Chapter 4

I don't know how long passed.

I was awakened by a splash of ice-cold water.

The bone-chilling cold made me shiver violently.

The basement lights were on.

Lily stood before me.

She wasn't in a wheelchair.

She stood steadily.

Most of the gauze on her face had been removed.

The exposed skin was somewhat red and swollen, but definitely not disfigured.

"Your... your legs..."

I spoke hoarsely.

Lily laughed triumphantly.

She even twirled in place.

"How's that? Clara, did I play the part well?"

She crouched down.

Grabbing my hair in one fist.

Forcing me to lift my head.

"Actually, I wasn't badly burned at all."

"I set the storage room fire myself."

She leaned close to my ear.

Her voice soft as a snake's hiss.

"Only this way would Ethan completely detest you."

"Only then would he sweep you out like garbage."

I stared at her intently.

The rage in my chest nearly burning me alive.

"You're insane..."

"To frame me, you'd even gamble with your own life?"

Lily laughed mockingly.

"So what?"

"I'm the one who won in the end anyway."

She stood up.

Pulling a syringe from her pocket.

The liquid inside was a murky black.

"Ethan went to handle your grandmother's funeral arrangements."

"He gave me the key to this place."

"Clara, your existence is too much of an eyesore."

"This injection will kill you through heart failure."

"The medical examiner will only conclude you couldn't bear your guilty conscience and committed suicide."

She held the syringe, approaching me step by step.

"Don't be afraid. It'll be over quickly."

I retreated desperately.

But behind me was only the cold wall.

Nowhere to go.

"Lily, aren't you afraid of retribution!"

I shouted angrily.

Lily laughed loudly.

"Retribution?"

"In this house, Ethan is God!"

"He believes me, so I'm innocent!"

"You're just an orphan with no power or influence. When you die, who will stand up for you?"

She pressed down on my arm.

The needle stabbed viciously into my vein.

The cold liquid was pushed in instantly.

I closed my eyes in despair.

Was I really going to die here?

At this critical moment.

"BOOM!"

An earth-shattering explosion.

The basement's sturdy iron door.

Along with half the wall.

Was blown wide open!

Through the rolling smoke.

A team of fully armed black-clad bodyguards flooded in like a tide.

Instantly pinning Lily to the ground.

"Let me go! Who are you!"

Lily screamed in terror.

The sound of leather shoes on rubble echoed.

A tall, upright figure emerged from the smoke.

The man's face was cold and stern, his eyes carrying a towering killing intent.

He strode to me.

Seeing my blood-covered, barely alive state.

His eyes instantly reddened.

He knelt on one knee.

Taking off his custom-tailored coat, carefully wrapping my broken body.

His voice trembling uncontrollably.

"Clara, I'm sorry..."

"I'm late."

I looked at this familiar face before me.

He was my older brother who once doted on me most, mafia boss.

Finally, tears flowed freely.

"You finally came."

"I want them dead."