Chapter 3
3
"Ava, we've lived together for so many years. I didn't want it to come to this."
Ethan was holding Lucky in his arms. My old Sheepdog. He had been by my side for ten years.
He was so old that even breathing seemed like a struggle for him.
When I was kicked out of the Sterling estate, Lucky was the one who stayed with me through the darkest days.
I had locked him safely in my small Brooklyn apartment. How did he end up here?
"Ethan—"
I immediately realized my mistake and corrected myself.
"No. Mr. Sterling."
"What are you going to do to Lucky?"
"You gave him to me. He's been with me for ten years, and he's been with you for ten years too."
Ethan was entirely unmoved.
"As long as you tell me where Nora is, I won't do a thing."
He yanked the leash. Lucky was forced to stumble forward, letting out a low whimper.
"But if you don't talk, that's a different story."
I couldn't say anything because I didn't know where Nora was.
What I said at the banquet was a lie to save my own life.
All I knew was that in my past life, when I jumped off the roof of the Sterling Holdings building, Nora reappeared there.
That day was exactly one week away.
"I can tell you."
I forced myself to stay calm and met Ethan's eyes.
"But I have two conditions."
Ethan impatiently suppressed his anger. He wanted to lash out, but he couldn't bear to lose the lead on Nora.
"You'd better not play games with me."
"First, you promise me you will never hurt Lucky, no matter what."
He exchanged a look with Julian.
"Fine. I promise."
"Second, you clear up the photos from the banquet."
Ethan's face instantly turned ashen. He lowered his voice.
"Don't push your luck, Ava."
"Everyone knows exactly what happened. If you make me go out there and clear your name now, where does that leave the Sterling family's reputation?"
He didn't bother arguing with me anymore. He raised a hand, signaling two security guards to take Lucky out.
Then, he leaned over, his face inches from my ear.
"It seems I wasn't clear about who holds the power here. You've forgotten your place."
Realizing something was wrong, I grabbed his arm.
"Mr. Sterling, I don't need you to clear my name anymore."
He looked at me with pure contempt.
"Too late."
Five minutes later, he pulled out his phone and played a video.
In the footage, Lucky was chained to a wall with a metal link as thick as an arm. He was covered in filth, lying weakly on the ground.
His front right leg had been smashed. The broken bone was piercing right through his skin.
"How could you do this? You animal!"
I swung at him, but he blocked my hand effortlessly.
"I'll give you ten more minutes."
"In ten minutes, if you don't give me an answer I like, I'll have them break another leg."
The video shattered whatever sanity I had left. I answered on pure instinct.
"One week! I am certain she will come back in exactly one week!"
"Mr. Sterling, I swear I don't know where she is right now. Please, just let Lucky go."
Ethan didn't believe me anymore.
Ever since he found out I had taken his real sister's place, he hadn't believed a single word I said.
"Still trying to play tricks?"
"I guess Lucky isn't that important to you after all."
He lifted his phone and spoke quietly into the receiver.
"Do it."
"No! Don't!"
I lunged forward to grab the phone, but I was so weak I could barely stand.
Just as I was about to hit the floor, a small figure shoved through the crowd and threw herself under me to break my fall.