Daniel stopped himself, clenching his jaw, realizing he had said too much. He remembered how I had begged him never to let Emily Carter know how I really died.
“Go on, say it! Keep spinning lies for him, is that it?”
Daniel ignored her and helped Mrs. Brooks inside to rest.
“Did I say you could leave?”
Emily blocked their path, smiling cruelly.
Daniel gritted his teeth. “What do you want?”
“It’s not about what I want. It’s about what Ethan owes me. He thought he could just walk away without paying?”
“It’s only fifty thousand. I’ll give you a hundred thousand instead.”
“Your money doesn’t count. I want Ethan himself to pay me back.”
Daniel’s face burned red with rage.
“He can’t come. Stop pushing this too far!”
But those words enraged Emily even more. She couldn’t accept it. To her, it only meant she hadn’t been ruthless enough yet.
“Fine. I’ll burn down his house and see if that brings him out.”
“You’re insane!” Daniel shouted. “If you burn his home, my mom will collapse from the shock—she’s Ethan’s only family left. You can’t do this!”
“Can’t I? Light it up! Burn this place to the ground.”
“No! That’s a crime!”
Emily laughed coldly. “Laws are made to keep the poor in line, not to threaten the rich.”
“Tie that old woman to a chair. Let her life be buried in the flames. Let’s see if Ethan the coward keeps hiding then.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Daniel fought with everything he had, but he was alone. Soon, he was overpowered.
My mother was tied to a chair, crying out like a wounded animal, begging Emily not to burn the house.
I wept, kneeling, begging Emily not to do this. I wished Daniel would just tell her the truth—that I was already dead.
The flames roared higher. Daniel, desperate, struggled, but Emily struck him with an iron rod, smashing it against his legs.
“Tell me! Where is he?”
“If you don’t, your mother burns.”
Daniel cried out, “Ethan is dead! He’s dead—are you satisfied?”
“You think I’ll believe that nonsense? Dream on.”
Emily, I really am dead. I’m right behind you. If you knew how I died, would you regret everything you’re doing now?
The searing heat was already burning my mother’s skin. Daniel and I both begged Emily to stop.
But Emily clenched her fists, her whole body trembling as if torn apart by her own rage and desperation.
“If he won’t come out, then let his mother die with my hate!”
Bloodied and beaten, Daniel crawled across the floor and grabbed Emily’s leg.
