Chapter 3

The next morning, at breakfast, Whitney did something completely out of character. She placed a juicy sausage onto my plate.

"Eat more. I remember this used to be your favorite."

Without a word, I lowered my head and continued eating my eggs, leaving the sausage untouched.

If this had happened before, I would've been so happy I wanted the whole world to know.

Now, I only wished I could disappear.

Across the table, Aaron's expression darkened ever so slightly as he watched Whitney fuss over me.

A moment later, his phone rang.

After listening for only a few seconds, he held it out to me with a smile that sent a chill crawling down my spine.

"August, someone's insisting on speaking to you."

Caught off guard, I took the phone without thinking.

The voice on the other end instantly froze the blood in my veins.

"Long time no see, Mr. Novak. Miss me? Because I've been thinking about you. Those three days... I still can't forget them."

The phone slipped from my hand and hit the floor with a sharp crack. Every trace of color drained from my face.

My hands clenched into trembling fists as I stared at Aaron.

After what felt like an eternity, I forced the words out. "Why... why would he call you?"

Aaron blinked innocently. "What are you talking about, August? Who was that?"

A slow smile spread across his lips, the familiar malice in his eyes impossible to miss. "Why's some guy saying he misses you? That's pretty disgusting."

The last thread of reason inside me snapped. I shot to my feet and stormed across the room, grabbing him by the collar.

"Do you know him? Tell me! Do you know him?"

Aaron immediately clutched his chest, gasping for air as he looked pitifully toward Whitney. "Whitney, did I make August angry again?"

Whitney's expression turned icy. She seized my arm. "Let him go, August!"

My ears rang so loudly I couldn't hear another word. I slammed Aaron against the dining table, rage blazing in my eyes.

"Tell me the truth! Was this all your doing? Was it?"

Aaron's face grew paler and paler as he stretched a trembling hand toward Whitney. "H-Help, Whitney… August, what did I ever do to you? Why would you—"

A sharp pain exploded across my back. I grunted and stumbled forward before collapsing against the couch.

Looking up, I saw Whitney standing there, gripping a dining chair with both hands, her face ashen. She tossed the chair aside and rushed to Aaron, who looked moments away from suffocating.

With trembling hands, she pulled a bottle of heart medication from his pocket and quickly fed him a pill.

Only after his breathing steadied did she turn back to me. Her palm cracked across my face.

"Have you completely lost your mind, August? Aaron has a heart condition! Were you trying to kill him?"

Ignoring the burning pain in my cheek, I grabbed her hand like it was my last lifeline. "Whitney, please. Just believe me this once."

I pointed at Aaron. "He has something to do with my kidn—"

Standing behind Whitney, Aaron looked straight at me. His lips moved silently.

One word: "Video."

My face went deathly pale. It felt like invisible hands were crushing my throat. Not a single sound came out.

Whitney frowned impatiently. "Go on. What about him?"

Slowly, I let go of her hand as a hollow laugh escaped my lips.

So it really was him. My own brother had orchestrated the kidnapping.

I'd never hated anyone as much as I hated him in that moment. I'd never wanted to kill someone so badly.

Hatred swallowed me whole.

I'd done nothing wrong.

So why?

Why did they all have to do this to me?

I slowly lifted my head. My face was pale as death. My bloodshot eyes burned with hatred as I glared at Aaron.

"He's a monster. A filthy, worthless monster. He deserves that heart condition—"

Before I could finish, Whitney shoved my head down onto the couch.

The right side of my face was crushed against the cushions. Anger flashed across her normally composed features.

My chest rose and fell violently. Expressionless, I stared at her. All I could see was her lips moving.

After a long silence, I let out a bitter laugh. "I can't hear out of my left ear."

I saw her freeze just for an instant. Then she yanked me to my feet with startling force. Her manicured nails dug deep into my arm as she crouched in front of me, staring into my eyes.

"What did you just say?"

My lips trembled.

Before I could answer, she grabbed my arm again and dragged me toward the front door.

Aaron hurried after us, catching hold of her wrist. "Whitney, where are you going? My heart still doesn't feel very—"

"Get lost!" She violently shook him off. Her eyes were ice cold.

"If you're not feeling well, then take your damn medicine. Stop following me."

It was the first time I'd ever seen her like this. She looked as though she were on the verge of completely losing control.