Chapter 1
Chapter 1
After sending the message, my fingers shook so badly I almost dropped the phone. Inside the room, their conversation kept going.
“Is this fair to Briar?” Gladys’s voice trembled, laced with a rare hint of guilt. “If it weren’t for the unborn baby, she might’ve ended it all. Watching hef so lost, barely eating and living–it’s heartbreaking.”
Elliot signed, as though the weight of his lies was finally pressing down.
“But Carmilla’s only got six months left,” he said, voice tight. “It’s her last wish, Mom. I can’t just walk away,”
“And Briar?” Gladys pushed. “She’s carrying your child.”
I’ll make it up to her in the future.” he said. “Dont worry,mom.”
My heart felt like it was being crushed, the pain instantly radiating through my entire body until I could barely breathe.
I stumbled back to my bedroom, knees buckling beneath me as I crumpled onto the floor.
My phone vibrated. Conor.
“What’s going on, Briar? Is everything okay? Elliot’s… he’s dead, right?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, tears poured down, hot and blinding. The world knew Elliot Sterling was dead.
But I knew better.
I understood Conor’s confusion. Even I couldn’t have imagined Elliot would fake his death, let alone that he’d do it for another bitch.
Though I said nothing, my brother seemed to sense my emotional state. After a long pause, he spoke softly.
“The day after tomorrow evening. I’ll send a plane to pick you up then.I’ll take care of everything else.”
After hanging up, I remained frozen in position, still holding the phone.
Just then, a gentle knock came at the door. Standing outside was Elliot’s “older brother”
Or rather, Elliot Sterling himself–holding a glass of warm milk.
“Hey, Briar, what’s going on? Why are you sitting on the floor like that? Have you been crying? You… you must be missing Elliot, huh?”
During the weeks since Elliot had returned as his supposed brother, he’d been incredibly kind to me, seemingly treating me as his deceased brother’s widow.
Countless times when facing his concern, I’d felt lost my mind. Gladys always attributed this o grief over losing Elliot.
I discreetly locked my phone screen and forced a smile.
“It’s nothing.The baby kicked me and I lost my balance for a moment.”
Elliot visibly relaxed, setting down the milk before carefully helping me up from the floor.
“That little troublemaker. Wait until he’s born–his uncle will teach him.”
“Come on.Here some milk for you. Drink it and fake a break. Elliot wouldn’t hope for this situation.”
Hearing him mention his own name, I finally couldn’t hold back anymore. I looked directly into his eyes and deliberately asked
“Tell me the truth. Are you Elliot Sterling“,
