door."I need to talk to her," he said. "Just the two of us. Something private."The agreement had long s

Chapter 13

It was as if Charles were caught in the grip of some unfathomable, fatal dilemma.His expression faltered—confused, adrift."Mindy," his voice came from behind me, low and hoarse, "it shouldn't be like this. Even if you're in love with my brother... we look so alike. Why don't you feel anything for me at all?"I didn't stop walking. Didn't even glance back.A man like him—perhaps someone like him could live his whole life without ever truly understanding what love is.He had imprisoned himself in the past, wrapping it around him like a safety blanket, too afraid to see that it was already threadbare. But me—I wanted to move forward.Inside the inner hall, Madam Mankin was already waiting for me.She lifted her face slightly, then stroked the cross in her hand.When she heard my footsteps, her fingers paused."Mindy," she said gently, "I've always known... you were just a child back then. What happened—it wasn't your fault."I stared at her, expressionless. Not a flicker of em

Chapter 14

"You're clever," Madam Mankin said, her voice low and tight, "but you should also know—only certain kinds of people are truly capable of keeping secrets."I raised an eyebrow, calm and unshaken."I wouldn't have come here alone unless I was ready," I said. "All the evidence is scheduled to be sent from a secure email. If I don't make it to my flight, it'll go straight to George. But if I get on that plane, it vanishes. For good.""And why should I believe you?" Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her emotions clearly pushing against the seams."Because you don't have a choice. You have to."I knew her weakness better than anyone. After a lifetime of manipulation, I understood what she valued most. It wasn't the police she feared. It was her husband, George Mankin.The moment he discovered who was truly behind the death of his beloved son, everything she built would crumble.This was a game neither of us could afford to lose."Who are you?" she asked, her voice low, eyes narrowing.

Chapter 15

There's something different about the streets of France in early winter.I was walking back to my apartment alone after class. The sound of hurried footsteps behind me made me tense. Instinctively, I quickened my pace.But whoever was behind me only closed the distance faster.Panic swelled in my chest. I broke into a run, turning corners without thinking, until I crashed into something—someone—solid and cool."I've been waiting forever," a man's voice murmured above my head, calm and low. "Took you long enough."He spoke in fluent, effortless French—clearly for the benefit of the people behind me.From behind, someone cursed under their breath and turned away, footsteps fading into the distance.Only then did I lift my head.The first thing I saw was Tyler's face. As cold and striking as I remembered, but thinner now, more worn. The disheveled stubble, the slight slump in his shoulders—he looked like a man who had lost things along the way."What are you doing here?" I asked,

Chapter 16

Inside the box, a familiar blue crystal pendant lay quietly.And with it, memories I thought long buried were suddenly set alight.After the accident, I had wandered to the rooftop of a tall building just off the street. Not because I had any particular thought in mind, only because I wanted a place with a view, somewhere silent, somewhere to be alone for a while."You were the guy on the rooftop that day?"It hit me all at once.I stared at Tyler, my mouth hanging open in disbelief.But he looked nothing like the boy I remembered.Back then, he was all angles and shadows—gaunt, hollow-eyed, worn out in a way that made him seem already halfway gone. Lifeless, almost.Tyler smiled softly and gave a small nod. "Yeah, that was me.""That year I was applying to college," he said. "My parents pushed me into business. I didn't want it. I never wanted it. My life felt like a marionette's—someone else always pulling the strings. I couldn't sleep for months. My mind started slipping in