Chapter 3

This time, Edward chuckled dismissively, not caring at all. "Oh, who can keep track? There are too many cars.

"Take my car back. Sophia likes this one, so let her have it for a couple of days before you get it back."

I didn't say a word, pulled out my phone, and locked the car. "Ms. Rivers, please get out. I don't want any junk in my car."

Sophia was surprised for a second, but then she rolled her eyes at me, smiled, and linked her arm with Edward's. "I really envy your wife. My sister would never do that for me. She won't buy me a car."

As soon as she brought up Emily, it seemed to strike a nerve with Edward.

He frowned, grabbed my phone, and handed it straight to Sophia. "The password is my birthday."

Then he threw his own phone and car keys at me. "Stop messing around. Go back," he said, and drove off with Sophia.

Not long after, Sophia sent me a message from my own phone. Her words were so smug: [Claire, want me to sell your car for you tomorrow morning?

[Come on, you still owe Edward a ton of cash.

[Selling that junker will barely pay for six months of Emily's hospital bills, huh?]

I didn't want to cry, but my tears started falling before I could stop them.

"Ms. Bennett, are you okay?" A female reporter reached out to support me.

Another cameraman handed me a tissue while keeping the camera rolling.

"I'm fine. Thanks," I said, lifting my chin and letting them shove their cameras right in my face.

I told myself not to cry. I should not be ashamed of feeling vulnerable.

None of this was my fault. It was another cruel twist of fate dumped on me.

The car reeked of a nasty cocktail of perfumes. It was gross.

I threw the car keys to the female reporter who caught me. "Here, take it. It's yours."

Then I called the Bailey family's lawyer. "How's Julia doing?"

His voice was low. "Ms. Bailey, I'm sorry.

"When we sent someone to pick up Ms. Julia Bennett, she jumped off the building and... she's gone."

"What did you say?" I felt everything go dark.

"I'm so sorry, Ms. Bailey. The doctor said Ms. Julia Bennett was fully aware when she died. Maybe she wanted it all to stop."

It was impossible. Julia promised me that she would bring me home. She said she'd always look after me. And I promised I'd be her doll forever.

I immediately called Edward. "Who did you send to see Julia? What did she say to her?"

But I forgot my phone was in Sophia's hands. She let out a mocking laugh, pretended she couldn't hear me, and hung up.

The last thing I heard was her talking to Edward. "Your little saint is on your case again. Three years and she still doesn't get it. Isn't she a pain?"

*****

When I got to the hospital, the lawyer was already there. "Should we let your adoptive parents know?"

"Not yet..." I sobbed, burying my face in Julia's body and shaking my head.

Julia was really gone. She would never open her eyes again. At that moment, I only wanted to have these last moments with her.

She was my sister, the one who gave me a second life, who taught me everything. But I didn't have the right to arrange her funeral.

I didn't know how much time had passed. When my adoptive parents arrived, I left.

The lawyer took a call outside, then came back and said, "Ms. Bailey, we've found some clues. About the poisoning incident with Ms. Julia Bennett all those years ago..."

I raised my hand to stop him, tears falling silently. "That's enough. Don't try to trick me with that. I'll go with you. The faster, the better."

With Julia gone, I had nothing left. If marrying a cripple was my fate, then whatever. I didn't care anymore. I didn't want to think about what kind of guy I would end up with.

At least a disabled man couldn't cheat, nor could he hurt me recklessly. I was worn out. I only trusted physical limitations. If he couldn't, he simply couldn't.

The lawyer looked like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself.

Just then, Edward's phone in my hand started ringing. The caller ID flashed "My Baby Claire", the name he saved for me back when he was trying to win me over.

I hung up without a second thought.

He immediately sent a message: [Babe, you've been mad at me for way too long this time, haven't you?

[Tommy got back from the boat and brought me some bluefin tuna belly. I'm heading home now. Do you want me to make you some sashimi?]

Here we went with Tommy again. Did Edward really think I was that clueless?

Every time he wanted to go out drinking or hook up with someone, he said Tommy called. And whenever he brought home things women gave him, he claimed they were from Tommy.

Maybe he forgot we switched phones. If Tommy really got back, why wasn't he calling his own phone?

I replied: [No thanks. The fridge isn't in the mood for fish today, so you and your fish should stay away. My Wi-Fi's acting up after cleaning, so don't bother calling me either.]

I had no idea what kind of nonsense I was texting. As soon as I sent it, I shut the phone off.

The next second, I tossed the phone straight into the trash. It was packed with all his flirty pics and videos of him messing around with his side chicks. I hoped he didn't have any backups.