Chapter 2

She's probably just worried about her little brother. The weather is terrible out there.

I'll wait a little longer. Maybe the rain will let up.

The effect was immediate. The Slack channel exploded.

The storm isn't getting any better tonight.

Sarah, you own a house on high ground. Not everyone has that kind of privilege.

Jake wouldn't be rescuing anyone. He'd just be giving her a ride to the nearest hotel.

My father stepped out of his home office after hearing the notifications chime nonstop. He glanced toward the windows, where rain slammed against the glass.

"Don't let Jake go out tonight."

His words were exactly the same as they had been in my previous life.

Back then, I hadn't listened.

Emily had just graduated from college. She was new to the city.

Living alone. Trying to build a career.

I thought helping her was simply the decent thing to do.

Weeks later, protesters gathered outside our house. They carried signs calling my brother a rapist. Someone splashed red paint across our front door. Reporters camped outside for days. Clients abandoned our family business overnight.

My father collapsed from a stroke. My mother suffered a heart attack after being surrounded by screaming strangers who threw eggs and garbage at them.

I could still see them lying on the pavement, reaching toward me.

That was the day I finally understood that blind compassion can destroy the people you love most.

My phone vibrated again. Another notification. Michael had tagged me.

Sarah, the Regional VP decision is being finalized next week.

Leadership isn't measured by quarterly numbers alone.

People remember how you respond when someone on your team needs help.

There it was. No direct order. No mention of Jake. Just a perfectly crafted reminder that my promotion depended on whether I appeared compassionate enough.

I rested my fingers on the keyboard before replying.

My response is fully consistent with the company's emergency procedures.

Emily, send me your full address and apartment number.

If the flooding has made it unsafe to leave, I'll contact the city's flood-response team and coordinate with emergency services if necessary.

Her answer came almost instantly.

Please don't.

I'm renting an illegal sublet.

If emergency services show up, my landlord will throw me out.

I just graduated. I can't afford to lose the only place I have.

The sympathy in the channel shifted entirely toward her.

She's already dealing with enough. Don't hide behind company policy.

I was the one making things difficult for Emily?

Did any of them stop to think that Emily was the one putting me in an impossible position?

I always thought Sarah genuinely cared about her team. Maybe I was wrong.

She could help someone in need, but instead she's just watching it happen.

Poor Emily. Having a manager like that must be awful.

I let out a quiet laugh.

Anyone who believes Emily needs a ride is welcome to volunteer.

My brother isn't leaving this house tonight.

I hit Send. Muted the channel. And locked my phone.

If standing my ground cost me the promotion, or even my job, so be it.

A second later, Jake's phone lit up.

He frowned and turned the screen toward me.

Emily Carter wants to connect with you.

She had somehow found his private account.

Her connection request contained only one sentence.

I'm sorry for causing trouble. I never wanted to put you in the middle of this.

I took the phone from his hand.

Decline. Blocked.

Jake looked surprised. "She seems nice. I don't think she's trying to manipulate anyone."

I looked him straight in the eye. "Jake, remember this."

“They call emergency services. They contact building management. They find a real solution. The only reason someone would ignore every proper channel and insist on coming to you is because they need something from you that has nothing to do with being rescued.”

He blinked. The words clearly lingered in his mind.

I gently nudged him toward his bedroom.

"From this moment on, you stay inside. No going outside. "

He nodded. "I promise."

His bedroom door clicked shut.

Only then did I finally allow myself to breathe.