جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 9

I developed acute myocarditis just one year into my sentence.After I died, my soul lingered inside the prison.On the day I was supposed to be released, I saw Fiona Carter.Six years had passed, yet she still carried that same quiet, untouchable elegance. She stood there holding my death certificate, her eyes bloodshot. "How could he be dead?"Beside her, Ryker Carter pursed his lips. "Fiona, do you think Xavier Blake just doesn’t want to see me? Maybe he faked the death certificate. Forget it. I should just head back first. I don’t want to upset him if he sees me.""Don’t go!" Fiona’s expression darkened. "Xavier’s always been good at pulling tricks like this. I don’t believe he won’t come back! Let’s go!"She turned and walked off. Behind her, Officer Reece Davis shook his head at her retreating figure. "She looks perfectly normal. How does she not have a brain? Who fakes a death certificate?"I was forced to follow Fiona, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. "Fiona, since you

Hearing that, I snapped."Fiona, you’re unbelievable! You hate me, so why are you dragging Alannah into this?! If anything happens to her, I swear I’ll make sure you never know a moment of peace!"I blew at her like a madman, trying to vent my fury.Fiona only pinched the bridge of her nose, leaned back in her chair, and lit a cigarette.I froze.She hadn’t smoked in a long time. That faint red glow between her fingers made me pause for a long moment."Fiona, don’t take it out on my family. I’ve already paid the price. Isn’t one life enough to make you stop?!"She couldn’t hear me at all, still issuing orders through her phone. It only made my anger burn hotter."Fiona, the biggest mistake I ever made was meeting you! You and that so-called brother of yours were never innocent!"Now that I’m dead, you still won’t let me go? Why did you even chase after me back then? You two could’ve just stayed twisted together!"You idiot! I was abused in prison. One bout of fever was enough

Ryker clutched tightly at her sleeve. "Fiona, what’s wrong? Don’t listen to her nonsense!"For once, Fiona didn’t comfort him. She muttered instead, "I… I thought that was a prank. A scam."Alannah let out a cold scoff in response.Fiona’s patience snapped. "Lock her up. Keep her alive!"Behind her, Alannah burst into wild laughter. "Fiona, you’ll get what’s coming to you!"Ryker, on the other hand, was trembling all over. Fiona had actually ignored him and rushed out for the first time."Damn it! Damn it! Why won’t he stay dead?!" Ryker ground his teeth, seething. Fiona didn’t hear him, but I did."Ryker, losing to a dead man… must be a first for you."Luca hurried after her. "Ms. Carter, do you want to go to the cemetery?""All of that can be faked. There’s no need."I was forced to follow behind, my thoughts still stuck on Alannah. Hearing that, rage surged through me, and I swung my hand down hard, only to hit nothing but air.I snapped, "Who gets buried with a headstone

"Alannah, don’t scare me. Wake up!"She lay motionless on the ground, her body covered in blood."Someone, help! Please, someone, save her!"However, I was just a soul. I couldn’t make a sound. In that moment, I hated myself more than ever. If anything happened to Alannah, too, I would never forgive myself.I ran outside.Near the entrance, a few men were sitting together, playing cards."That woman’s tough. We beat her that badly, and she’s still alive. What if the boss finds out?""The boss hates her brother to the bone. Even if she dies, she won’t blame us.""Besides, this came from Ryker. He wanted to vent. Of course, he wouldn’t let her off easily.""Forget it. Let’s not worry about it. If she dies, then it’s just bad luck."I froze.I never imagined it was Ryker. Why would he do this to me? Although I was already dead, he still wouldn’t leave my family alone?Too much. This was too much!My whole body trembled with rage. I was about to scream again when footsteps sou

Fiona pulled out her phone and brought up surveillance footage."Look closely. This is you meeting the kidnappers back then. Persistence pays off. I finally found it. What else do you have to say?"I thought you were really injured and that your leg had been broken. Turns out even your disability was fake. Ryker, how dare you? You kept up the act for six years?"Ryker’s face went pale as he watched the footage. Then, after a long moment, he burst out laughing. "Yeah, it was me. So what? Isn’t this all your fault? Every time I clashed with Xavier, you always took my side. You gave me the illusion that no matter what I did, you’d forgive me!"Poor Xavier. He loved you with everything he had, and you treated him like trash! Back then, you hated him so much you refused to believe a single word he said!"That’s what gave me the chance. Every time you went on a date, I was there. He didn’t like it, but you accused him of having dirty thoughts. What right do you have to blame me?""If I