Chapter 5

"Yes."

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

I once thought I was the luckiest person in this world. I had parents and a brother who loved me, and a man who cherished me like a treasure.

Turns out it was all just an illusion—a reflection in water that scattered the moment you touched it.

I could have chosen to stay in this world forever, to be with this family.

But now, my resolve to go back was stronger than ever.

"One last question."

"Why did you wait until our wedding day to tell me the truth, when you already had me?"

"Because Vivian was worried you couldn't handle it, so she asked me to keep it from you."

I laughed loudly. "How kind of you, dear sister. To spare my feelings, you waited until the wedding day to tell me this was all just a bet."

"Making me stand here in a wedding dress like a fool, watching you two get married—wasn't that meant to humiliate me?"

"That's ridiculous! Vivian isn't as scheming as you're making her out to be!"

I smiled bitterly. "Not scheming? Since she came home, she's attempted suicide at least a hundred times."

"Has she ever actually succeeded? People who truly want to die don't need to be saved!"

"Shut up! How can you say that about your sister!"

Dad tried to hit me again, but Mom held him back.

"Enough. Emma's hurt this badly—stop hitting her."

"Dad, I'm your daughter too. You raised me with your own hands. Just because I'm not your biological child, does that mean I don't deserve your trust!"

"You're claiming your sister had you beaten. Do you really think I'd believe such an outrageous lie!"

The moment Vivian heard that, she had an episode. She clutched her chest and fell backward.

"Emma, how can you slander me like this? Are you trying to kill me!"

I looked at her coldly and laughed. "If you really want to die that badly, come up to the rooftop with me right now. We can die together—how about that?"

Lucas flew into a rage. He rushed forward and wrapped his hand around my throat. "If you want to die, go die alone! If you dare upset Vivian again, I'll kill you myself!"

He choked me until I could barely breathe. Just when I thought he might actually strangle me to death, he let go.

"Get out of my sight. Just looking at you disgusts me!"

I shuffled toward the elevator step by step. "I'll go. After this, none of you will ever see me again."

"Emma, where are you going? The exit is that way."

Mom took a few steps after me, but Dad held her back.

"Forget about her. Let her go wherever she wants. Vivian's wedding is more important."

The whole family went to comfort Vivian. No one cared that I had already taken the elevator to the hotel rooftop.

Standing on the roof, I was just one step away from going home.

I was waiting for the right moment. I had to jump at the exact time the system specified, or I wouldn't make it back.

Someone noticed I was about to jump and called the police.

The police arrived quickly and set up a safety airbag below.

The wedding ceremony had just ended. The Sinclair family was seeing off guests at the main entrance when they noticed someone about to jump.

My brother immediately exploded with anger. "Who the hell is this? What kind of bad luck—jumping from our hotel on my sister's wedding day!"

"Mr. Sinclair, it's Miss Emma!"

Everyone's expression changed.

Lucas actually laughed out loud. "Emma Sinclair? She's just putting on a show. If she actually jumps, I'll eat shit!"

Vivian collapsed weakly into Lucas's arms. "Why won't Emma just leave me alone? Why does she have to push me to death! Maybe I never should have come back to the Sinclair family. Maybe I shouldn't even be alive!"

Lucas held Vivian tightly. "Mom, Dad—just send Emma away. As long as she exists, Vivian will never be okay."

Dad nodded gravely.

"Tell the police to remove the airbag. Emma would never actually jump. Making such a big scene is exactly what she wants."

My brother thought for a moment, then went to talk to the police.

"Officer, please remove the safety airbag. My sister is just messing around. She won't really jump."

"If we remove the airbag and something happens to the person, we won't be held responsible."

"You won't need to be. Emma would never actually go through with it."

Under the family's insistence, the police removed the safety airbag.

I let out a breath of relief up on the roof. With that airbag there, I was worried I might not actually die from the fall.

Lucas came out supporting Vivian, about to point up at me on the rooftop and curse me out.

The next second, I dropped like a stone and crashed right in front of the Sinclair family and Lucas.

The impact made a thunderous sound, and the blood that splattered covered their faces.