Chapter 3

3、

I spoke with a trembling voice. "The real heiress is actually..."

Mrs. Sterling cut me off before I could finish.

"It's you!"

Her nails dug into my arm. Her eyes were frightening. "What are you still questioning?"

Mr. Sterling pushed her aside, putting on a kind face. "Your mother just missed you so much. She's over-excited. Don't be scared."

"I've already contacted the lawyers. Once you're home, you sign the papers. The billions are yours."

"Consider it our apology."

The terror reached a peak. I pulled out a strand of my hair and shoved it at them.

I made an excuse about waiting for the DNA test results before moving in. I told them I didn't want us to be disappointed if it was a mistake. Then I ran.

Because the restaurant was crowded, they didn't chase me.

Back at the orphanage, the other three swarmed me. "So? What happened?"

"I don't know," I whispered.

They collapsed into chairs. Mabel muttered, "We don't even have enough money for a bus ticket to escape."

"Maybe we should just end it ourselves. Better than being tortured by those freaks."

But they couldn't do it. No one could.

Mabel grabbed our hands. "How about this? We put sleeping pills in some water. We all drink it. It won't hurt as much."

I calmed them down. "There's another way."

"We still have to go to the mansion."

"I'll go."

They looked at me like I was a complete idiot.

"You know you'll die. What's the point?"

"Are you that greedy? You'd choose money over your life?"

The memories of their deaths came flooding back. Torn mouths. Flayed skin. Dog cages.

Every death was an agony.

I wasn't doing much better. I didn't die instantly when I fell.

I had to feel my bones splinter. I had to feel my life leak out onto the concrete.

Those billions were just a ticket to hell.

I picked up the photocopy of the agreement. "I know it's a death trap. But it's also our only chance to live."

They couldn't understand. "How?"

I didn't explain. I wasn't sure if I could bring the truth to light yet.

If I failed, I wanted to at least buy them time to run.

I gave them all my secret savings. "Take this. Buy tickets. Get as far away as possible."

Mabel started wailing. "You don't have a plan, do you? You're just sacrificing yourself for us!"

Lacey cursed. "I didn't know you were such a saint. Forget it! I'm not leaving!"

Vesper slammed the table. "We're already marked. There's no running. Just tell us how to help."

I was shocked and moved. We had spent our lives fighting.

We hated seeing each other succeed. But we had never actually tried to kill each other.

My own parents, however, had killed me without hesitation.

Since they were being loyal, I stopped hiding the truth.

"When Mrs. Sterling was dragging me out, she knocked over a dessert. That's when I realized the truth."

"The heiress is in this orphanage. And it's someone you all know."

Under their expectant gazes, I gave them the answer.

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