A gentle voice spoke, and I lost
consciousness.
く
I woke up to the sound of beeping machines.
Where was I?
I tried to sit up.
“Don’t move! Don’t move!” The man beside
my bed pushed me back down.
“This is the fourth time they’ve tried to get an
IV in you. The nurses are going to give up if
you keep moving.”
I looked at him, confused. He had dark circles
under his eyes, but he was still handsome and
kind.
I remembered the cliff, the man who saved
- me. It must be him.
“Why did you save me?” I asked, my voice
flat.
He sighed. “There’s more to life than dying. I
have ALS, and I’m still living it up. What could
be so bad?”
I was shocked. He seemed so cheerful, but he
had a terminal illness.
“But I…”
I trailed off, not wanting toburden him with
my story.
He looked at me with curious eyes. “Tell me
your story. Why did you want to jump? Why
are you covered in bruises?”
I told him everything. About Jason, about
Ethan, about everything that had happened.
“Damn! Those bastards!”
He jumped up from his chair.
“Let me think, let me think.”
He paced around the room.
“Do you want revenge?” he asked, his voice
firm.
“I don’t have much time left. I have some
connections in this city. If you want, I can
help you.”
But we were strangers. I couldn’t drag him
into this.
Especially since the Millers and the Ethans
were influential families. It would be an uphill
battle.
He saw my hesitation. “You only live once.
You don’t want your brother to be branded a
criminal forever, do you?”
His words struck a chord. I could run away,
but Jason’s name would forever be tarnished.
And Dad. He lost his mind because of Jason. I
couldn’t let them down.
“Why are you helping me?” I asked.
He smiled, deep dimples appearing on his
cheeks. His eyes filled with a strange sadness
as he looked out the window, lost in thought.
“You remind me of my late wife. Not just your
looks, but… the way you feel.”
It turned out that the cliff I chose was the
same place his wife had taken her own life.
She had a family history of mental illness.
Three years into their marriage, she could no
longer bear the thought of hurting him during
<
her episodes, so she ended her life.
The night I tried to jump was the anniversary
of her death. He had everything prepared,
even his will, ready to follow her.
But he saw me and, on a whim, saved me
instead.
“You both chose that place to end your lives.
It’s… oddly endearing.” He chuckled.
“That’s not funny,” I said, turning away.
My phone rang. It was Ethan.
The man, whose name I now knew was
Samuel, looked at the phone and then at me.
“He’s called dozens of times. If you want my
help with your revenge, you know what to
say.”
I thought for a moment and answered the
phone.
“Riley! Where the fuck are you?!” Ethan
roared.
I had nothing left to fear.
“Ethan, if I die, will that be enough to atone?”
My voice was hollow.
There was a pause.
Then his voice, colder than ever, “Riley! I’m
not done with you yet! If you die, I’ll make
your dad suffer!”
I looked at Samuel, worried. He gave me a
reassuring nod.
“Ethan, I loved you once. And I hate you now.
My brother paid for your sister with his life.
Isn’t that enough?” My voice cracked.
“Riley, tell me where you are, right now!” he
screamed.
I was about to say something when Samuel
grabbed the phone, hung up, and turned it
off.
“Alright, Riley,” he said, a glint in his eyes.
“Let’s begin your new life.”
<
Chapter Two
Three years later, I returned as CEO of
Sterling Enterprises.
Samuel had secretly rescued my dad from the
Miller’s “care facility” three years ago.
He used his connections and resources to
expose the place for the abusive hellhole it
was, dealing a major blow to the Millers.
Dad wasn’t the same anymore.
Samuel mentored me, guiding me into this
position.
At the welcome–back party, everyone who
was anyone in the city showed up.
Including Ethan and Sarah.
The waiter opened the doors, and I wheeled
Samuel in.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.’
Ethan stared at me, jaw slack. Sarah’s mouth
dropped open too.
“Who’s the girl with Mr. Sterling?”
<
“Show some respect. That’s his adopted
sister. He personally groomed her to be
CEO.”
“She looks so young. I feel like I’ve seen her
somewhere…”
I sat at the head of the table and picked up
my wine glass.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I’m Riley, CEO
of Sterling Enterprises. I look forward to
working with you.”
I didn’t spare Ethan or Sarah a glance.
Ethan recovered first. He rushed over and
grabbed my wrist, his eyes bloodshot.
“Riley? You’re alive?”
Even after three years, his touch sent a shiver
of fear down my spine.
Samuel patted my back reassuringly. I took a
deep breath to quell the terror rising within
- me.
“Disappointed, Mr. Miller?” I forced my voice
to stay even, though my back was drenched
in sweat.
It was terrifying to see them again. Ethan and
Sarah.
The two people who dragged me through hell.
My grip tightened around my wine glass.
Sarah noticed Ethan’s outburst. “Ethan, let’s
sit down and eat.”
He composed himself slightly.
Later, I excused myself to the restroom. As I
stepped out, I walked straight into a familiar
embrace.
But it wasn’t warmth I felt, it was dread.
I pushed him away frantically.
“Riley, where have you been? I looked
everywhere for you! Do you know how much
I…”
“Why? So you could torture me again?” I cut
him off. He was holding me too tight.
I couldn’t break free.
The memory of that night three years ago.
flooded back, a nightmare I couldn’t escape.
Ethan would never know how many nights I
woke up screaming, drenched in sweat and
tears.
If it weren’t for clearing Jason’s name, I would
rather die than see him again.
Ethan froze. “No… that’s not…”
He looked worn down, a shadow of the
confident boy who appeared during my
darkest hour.
I finally wriggled free.
“Ethan, I haven’t forgotten what you did to
- me. Everything your sister went through, and
more, I experienced it all.”
Hatred flared in his eyes when I mentioned
Anna.
I smirked. Good. Let him hate me. It would
make it easier.
But the hatred vanished when he saw the
<
scars peeking out from under my jacket.
