Chapter 4

Emily thought she'd be tossing and turning all night, but maybe the drugs were still working. As soon as she lay down, she slipped right into a dream. In that dream, her mind wandered back to her first birthday after the wedding.

Ryan had blindfolded her and whisked her away to a private island.

"This island is my gift to you. We'll love each other forever, until the end of time," he had whispered.

Tears slid down Emily's cheeks as she dreamed.

Vows were so easy to say, but staying in love forever? That was so hard.

She awoke to the smell of breakfast. Ryan was there, with fresh roses on the table. He gave her a carefully practiced, apologetic smile as she stirred.

"Emily, just a bit of red wine in the steak sauce, and you were out cold. You really gave me a scare."

Emily said nothing. She couldn't even muster the energy for a pretend smile.

Upon returning home, Emily visited the county clerk's office to request a certificate of non-marriage, then packed her belongings.

Nearly everything she owned held memories of Ryan, and she wanted none of it.

While sorting through a drawer, her fingers brushed against an old phone tucked deep inside, a device she had long forgotten.

To her surprise, it still powered on. As Emily scrolled through, her breath caught at a sent message she had never written.

The recipient was Michael Grant, her older brother, whom she hadn't spoken to in years.

The message said: [Stop bothering me and Ryan. Just seeing you makes me sick.]

A chill seized her heart. She hadn't sent this.

After their father's early passing, Emily, her mother, and Michael had relied on each other.

But once their mother died and Emily married Ryan, Michael gradually faded from her life—until he vanished completely.

As a detective, his schedule was unpredictable, but when Emily asked Ryan to check on him, the reply was always the same.

"Your brother said, 'Now that Mom's gone, the family's fallen apart. There's no point in keeping in touch.'"

Heartbroken by his apparent coldness, Emily tried confronting him but was always turned away.

Now, scrolling up, she saw the messages she had missed—pleas from Michael, unanswered and met with cruelty in her name.

[Emily, please, just call me back, okay?]

[You're not even coming for Mom and Dad's death anniversary? All because of Ryan?]

[I'm not against you two anymore. I found out some stuff about the negotiator from back then. Can we meet?]

Each one had been met with venomous replies—replies she never wrote.

Emily's fingers clenched around the phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

All these years, Ryan had been poisoning her last bond, cutting her off from Michael with lies.

Jaw clenched, Emily grabbed her keys and stormed out. She needed answers, now.

A call revealed Ryan was at the hospital. But as she approached the entrance, she froze. There he was, lifting Sophie in a joyful spin, his face lit with a radiant smile.

He was grinning from ear to ear, his voice full of joy. "I'm going to be a dad!"

For a split second, the world went silent. Emily froze, her legs turning to jelly.

Ryan's voice rang out, crystal clear. "I don't care if it's a boy or a girl. I'll protect you both with my life!"

Sophie pouted playfully. "It's only been three months. You're getting ahead of yourself."

The timeline aligned perfectly with the day she had caught them.

Each word felt like a blade twisting inside her. Emily closed her eyes, and a hollow laugh escaped her lips.

Ryan had whispered those same promises to her when she was pregnant—right before she lost the child. His only comfort then had been a chilling, "Maybe it's for the best. One less thing to hold over us."

What a joke. Another bitter laugh slipped out of Emily's lips.

Emily didn't step forward, didn't shout or demand answers. She just stood there, strangely calm, then turned and walked away.

There was no point in asking. No matter what, all she would get were lies.

Back home, Emily longed to call Michael, but shame held her back. How could she face him after all those hateful messages? Instead, she dialed another number, requesting discreet information on Michael's whereabouts.

Ryan grew busier, and Emily carefully avoided him, focusing only on reconnecting with her brother before her scheduled transfer came through.

But Sophie had other plans. One afternoon, she appeared at Emily's door, a sly smile on her face as she touched the necklace around her own neck. "Do I look pretty? Ryan gave it to me when he saw how much I admired it. You don't mind, do you?" Sophie asked, her tone sweetly mocking.

When Emily recognized the necklace, her eyes widened in shock. "Who gave you the right to touch that?" she demanded, her voice rising sharply.

A triumphant smirk spread across Sophie's face. "Why? Is it that important? Don't tell me it's from your dear departed mother," she taunted, her tone saccharine.

Her voice grew sharper, edged with malice. "Speaking of your mother... she really picked the worst time to die. If it weren't for her, I never would've gotten that disciplinary mark on my record..."

"You bastard!" Emily roared, rage blazing in her eyes as she slapped Sophie right across the face.

The slap rang out sharp and clear. Emily, eyes burning red, lunged forward, grabbed the necklace, and barked, "Give it back! That's mine!"

That necklace was the only thing Emily's mother ever left her. How could it possibly be on Sophie?

Sophie's head jerked to the side, a flash of venom flickering in her eyes. Emily snatched the necklace away, cradling it in her hands like it was the most precious thing in the world, her whole body shaking.

She always kept it in her jewelry box. In this house, only she and Ryan had access. The implication was clear.

"How dare you hit me?" Sophie screeched, her voice shrill with fury.

Before Emily could react, Sophie shoved her, sending her crashing down the stairs. Sophie herself lost her balance and ended up sitting awkwardly on the steps.

"Sophie!" Ryan yelled, panic in his voice.

He rushed into view, his face pale, and immediately gathered Sophie into his arms, checking her over with desperate concern. Emily lay at the bottom, a sharp, throbbing pain erupting in her temple. Warm blood trickled down her cheek.

Her fingers clenched around the necklace, the metal biting into her palm. With a shaking hand, she pulled out her phone and dialed.

"I want to report attempted murder. Someone tried to kill me..." Emily said, her voice trembling.

Ryan stared at her, stunned and furious. "What are you doing? Are you really trying to get Sophie in trouble?"

Emily shot Ryan a cold, distant look, as if he were a complete stranger.