Chapter 3

Derek had just finished showering when a knock came at the door late at night. The police.

"Ms. Hayes, is that right? We've recently found new developments regarding your sister's death. Could you please come to the station when you're free?"

I nodded, agreeing to go to the police station first thing tomorrow morning.

From the moment the police appeared, Derek's face turned unnaturally pale. He even lied, saying he had to work late tonight and I should go to sleep.

Only after I started breathing evenly did Derek tiptoe over, whispering to test me, "Aurora, are you asleep?"

When I didn't respond, he put on his jacket and slipped out.

The moment the door softly clicked shut, I opened my eyes. Derek had arranged to meet Tiffany at a hotel to coordinate their stories and details once more.

But just as they were naked and getting into the deepest parts of their planning, I pushed the door open. "Still figuring out how to get away with your crimes?"

"When you pushed her into the river, she wasn't actually dead, was she?"

"She was so weak, desperately begging you, promising not to press charges if you just spared her life."

"But you, afraid of exposure, still drowned her in the river."

"That was a living, breathing human life!"

"She didn't have to die, but because of your momentary evil, you condemned her to a desperate death."

Derek and Tiffany stared at me, naked from the waist up, their faces terrified. Tiffany reacted quickly, shrieking and pulling the covers over herself, while Derek frantically scrambled for his clothes on the floor.

"Aurora? What are you doing here?"

Derek's voice was a trembling whisper, his face paper-white. "If I hadn't come, how would I have ever heard your brilliant plan? Caught you red-handed?"

I tilted the knife in my hand, letting the light glint cruelly off the blade.

The sight of it made Derek's legs buckle, nearly sending him to his knees. "Aurora, calm down! It was an accident!"

"An accident?" My laugh was cold and hollow. "My sister was allergic to alcohol. She never drank.”

“Was it an accident when you forced the bottle into her mouth? When she was begging you to stop? Did your hand 'accidentally' slip when you drowned her?"

Derek looked like he'd seen a ghost. Tiffany leaped from the bed and threw a lamp at me. "You crazy bitch, stop making false accusations! Your sister crashed the car herself while drunk driving, it has nothing to do with us!"

I dodged. The lamp shattered. She lunged again, and I backhanded her. She staggered back, lip bleeding.

"Me, crazy?"I smirked, stepping forward, the knife pointed at her stomach.

"Next to you two killers? Sure. I feel pretty crazy when I see trash like you. I want to gut you and see what color you are inside."

Tiffany went pale, clutching her belly. "Don't you dare! I'm pregnant with Derek's baby! If you touch me, he won't let you get away with it!"

I watched her silently, a mocking smile playing on my lips. "You think I wouldn't dare?"

With that, I raised my hand and slapped her twice. Before she could react, I slammed her against the wall, lifting her clear off the ground by her throat.

"Aurora, you bully a pregnant woman like this, I'll kill you!" She screamed.

She knew Sanda, Taekwondo. Now, she fought back with everything she had, every strike aimed to kill.

But to me, she was so slow.

"Too slow," I said, dodging effortlessly. "You don't stand a chance."