Chapter 5

It was Marissa's voice. "You're still recovering. You shouldn't be wandering around. Lucky it was me who ran into you today-what if Gavin had seen you first? Yesterday you were on the operating table, and today you're walking around like nothing happened? Who's going to believe that?"

The old man on the hospital bed let out a derisive snort. "What's there to be afraid of? Isn't your CEO boyfriend powerful enough? Can't he handle a little cover-up?"

Boyfriend? Since when did Marissa have a boyfriend?

Claire froze, pressing her ear closer against the door.

"I'm nothing compared to him," the man sneered. "That man's cold-blooded. He could even turn on the sister he grew up with. In the parking garage, that little tramp tried to fight back. But the moment she saw her brother standing there with a knife, she was done for. Doesn't matter; we're tied to each other now. If I get caught and spill everything, he won't escape either."

Marissa hissed, furious. "Do you even hear yourself? If anyone overhears, you're as good as dead!"

Claire's blood turned to ice.

She had imagined many ways Nina might have died, but never thought it could be related to Graham.

No wonder the surveillance footage had been wiped clean. No wonder the guards had begged her again and again to drop the matter.

It was because-

Her most beloved, most respected brother... had murdered her sister with his own hands.

Just then a nurse came by with a cart for rounds and caught Claire blocking the doorway.

"Are you going in or not? If not, please step aside."

Claire quickly wiped her tears and fled down the hall.

When Marissa finally came out, she only caught a fleeting glimpse of a familiar back.

Claire's hands were trembling uncontrollably. At last she understood what Nina had tried to say before she died, "Save yourself."

Her sister had known all along. Graham was nothing but a treacherous snake.

Claire rushed to the bank and opened the safety deposit box Nina had left behind.

Inside the metal case was a stack of stock transfer agreements, along with a simple business card with no name. On the back, a single elegant line was scrawled, "If you ever need anything, you can come to me."

Claire tried calling the number, but it was always busy. She had no choice but to send a message, praying her sister's friend could be trusted.

Then she returned to the Fulton estate. She had Jade's jade silver locket in hand. Once Gavin saw it, he would know the truth.

But just as she dug it out from her jewelry box, she turned-

And found Gavin standing behind her, his face dark with anger.

Marissa clutched her reddened cheek, her voice dripping with wounded grievance.

"Claire, if you wanted the silver locket, you could've just asked me. It's not like I wouldn't give it to you. But you didn't need to attack me and snatch it away."

Claire froze at the shameless accusation, stumbling over her own defense.

"Gavin, listen to me-she's a fraud! The real Jade died years ago in that landslide at the human-trafficking village. I buried her myself. This silver locket was her keepsake-she gave it to me, and she said that once she escaped, she'd have you come save me..."

But no matter how desperately she explained, Gavin's expression stayed cold, his final words calm and merciless.

"Claire, you've lost your mind."

When Marissa had first come to him, crying with her hand over her bruised face, he hadn't wanted to believe Claire could be so vicious.

But now, staring at her twisted, almost feral features, Gavin could no longer lie to himself.

Just then, Graham hurried in, soft-voiced as he reached a hand toward her.

"Claire, calm down, please. I know after Nina's death you've never felt safe. Don't be afraid. I will always be here for you."

In the past, Claire would have thrown herself into his arms without hesitation.

But now, the sight of Graham chilled her to the bone, as if death itself had come for her.

She clung desperately to Gavin's arm instead, as if it were the last thread keeping her alive.

"I'm not lying. He and Marissa are in this together! Graham stole my silver locket and gave it to her so she could steal Jade's place."

Gavin's gaze flickered with conflict, but his voice was steady. "She may steal the locket. But a DNA test doesn't lie."