Chapter 1

On the day I was tortured to death by a group of vagrants in a remote mountain village, my brother Matthew was attending Valerie's concert with the rest of our family.

As the show ended, Valerie covered her face and broke down in tears.

She said slowly, "Even though Ruth bullied me since we were kids and nearly ruined my life, she's still my sister.

"As long as she's willing to apologize, I'll give her a chance to make things right."

While the internet drowned me in a storm of abuse, Matthew sent me a message. [The moment you publicly apologize to Valerie is the moment I stop punishing you.]

But what he received wasn't my reply. It was a call from the police, asking him to come identify a body.

Only then did he realize that the one who had truly been bullied all along was me.

*****

The next time I opened my eyes, I found myself crammed into a noisy crowd.

I watched as everyone waved their glow sticks, calling out to the woman on stage, "Valerie! Valerie!"

Before I could even process what was happening, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

Matthew said, "Valerie, ever since the first time you sang in front of your brother, I knew you'd have your own concert one day.

"You deserve the very best this world has to offer."

His voice was as steady as ever, like nothing in the world could ever shake him.

For the first time, I saw a flicker of genuine concern in those usually indifferent eyes.

It was a tenderness from him that I'd never witnessed before.

Valerie, the girl Matthew was gazing at so softly, was wrapped in a couture dress, obviously shipped straight from Kranson City just for her.

Even the tiniest bead on that gown was out of reach for someone like me. It was something I'd never dare to even wish for.

Valerie's beautiful eyes shimmered with tears as she managed a smile at Matthew. "Back when Ruth bullied me as a kid, I really didn't know how to go on.

"The person I owe the most is my brother, Matthew. Without him, I might've died years ago.

"But we're family. There's no deep hatred between us. If Ruth is willing to apologize, I can still forgive her."

Valerie's words were so sincere that tears streamed down the faces of everyone in the audience.

Even Matthew, who was always so cold and distant, let his usual stoic facade soften for once.

His eyes reddened, and his gaze grew distant, as if he was lost in thought.

Meanwhile, the crowd started whispering about the long-standing scandal.

Someone said, "I heard the woman who bullied Valerie back then was the Grant family's eldest daughter, Matthew's biological sister."

Another chimed in, "Seriously? She was just a teenager, right? That's messed up, so cold-hearted at such a young age."

Without thinking, I shook my head, muttering a protest as those dark memories came rushing back.

I had begged, "No. I didn't bully her. It was her..."

But just like back then, when I was kneeling in the pouring rain, desperately shouting for help, nobody heard me.

Even now, nobody wanted to hear me out.

My mind flashed back to that dark mountain village, when I was surrounded by filthy vagrants.

I was frantic, calling Matthew for help. At that moment, all my pride and stubbornness meant nothing.

I even fell to my knees as I begged him, "Matthew, please, save me. From now on, I'll do whatever you want. I'll get out of this family right now.

"I swear I'll never make you angry again. Please, just let me off this once."

But even my soul-shattering cries didn't earn a single ounce of pity from him.

By the time my voice was raw from sobbing, Matthew just sat on the other side of the screen, coldly running his fingers over the papers on his desk.

He said coldly, "When you tormented Valerie, did you ever think you'd end up like this?"

All my words froze in my throat, unable to come out. He still didn't believe me.

The call ended coldly, and the vagrants around me, already lustful and restless, reached out their wicked hands toward me.

My tears had left me numb. I couldn't feel anything anymore.

I didn't want to remember what happened after that.

All I knew was that my heart felt like it had been hollowed out, bleeding profusely.

That was when I realized I was already dead inside.

His indifference had killed me long before anyone else ever could.

Matthew, if you knew you'd never see me again for the rest of your life, would you ever feel even a moment of regret?