8
Rachel and Vivian arrived at the police station one after the other.
Vivian identified herself and asked to see the surveillance footage.
After reviewing the footage, the young officer took out Arland’s belongings.
“The footage shows that Mr. Arland hasn’t left the villa since he returned. He’s likely perished
in the fire.”
“These are some of the items found at the scene.
In a transparent plastic bag, there were two diamonds and a red bracelet, which was almost unrecognizable.
The shape of the diamonds was identical to the one on Arland’s mother’s watch.
When Vivian saw this, her face drained of color, turning white as a ghost.
“These are the bracelet and diamond watch Arland cherished the most.”
Vivian murmured quietly, her throat feeling like it was clogged with cotton, making her voice raspy and strained.
It felt as though hands were tearing her heart apart in her chest, the pain unbearable.
A flood of regret overwhelmed her, completely engulfing her.
Rachel felt dizzy, the world spinning around her her vision going black in waves. She almost
lost her balance.
When Clint arrived, Rachel was already in a strange state.
“Rachel, is my brother really…”
Before he could finish, Rachel suddenly turned her head. She stared at him with eyes full of
terror.
Clint’s pupils trembled. “Rachel, what’s wrong…
Her eyes were bloodshot, her voice thick with tears. “It’s because of you that Arland lost hope.
“When you weren’t here, the three of us were fine!”
“It’s you, you’re the one who caused this. I misjudged Arland because of you…”
“Clint, I won’t let you off.”
“Rachel, I know you’re heartbroken over my brother’s death…”
Clint, with tears in his eyes, looked at her, hoping for her sympathy.
But before he could finish, Rachel shoved him away.
“Leave!”
Clint turned to look at Vivian.
But Vivian merely turned her gaze away indifferently.
Clint stood frozen in place, a cold wave washing over his heart.
He knew that, with Arland gone, his life would never be the same again.
I settled down in another country in Europe.
The pace of life here is slow.
I wake up naturally day, go to the supermarket, and cook when I get home.
After meals, I sketch or design things I’m interested in.
In my free time, I go for walks, trying not to think about anything and completely empty my
mind.
Occasionally, I still hear news from back home.
For example, my death was reported in the news.
And, Rachel and Vivian were ruthlessly going after Clint and his mother, sparing no cost.
Vivian exposed online that Clint’s award–winning work was stolen from his younger brother, providing a series of evidence.
Clint, once the talk of the town for winning the award, was suddenly seen as a villain, hated by
everyone.
Not only that, Rachel and Vivian reclaimed all the expensive gifts they had given Clint.
Clint’s mother was exposed as the mistress who had broken up someone else’s marriage, and she herself was an illegitimate child.
By the time I heard more news about them, I felt nothing.
The sun rose, and bright sunlight bathed the earth.
This was my new life.
After living here for a month, I started looking for a job.
Under a new identity..
Nine days later, I successfully got hired by a new company.
My colleagues were mostly friendly and warm.
My boss was a fashionable and beautiful woman who had helped me a lot at work.
Gradually, I established myself in the company.
The past two years passed in a flash.
I made new friends, and a few women expressed interest in me, with some even pursuing me.
But I wasn’t thinking about dating for now.
I had signed up for an international designer competition, and I was in the preliminary rounds.
The event would be held in a nearby country, and many people were following this international competition.
I had prepared a lot for it.
One day, my boss, Linda, told me that the company planned to collaborate with a firm in New York and wanted to send me on a business trip.
