Chapter 4

"Delaney's missing," Gideon said, his voice urgent. "The last place she was seen was right here. I've been searching for ages and can't find her. You..."

"How's the company?" I interrupted him.

Gideon paused, hesitating before answering, "The other shareholders are handling it."

I got it.

He hadn't even gone to the office.

Delaney had been acting out for ages, and from time to time, Gideon would walk out on the shareholders right in front of everyone, just because of her.

I'd tried to talk him out of it.

But he'd just say Delaney was his sister, his own family, so he had to let her do whatever she wanted.

That was when I realized, even Gideon, who was all about his career, would drop everything for someone else.

"Go look for her," I said, stepping around him and kept going. "I'm going to see my parents."

"Maddison!" Gideon called after me. "Can't you help me look for her? What if something's happened to Delaney..."

I didn't even slow down. "If something happens, call the police."

Just as I reached my parents' graves, a voice called out from behind me.

"Maddison Glover."

Delaney stepped out from behind the tombstone, dressed in a long black gown, clutching a bunch of white roses. She was wearing a taunting smile.

"See this?"

She shook the flowers in her hand. "Gideon gave these to me. He told me to come visit your parents for him."

I stared at her, enunciating every word. "You did this to the company, didn't you?"

Delaney's smile grew even wider. "That's right. No matter what, Gideon always picks me."

She walked right up to me, chin held high. "There's nothing you can do to threaten my spot."

I said coldly, "What about the company? Have you ever thought about how many people will lose their jobs if something goes wrong?"

"It's a Gross family business. You're just an outsider," Delaney said, completely unfazed.

She just brushed it off. "If they lose their jobs, it means they're not good enough. That's just how the world works."

I said nothing.

My fingers pressed so hard into my palm it actually hurt.

Delaney, that high-and-mighty princess, would pay dearly for looking down on me one day.

I'd already got proof of everything she'd done.

Before the divorce, I'm going to send all the evidence to every shareholder's inbox.

I knelt down, set the white chrysanthemums in front of the tombstone, and whispered, "Mom, Dad, I came to visit.

"This time, I'm here to say goodbye."

The wind stirred the white petals, making them quiver.

It reminded me of that time in the hospital, when they held my hand and told me to be happy, no matter what.

But I was sorry.

I couldn't be happy, just like you wanted.

At dusk, Gideon found Delaney.

The last rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, coating them in a warm golden glow, like a scene straight out of an indie film.

I sat in the car, watching them through the window.

Delaney clung to Gideon like a little bird, his hand gently patting her back, his lips moving, saying something I couldn't hear.

She smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

He smiled too, his gaze brimming with gentle approval.

The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "Mrs. Gross, do you want to get out?"

I shook my head. "No, just wait here."

I sat there waiting for a full forty-seven minutes.

It wasn't until the sky was pitch black that Gideon finally realized I was still around.

He pulled out his phone and called me, his voice carrying a hint of apology. "Maddison, Delaney was pretty upset. I spent some time calming her down. Are you still at the cemetery? I'll come get you now."

"No, I'm already in the car," I said.

"Alright," he said.

He paused for a moment. "I'm heading back to the Gross villa with Delaney. Want to come along?"

I watched from a distance as he draped his arm around Delaney's shoulders, leading her toward the parking lot.

They walked side by side, matching each other's steps, looking every bit like a couple in love.

"No, I'll pass," I said.

"Okay, then," he let out a quiet sigh.

It wasn't disappointment in his voice. It was relief.

After hanging up, the car slowly pulled away from the cemetery.

In the rearview mirror, I watched Gideon pay his respects at my parents' graves, every movement solemn and sincere.

But the person kneeling next to him... wasn't me.

The ride back was unusually quiet. The driver kept opening his mouth like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he stayed silent.

Halfway through the drive, I suddenly remembered that I'd left something at the Gross villa.

It was the bracelet my mom had given me. I always wore it, but I'd accidentally left it there a few days ago when I was at the villa.

"Turn around. Take me to the Gross villa," I said.

The car made a U-turn at the next intersection.

The night had swallowed everything, and the streetlights glowed in a long, hazy line.

I gazed out the window at the blur of lights and buildings speeding by, my fingers idly tracing my wrist.