Chapter 3

The document demanded that I turn myself in to the police.

It stated I had to confess that the building collapse during the earthquake was my fault, trapping Damien’s siblings in the rubble and causing one death.

But I was hiking that day. All company matters had been handled by Seraphina.

She was the one who cut corners, using shoddy materials, which is why the building couldn’t withstand the earthquake.

That’s what caused the casualties.

Now, she wanted me to take the blame for everything and transfer all company shares to Damien.

If I signed that contract, I’d probably spend the rest of my life in prison.

My wife’s brother read the document, then angrily tore it to shreds:

“Seraphina, you’re despicable!”

He snatched the phone, his voice choked with tears as he spoke to Seraphina on the video call:

“Seraphina! Open your eyes! I’m your brother!”

“Didn’t you promise to take care of me forever? Please, come down and save me! I won’t let Alex sign that thing!”

My heart ached.

After five years of marriage, my wife’s brother and I had become close friends, telling each other everything.

Seraphina spat at him.

“You look like a ghost and you think you can impersonate my brother? That’s not how you beg.”

“My brother, Caleb, is tall and handsome! How could a disgusting freak like you even compare!”

“Alex, my patience is limited. Sign it, or die!”

The bodyguards at the pit’s edge suddenly sped up, shoveling mud and sand over our heads.

Someone’s keys, mixed in with the dirt, fell and their sharp edge sliced open my wife’s brother’s arm.

“Decide quickly, or next time I’ll throw knives down!”

“Caleb!”

I quickly tore off part of my shirt to bandage his wound.

I cast a cold glare at Seraphina above.

“Do you really think this plan is foolproof?”

Seraphina scoffed.

“So what if I do? No one can save you now.”

I pointed to Damien beside her.

“Can’t you see someone’s using you to kill us? You think you’re some noble warrior fighting for love, but you’re nothing but a puppet in someone else’s hands.”

“Who are you calling a puppet?”

“You know who. Keep this up, and you’ll regret it, sooner or later.”

Damien suddenly picked up a rock and threw it at us.

“Seraphina, don’t listen to him. He’s just trying to buy time for backup.”

“Bury him faster!”

Seraphina immediately stopped thinking, her patience gone.

“Didn’t you guys eat breakfast? Shovel harder!”

A dozen bodyguards frantically swung their shovels, and our thighs were almost completely submerged.

I immediately pulled out a spray bottle from my bag.

I used every ounce of strength I had and hurled it upwards, hitting the lead bodyguard’s feet.

Seraphina burst into laughter.

“Pepper spray? Hahahaha…”

“Alex, you’re supposed to be a brilliant university graduate! Can that stop one guy? Ten?”

The sand buried us higher and higher, already reaching our stomachs.

My wife’s brother had his arms wrapped around my waist, his tears soaking my back, filled with despair.