Chapter 1

My little sister started dating a man twenty years older than her.

When I warned her not to let an older man manipulate her, her face darkened.

“You’re just jealous because my boyfriend is rich!”

Later, his wife chased her down and beat her, and she begged me to take her in.

I gave in and opened the door. She shoved me straight onto the knife someone outside was holding.

When I woke up, I was back on the day she first told me about her boyfriend. This time, I gave her a cold smile.

“Sounds great.”

My sister was six years younger than me. She had just turned eighteen and started her freshman year of college.

Almost as soon as she arrived on campus, she found herself a boyfriend—a man more than twenty years older than her.

Our parents were strict. Chloe had been beautiful since childhood, and they had never let her date in high school.

I worried that she was too naive and would be taken advantage of. So when she secretly told me her boyfriend was twenty years older, my expression hardened.

“Chloe, I don’t approve of this relationship.”

“Do you have any idea how many older men specifically target innocent college girls like you? Please, think!”

“Absolutely not. Come on. We’re going home to talk to Mom and Dad. They won’t approve either!”

The excited smile vanished from Chloe’s face. She put away the photo of herself and her boyfriend on her phone, then slapped my hand off her sleeve.

She stepped back and looked me up and down. Something about her gaze made my skin crawl. Then she started insulting me.

“Emily, just because you’re my older sister doesn’t mean you get to act like you’re somebody.”

“You’re just jealous because my boyfriend is rich and handsome. You’ve been single your entire life because nobody wants you, and now you want me to be miserable too.”

“Well, forget it. I’m never breaking up with him!”

Chloe stormed out, slamming my apartment door so hard it rattled.

I frowned, my face tight with anger.

I knew Chloe looked down on me. She had always been prettier, smarter, and more popular. But I had never expected her to say something like that to me.

I sat on the couch for a long time, stunned and furious. In the end, I couldn’t let it go. I messaged our parents.

No matter how badly she behaved, she was still my sister. I couldn’t just watch her ruin her life.

She was barely eighteen. She had just started college and had her whole future ahead of her. I couldn’t let some older man destroy it.

When our parents learned that Chloe was dating someone more than twenty years older, they were furious. They had spent eighteen years protecting their precious daughter, only for some creep to get his hands on her.

They called Chloe home for dinner that night. Her college was close to their house, only a thirty-minute drive away.

I had no idea what they said to each other, but somehow, our parents ended up agreeing to let her keep seeing him.

The three of them even joined forces, bombarding me with messages accusing me of resenting Chloe’s happiness because my own life was so pathetic.

I was furious. I tried to argue, only to discover that all three had blocked me.

I stared at the failed messages, angry and frustrated. I had done everything I could. Whatever happened next, they could cry about it later.

Three months passed. Then, while scrolling through local videos, I suddenly saw Chloe’s face.

The caption read: “College student Chloe Bennett exposed as a shameless homewrecker!”

I watched the video. Sure enough, that older man had deceived her. He was already married with children and used his money to lure college girls into relationships.

At first, I wanted to call home and find out what was happening. Then I remembered they had blocked me. I pursed my lips and decided to stay out of it.

But that evening, someone began pounding frantically on my apartment door. My phone rang nonstop at the same time.

Seeing Chloe’s name on the screen, I hesitated. Then I answered.

That one call dragged me into a nightmare and cost me my life.

Chloe was sobbing, desperately begging me to open the door. “Emily, please! Help me! Someone’s trying to kill me!”

“Emily! Open the door! Please, help!”

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I never should have said those things. Please save me, Emily!”

Her terrified cries chipped away at my resolve. I decided to let her in and call the police. Once it was over, I would never have anything to do with her again.

I walked to the door with my phone and pressed down on the handle. Chloe stood outside, looking utterly disheveled.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the open door. She shoved past me and rushed inside.

I stumbled, nearly falling. After bracing myself against the wall, I turned to close the door.

A hard shove hit me from behind. Chloe pushed me out of my apartment, straight onto the knife held by one of the people chasing her.

Agony tore through my chest. I barely had time to glance back at the apartment door, now firmly shut, before everything went dark.