My Cousin Could See Through Every Lie We Told Chapter 03

My Cousin Could See Through Every Lie We Told Chapter 03

My hand trembled as I gripped the phone, the plastic slick with sweat.

It was close.

I’d been a heartbeat away from being sold into that hellish compound, never to return.

But in my past life, Bryce was undeniably the heir to the Sterling fortune.

Tessa had lied to me then, so why was Bryce proving her right this time?

My head was spinning, a chaotic mess of half-remembered nightmares and terrifying new realities.

My phone chimed—a message in the family group chat. My parents were confirming they’d received the call about my orientation at Apex Global.

Before I could type a reply, Tessa’s name flashed on the screen.

Her tone was cold, sharp with lingering resentment.

“Emma, I don’t care if you believe me or not, but you need to know this isn’t a legit company.”

“I did some digging. The second they started talking, I knew it was just another predatory boiler room. If you step foot in there, you’re not coming out.”

The exact same warning as before.

Last time, I’d listened to her without a second thought. I turned down the job.

But Tessa? She’d walked right in and became the general manager, pulling in millions a year.

I shouldn’t trust her. Not after everything.

But after what just happened with Bryce, I froze.

I didn’t want to toss away a career-making opportunity, but the thought of being right about her—just like I was with Bryce—terrified me.

I took a shaky breath and spoke.

“Tessa, come with me. Just be there.”

If she was still trying to keep me out, she’d fight me on it, right?

But she didn’t even hesitate. She agreed, even suggesting we call the cops.

There was no guilt in her voice, only a strange, chilling excitement.

The next morning, she was right there by my side.

By the time I died in my past life, this company had been a Top 10 national powerhouse.

It had been all over the news, praised for its massive corporate contributions.

I still remembered the image of Tessa draped over Bryce’s arm, walking out of that headquarters like she owned the world.

How could a Top 10 corporation turn into a boiler room just because I’d hit reset?

When we finally walked through the doors, the air left my lungs.

The thousands of employees I remembered were gone. There were maybe fifty people total.

They looked hollow, shattered—clearly pushed to the brink of insanity.

I stood there, frozen.

Why were all of Tessa’s lies suddenly turning into hard facts?

If she was lying to me in my past life, then what about Bryce’s identity? The media coverage? The kidnappers?

What the hell was going on?