جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 9

My grandmother's hand was really cold. So cold it sent a shiver down my spine.She went in closer toward me with a child-like wonder in her eyes."Zack is coming back, right? I heard it on the phone. Is he giving me a surprise?"My heart tightened. It felt as if someone were squeezing it hard.Zack and I had grown up without our parents. We survived on scraps because our grandmother raised us by scavenging trash.She always said, "Once you two are old enough, I will finally get to enjoy my life."The day Zack passed, he had sent me a message.[Miles, I bought Grandma a red wool sweater. It will surely look good on her.]Later, all I received was a bag. Inside was that red sweater, still with the tags on.That was when our grandmother started losing her mind.The doctor said it was too much of a shock. Alzheimer's.I thought maybe forgetting the painful things was not entirely bad."Zack is working late. I told you, right? He's working extra on New Year's Eve; he'll get paid

I had just returned home when my phone rang.My manager at the office said with a distant voice, "Miles, the company is reorganizing its structure. Your position has been eliminated. Are you free to come in this afternoon? Come in and complete the exit paperwork."I had been fired.I would not believe it if I were told that Gemma was not involved in this. She was a powerful and famous attorney; it was too easy for her to destroy someone's livelihood.That afternoon, I calmly finished the paperwork and received my final month's pay.Before I left the building, the receptionist secretly handed me a box of biscuits. She said, "Miles, take care."On the way back, I bought my grandmother's favorite strawberries and clutched them in my hands.I had just entered the house when she walked over to me. She did not ask me where Zack was, as usual. She merely opened up her arms and pulled me into her arms, hugging me tightly.She patted me on the back, just like when she was putting me to

I buried who I really was. I thought that it would make her like me more.However, I had forgotten something.If someone had no love for you, then they would never love you.No matter what I did, Gemma would not like me any bit better.Just when I was about to leave, Howard barged in. He buried himself in Gemma's arms and cried out, "Gemma, my face hurts."Howard's face was important to him.In this world, someone with good looks would always be treated better. Howard had no great intelligence or impressive education. His emotional intelligence was laughably low.If he had not saved Gemma, he would have been the type of man that Gemma would hate the most.However, because of that debt and that face, Gemma indulged in his every whim.She even found his idiocy endearing.When Gemma heard him cry, her heart softened instantly."Howard, don't be afraid. I'm with you. I won't let anyone bully you."It was unbearable to watch. In fact, I never knew that Gemma had such a tender si

"Miles, I know you resent me. But back then, I had to repay Howard for saving my life. You know me. I can't be an ungrateful person. Besides, Zack had done all those things. If I let him free, my conscience wouldn't allow it."I shrugged her off.I said, "What do you know? If Zack truly had done such things, I would send him to prison myself. But he's a hero. He was protecting that girl."Gemma got a little mad hearing what I said. "Miles, you shouldn't joke with the truth. Dash saw it. It was Zack who assaulted that girl. Why are you still insisting on lying? Do you even know what's right and wrong anymore?"I sneered at her and grabbed Dash, who was hiding behind her."Since he saw it, then, ask him right now! Who was the culprit?!"Dash could not stop crying when he heard my harsh words."Uncle Howard! I want Uncle Howard. I don't want Daddy! He's scary. Mom, let's go."For the first time, Gemma, who always seemed to trust her judgement, sensed something was wrong.She grab

"You're the real monster. Am I right? Didn't you assault that girl and blame it on Zack? Because of you, two innocent people lost their lives! Yet, you still feel no remorse!"Howard was bewildered. He never expected the truth to come to light one day.He knelt on the floor and prostrated himself in front of Gemma."Gemma, we're sorry. Henry has changed! Since they're dead, let them remain dead. Can't we just live our lives?"He knocked his head on the floor repeatedly.Gemma was so furious she almost laughed. How could he brush off two deaths so easily? It was something she could not accept.She stabbed Howard right in his chest. Before his last breath, he also witnessed the death of his younger brother.After killing them, she went to visit Zack's grave, according to the address that her assistant had sent her.Zack's grave was clean and orderly. Clearly, someone was there often to maintain it.She did not forget to bring Dash along.She forced him to kneel and slammed his