Chapter 3
Alex’s voice carried an undeniable command. “Tomorrow I’m calling a press conference. You’ll personally clarify that Sophia didn’t kill your sister. You’ll say Lily committed suicide. Understand?”
I stared at him, certain I’d misheard. “Have you lost your mind?”
My voice shook. “You want me to publicly exonerate my sister’s murderer?”
“Not exonerate,” he corrected with terrifying calm. “Clarify. You’re the only family she had. Everyone will believe you.”
I struck him across the face with all my strength, and as his head snapped to the side, he smiled and took my hand to gently rub it.
“Did that hurt?” He seemed pleased rather than angry. “Hit me, curse me-I’ll take it all. But Emma, you have to help
Sophia. Don’t push me too far.”
“Push you?” I trembled with rage, yanking my hand back. “You’re the one pushing me! You destroyed the evidence! You’re protecting a killer! And now you want me to clear her name!”
Alex stared at his empty palm, then calmly pulled a USB drive from his jacket and set it gently on the table. “Emma, if you don’t cooperate…”
He paused, softening his tone to sound less like a threat. “I’ll release your sister’s secrets to the world.”
My blood ran cold as I stared at the drive. “How do you know about that?”
Alex looked at me with cruel pity. “This contains bor hypnotherapy sessions ”
Auto-added to the Library
e was sixteen… Emma, this footage is
His voice was flat. “All in her own words. Wh
enough to prove she killed herself due to psychological trauma.”
“Alex…” My throat closed. “How could you?”
He couldn’t meet my eyes, looking past me. “If you cooperate tomorrow, no one will ever see this recording. Emma, don’t fight me. You know I have no choice.”
I clenched my fists until my nails drew blood.
This was the man I’d loved for seven years, the one who once stood between me and harm promising no one could hurt me, and I laughed hysterically until tears streamed down my face.
“Fine,” I heard myself say. “I’ll do it.”
Alex relaxed, reaching to comfort me. I dodged away.
He said, “Emma, don’t-”
“Get out,” I cut him off coldly.
After a long silence, he left, and the moment the door closed, I collapsed, my sobs echoing through the empty room.
The press conference ended with Sophia painted as a pitiful victim, so Alex brought in celebrities to promote her exhibition, making her the overnight darling of the art world while I quietly liked every post about her success, knowing
the higher she climbed, the harder she’d fall.
