Chapter 2

2

I have to admit, as a CEO, Brooks at least felt a shred of responsibility toward his shareholders.

Once he made his decision, he acted quickly.

He soon appeared in a run-down neighborhood in South Brooklyn, a place filled with crumbling brick houses.

His million-dollar luxury SUV couldn't fit down the narrow, trash-strewn alley.

The driver had to park at the entrance.

Brooks, wearing custom-made Italian leather shoes, had to trek through the muddy path.

Every step in the muck made his foul mood even worse.

By the time he found my mother's house, he was fuming.

He didn't knock; he simply kicked the door open.

The old, creaky wooden door groaned and splintered under his heavy boot.

My mother had been tidying up the small living room.

The sudden explosion of sound made her jump in terror.

Before she could even check the door, Brooks and his bodyguards barged in.

He scanned the tiny room, and when he didn't see me, he glared at her.

"Where is Elara? Tell her to get out here."

My mother froze for a moment, staring at him.

Then, she turned back around, picked up her rag, and continued cleaning as if he weren't there.

Brooks was stunned by her silence.

He lunged forward, grabbing her arm and spinning her around.

He leaned down, screaming directly into her ear.

"You old bat! Did you hear me? I said call Elara back here right now!"

A flicker of deep sorrow crossed my mother's eyes, but she suppressed it instantly.

She pushed his hand away and spoke in a flat, hollow voice.

"Elara isn't coming back."

Brooks let out a mocking laugh.

He pulled out a rickety chair and sat down, staring at her with pure arrogance.

"Not coming back? What, did she die? Tell her to stop being so pathetic. This drama over Seraphina has lasted five years. It's enough. The company is in trouble, and she needs to fix the mess she left behind!"

My mother drew a shaky breath, her eyes turning red.

"You're right. Elara is dead."

Brooks's eyes widened for a split second.

Then, he burst into a fit of laughter.

He turned to his men, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Dead? Do you guys believe that? Because I don't. A woman that obsessed with her own life doesn't just die. Besides, evil lives forever. She'll outlive us all."

He turned back to my mother, barking his orders.

"Enough! Tell me where she is hiding!"

My mother looked at him and shook her head in weary disappointment.

She reached into a cabinet behind her and pulled out a folder.

She opened it, took out a single sheet of paper, and handed it to him.

"Elara is right here."

Brooks snatched the paper from her hand.

Even after all these years, the faded ink was still perfectly legible.

It was a death certificate. Name: Elara Sterling.

Brooks's pupils shrunk.

He stared at the document, his fingers trembling slightly.

A flash of panic flickered in his eyes, but he quickly forced himself to be calm.

He ripped the death certificate into tiny pieces and showered them over my mother.

"Your family really is full of tricks, isn't it? Are you enjoying watching me struggle? You even went as far as faking her death just to drag me down?"