The Day He Learned the Truth, I Was Already Dead Chapter 03

The Day He Learned the Truth, I Was Already Dead Chapter 03

My body got worse by the day. I was often unconscious for whole days. I knew I could drop dead anytime. But I hadn’t paid the final balance on my burial plot yet.

While I was panicking over it, a passerby shoved a flyer into my hand. “Take a look. Tonight there’s a yacht party hosted by some mystery CEO.”

“Easy gig, low bar, a few hundred bucks for one night. All you do is shine rich people’s shoes. And the best part is the tips, one throwaway tip can be this much.” I watched her hold up her fingers and took the flyer.

At this point, any work for money was good. I couldn’t afford to be picky. I rode a labor bus to the marina and boarded the yacht.

Ever since I stepped on deck, my knees never got a break. I knelt by the entrance with my head down, polishing shoes for everyone who came by.

The woman had not lied. Some rich kids tossed tips like pocket change, a thousand here, a couple thousand there.

I had no idea how much time passed before the crowd suddenly erupted. “He’s here! Tonight’s star is finally showing up!”

Still, I kept my head down. As I prepared to polish the next pair of shoes, someone kicked my rag out of my hand. A familiar voice hit my ears like a slap.

“Sylvia Wilcox! Are you out of your mind? To get my attention, you’ll do any filthy thing you can think of, huh? There are only three days left before I bring you home. Can’t you even wait that long?”

I looked up and around, only then realizing this was the party Brandon had thrown to please Ava. He stared at me furiously, humiliated. His fist clenched tighter and tighter, but in the end he only spat a curse and stormed inside.

Listening to the revelry inside, I stayed at the door, counting the cash in my hands, one bill at a time. When I found it added up to the exact amount I needed, I called the cemetery manager immediately.

But the second I gave my information so he could register the payment, his tone shifted.

“Sylvia Wilcox?” he repeated. “I can’t find your identity in the system.”

“It looks like your legal status has been declared invalid, you can’t complete any paperwork.”

My stomach dropped. “That’s impossible. Are you sure you didn’t type it wrong? Please check again.”

I was rambling, frantic, barely breathing. Maybe he heard it in my voice, because he paused and made a call for me.

When he came back, his voice was quieter. “Someone in the department said it was forced through by Mr. Wilcox. Your legal identity has been revoked.”

My phone slipped out of my hand and clattered to the floor. I broke down on the spot, my eyes burning hot.

Why? Why couldn’t I even rest in peace? Did he really plan to corner me until there was nowhere left to go, all for Ava?

Something in my head went blank, and I marched straight into the party.

“Brandon Wilcox!” My shout cut through the music like a blade. The whole room went silent instantly.

“Who gave you the right to erase me?” I demanded. “Did I not even deserve the basic right to exist on paper?”

Brandon swirled his drink slowly, studying me with an unreadable expression. Then he spoke like he was doing me a favor. “Look at you. You’ll do anything to make me soften. Who knows what you’ll pull once you’re back home, just to mess with Ava.”

“If you have no legal identity, you can’t do anything. That’s the point.”

“But don’t worry, I’m your brother. I can give you anything you want. I can keep you safe for the rest of your life.”

I laughed, an ugly sound I barely recognized.

I was dying under his boot, what did “safe” even mean?

Ava patted his back like a sweet little angel, helping him “calm down,” then glanced at the money in my hands. Her voice turned syrupy. “Sylvia, why do you insist on doing these degrading things? Whatever you want, Brandon can give you later.”

“If you hadn’t broken his heart and embarrassed him, he wouldn’t have done any of this.” As she spoke, she walked up and yanked the cash right out of my hands.

Then she scattered it into the air.