Chapter 4

Over the next few days, I stayed inside and watched Carter dig his own grave online.

He was discharged from the hospital. Sitting in a wheelchair and surrounded by screaming fans, he made a grand return to his talent agency's headquarters.

His agency threw him a massive welcome-back party, which they streamed live.

He even posted a dedicated video showing off the heavy plaster cast on his leg.

"Thank you for all the love, guys. Carter Thorne is too tough to die," he said, staring dramatically into the lens.

"But I heard that the girl who pushed me is only suspended? Just sitting at home?"

"If people like her don't face real consequences, then the system is broken!"

"Tomorrow at 3:00 PM, I’m personally going to her office to demand justice!"

The video exploded.

Thousands of his followers commented, promising to show up at the National Polar Research Institute to protest.

I stared at the screen, a slow smile spreading across my face.

*You just couldn't help yourself, could you, Carter?*

The next day at 2:30 PM, I took an Uber to the Institute.

Even before getting close to the gate, I could see a massive crowd of hundreds of people blocking the street.

They were holding up signs that read: *“Jail the Murderer Chloe Vance!”* and *“The Institute Protects Criminals!”*

Carter was sitting in his wheelchair, pushed by Leo, shouting into a megaphone.

"Bring Chloe Vance out! Bring the directors out!"

"If we don't get answers today, we’re not leaving!"

The campus security guards had set up barricades, and the Institute’s PR team was sweating bullets.

A couple of police cruisers were parked nearby to keep the peace, but the crowd was too large to disperse easily.

I wore a black hoodie and a face mask, slipping quietly into the crowd.

Right next to me, a young girl was live-streaming the protest on TikTok, screaming slogans.

I tapped her shoulder.

"Excuse me."

The girl turned around, annoyed. "Watch it! Can't you see we're—"

She froze. I pulled down my face mask.

For a second, the space around us went dead silent.

Then, she screamed.

"It’s Chloe Vance!"

"The murderer is here!"

The crowd instantly surged toward me like a wave of zombies. The police officers quickly jumped in, forming a protective wall around me.

Carter’s eyes lit up when he saw me. He raised his megaphone, pointing it directly at me.

"Chloe Vance! You actually showed your face!"

"When you pushed me into that snow drift, did you think about this moment?"

"Get down on your knees and apologize to me and everyone here!"

The crowd chanted in unison: "Kneel! Kneel! Kneel!"

I pushed past the officer in front of me and walked straight up to Carter’s wheelchair.

"Carter, did you break your brain along with your leg?"

"I pushed you?"

I pulled a small Bluetooth speaker from my pocket and connected it to my phone.

"Since you want an explanation so badly, I’m going to give you one. Right in front of your millions of viewers."