The Day He Learned the Truth, I Was Already Dead Chapter 05

The Day He Learned the Truth, I Was Already Dead Chapter 05

Brandon’s face went rigid. His phone nearly slipped out of his hand.

It took him a long moment to force his heartbeat down, to fake control. “Which girl? There were a lot of people on that yacht. Explain it clearly!”

He had heard the cleaner mention the shoe-polishing girl. He also knew that only Sylvia had been polishing shoes at the time. But what if the cleaner was mistaken?

On the other end, the cleaner inhaled sharply, walked closer to the body, and stared for a few seconds before speaking again. “She looks young, but… she’s decomposed, I can’t tell her face anymore. Oh, there’s a bracelet. It has the Wilcox name on it…”

Something inside Brandon detonated. His eyes reddened instantly, and when he stood, he nearly tripped over his own feet.

He didn’t even know how his voice came out. “Look again. Are you sure it says ‘Wilcox’? If I find out you got it wrong or you’re lying to me, you’re not going to stay in New York anymore.”

He had only one thought now: get to the yacht right now. He ran so fast he didn’t even change his shoes before bolting for his car.

He was about to open the door when Ava came skipping over like a sweet little rabbit, hooking her arm through his. “Brandon, where are you going? Didn’t you promise no work today and you’d take me shopping?”

Brandon didn’t spare her a glance. His gaze was unfocused when he blurted out, “Sylvia had an accident.”

Ava pressed her lips together, stunned for a moment, then spoke seriously. “Did the cleaner call you and say my sister… was gone?”

“I got the same call.” Her voice sped up, urgent, persuasive. “But think about it, Brandon. She waited five years to get back home, only three days away from getting what she wants. How could she possibly die now?”

Ava’s eyes glossed over, and her voice turned shaky. “I think she’s faking it. She wants you to feel guilty so when she comes back she can push you around, and bully me even harder.”

Tears slipped down her cheeks in perfect, helpless drops as she bit her lip. “I really can’t imagine what life will be like from now on. Brandon, I just want to live a peaceful life.”

Anyone would feel sorry for her at her deceiving look. And Brandon loved her more than he loved the truth.

He drew her into his arms and rubbed at his eyes like he was exhausted to the bone.

He told himself he was losing his mind, that the “lie” was so obvious, so cheap, and he almost fell for it.

He told himself Sylvia would do anything to get her way, and he just never imagined she’d use death to play him.

In that moment, Brandon made a quiet vow. When he brought Sylvia home, he would watch her closely. He would “fix” her, reshape her, drag her back from the stubborn, unruly girl she’d been in the orphanage.

The soft bundle in his arms kept sobbing. His heart instantly melted into a puddle. He patted her back and coaxed with tenderness. “No one’s going to hurt you. I’m here. I told you, I’ll protect you for the rest of your life.”

I floated above them, my chest hollow, and somehow it still hurt like hell. Because those words overlapped with the first thing he had ever said to me.

“Come home with me. I’m your brother; I’ll protect you, and no one will ever bully you again.”