Chapter 3

3

The 104-degree sun was truly vicious.

I had been making a scene for a while, and even I was starting to feel the heat.

But compared to Caleb, who was lying on the scorching pavement under a heavy sheet―

I could definitely last longer.

"Rainey, it's too hot out here. You're going to get sick! Just come inside, I'll make you some iced tea…"

Silas was sweating bullets. He kept glancing at Caleb on the ground, looking like he was about to cry from anxiety.

"No need! I brought my own!"

I stayed on guard and pulled a bottle of ice water from my bag. I took a long, deliberate swig.

I didn't trust Silas. I wouldn't touch a drop of water provided by him.

I could feel Caleb twitch slightly beside me. He had to be burning up.

But I knew he wouldn't dare get up. If he blew his cover now, his entire plan would fail, and he'd go to prison for the kidnapping.

You want to play dead? Fine. I'll make sure you enjoy the experience.

"Rainey, I swear on my life! This is just a small mountain business. I'm not a killer. Caleb just had bad luck with the heatstroke!"

"Oh? You knew it was this hot, so why did you let him take a child out to pick fruit? You're the owner. If a guest dies, it's on you!"

I gripped the knife tighter, continuing my irrational rant.

Silas was frantic. His shirt was completely soaked through with sweat.

Seeing that he couldn't convince me, he tried to threaten me instead.

"Rainey, stop this nonsense right now! I didn't get the permits for this land by being a nice guy. If you don't step away, I'll make you regret it!"

In my last life, the debt collector had said much worse to me.

A little rat like Silas didn't scare me at all.

"……Where is the deceased? Let me see him immediately!"

Suddenly, a sharp female voice rang out from the gate.

My expression froze for a split second.

I knew that voice all too well.

It was the mistress who had mocked me right before I died.

A young woman in a white lab coat arrived, carrying a medical kit.

I took a good look at her. It was definitely her.

She looked much younger now, but the malice in her eyes was the same.

It seemed she didn't just meet Caleb later―she was part of the conspiracy from the very beginning.

She frowned and barked at me.

"Are you the wife? Move aside. If you keep interfering, your husband might actually die if he's still hanging on!"

So, Silas couldn't handle me, and now the mistress was playing doctor?

I sneered and pointed the knife at her.

"The paramedics already came and left! You're with him, aren't you? You just want to tamper with the scene and hide the evidence!"

Seeing that I was immovable, Silas and the mistress exchanged a quick look.

I immediately went on high alert.

The mistress suddenly opened her kit and pulled out a device that looked like a small handgun.

I recognized it―it was a sedative dart gun used for animals.

This retreat often had issues with stray dogs or wild boars. Silas must have kept it for emergencies.

It seemed she came prepared for a fight.

"Since you won't listen to reason, don't blame me!"

She fired. A sedative dart streaked toward me.

But years of boxing had given me great reflexes. I twisted my body, and the dart whistled past me.

It thudded directly into Caleb's leg as he lay on the ground.

It wasn't my imagination―I heard a muffled, tiny groan come from under the sheet.

"―Caleb!"

The mistress froze. Her face went pale as the name slipped out of her mouth.

"Aha! You do know him! You're not a doctor… you're trying to murder him!"

I threw myself onto Caleb's body, screaming and wailing. While I did, I secretly pushed the dart deeper into his flesh.

"……They're here! They're here!"

Silas, who had been standing there like a statue, suddenly looked toward the gate and ran to help someone inside.

"Where is my poor son… Let me see him!"