Chapter 4

William tossed the phone to Andrew, his face livid, and walked away.

Andrew caught it and spoke in a familiar, easy tone. "Sophie, long time no see. Can you put Emily on the phone?"

Sophie, Andrew, and I had all grown up in the orphanage. Once, we'd been inseparable—a trio against the world.

There was a long silence on the other end before Sophie finally spoke, her voice low. "So this is the golden boy of the medical world now? What—after just a few years, you don't even remember the person who worked herself to the bone to put you through school?"

Andrew gave a careless smirk, completely unfazed. "Sophie," he said lightly. "Is that better?"

"Don't say my name like that," Sophie snapped. "Andrew, have you completely lost your conscience?"

Andrew's smile faded. His expression cooled. "Sophie. I don't have much patience. Where is Emily?"

"You really want to see her?" Sophie's tone was off, almost taunting.

Andrew pressed his lips together and said nothing.

Sophie let out a short laugh, then burst into louder, almost hysterical laughter. "Now you want to see her? Isn't it a little too late? Where were you all when it actually mattered?"

Andrew still didn't say a word.

Sophie spoke slowly, her voice eerily calm. "Emily is dead."

Since it was a live show, the call was on speaker—everyone heard it loud and clear. The whole place went dead silent, even the crew and the chat.

My heart leapt into my throat. So she'd finally said it.

Before I died, Sophie had been the only one by my side. Afterward, she'd handled everything alone. She'd already carried more than her share for me. If she needed to let it out, so be it. I just didn't know how my mother and William would take it.

I lowered my head, afraid to look at anyone's reaction. I didn't know how much time passed before a low laugh broke the silence.

I turned my head. It was William. He was laughing.

"After all that buildup, that's it? Emily put you up to this, didn't she?" William shoved his hands in his pockets, acting like he had it all figured out. "She really is something."

Andrew kept his head down, his hair falling over his eyes. "Someone that selfish? She wouldn't have the guts to die unless she could keep hurting people." There was mockery in his gaze, as if that brief flicker of panic earlier had never existed.

I lowered my head, lost. Of course. Andrew probably wished I were dead already.

"So what if I'm lying?" Sophie suddenly laughed—wild and unrestrained. "Emily left and lived better than she ever had. You really think she wanted to be stuck in that house with the Summers family? She'd had enough of them long ago.

"Why do you always get to treat Emily like she's at your beck and call? If you want to see her, then crawl over here yourself."

After rattling off an address, Sophie didn't wait for a response. She hung up immediately.

The crowd exchanged uneasy glances. The director and cameramen silently signaled one another, but no one dared move. All they could do was keep the cameras rolling.

William stood there, expression unreadable, though the veins on the back of his hand bulged faintly.

Andrew still had his head lowered; it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

"Go. Right now. Let's see what that liar Emily is really up to." An enraged voice rang out from behind.

My mother approached, carefully supported by Chloe. She said through clenched teeth, "Our family doesn't tolerate people like her."

Chloe froze for a moment, then turned to the camera with a pitiful, pleading look. "Emily, I know you're watching the show. Please, stop upsetting Mom, William and Andrew. You can still make things right if you just own up to it."

What my mother really meant was clear enough. She intended to disown me—on this show, in front of me, and in front of the entire world. In all the Summers family's history, there had never been a disgrace like this.

William's expression shifted. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Emily, you've crossed the line this time. It's time you learned a lesson."

Hearing that, I silently drifted into the car. Inside, I cursed myself. Emily, how could you still expect William to stand up for you?