Jake fought with her about it a lot, even
threatened to cut ties with his family just to be
with me.
But the woman he loved was responsible for his
mom’s death.
How could he ever accept that?
After dropping Ashley off, Jake seemed to
remember I existed.
Showing a rare act of mercy, he unblocked my
number and reached for his phone, drumming
his fingers on the steering wheel.
His brow started to furrow.
He slammed his hand on the steering wheel, his
face twisted with rane
<
12:01
“Annie, you dare not pick up? You’re dead to
me!”
But what he didn’t know was that I wasn’t
ignoring him.
I just couldn’t answer anymore.
84
Two weeks later, Jake finally came back to our
house.
He pushed the door open with the force of a
violent storm, yelling, “Annie, you get your ass
out here now!”
He stormed through the rooms, throwing open
doors, but I was nowhere to be found.
Jake’s already dark mood soured even further.
He ordered his people to find me, his voice dripping with menace. “Annie, if you’re running, you better run far. Because when I get my
12:01
<
84
2000
you better run far. Because when I get my
hands on you, I’m breaking your legs.”
But the woman whose legs he wanted to break
was right in front of him.
Not long after, his people sent him a location.
Jake’s face turned terrifying. I looked at him,
confused.
“Mr. Harrison, we found traffic camera footage
of Mrs. Harrison’s car accident. Plus…her
autopsy report.”
Chapter 2
Jake just stood there, stunned.
Riley used the chance to clock him in the jaw.
“Ugh…”
Riley climbed to his feet, looking down at Jake,
く
who was still reeling.
)
“Now, get your people out of my house.”
But Jake suddenly lunged up and shoved Riley
out of the way, and into the study.
My photos were all over the desk.
In every single one, I was covered in blood.
Some were so bad, you couldn’t even recognize
- me.
I only glanced at them before looking away.
I knew what I looked like when I died. An eye
dangling out, half my skull crushed.
The coroner had a hell of a time identifying me.
But Riley just had those pictures sitting out in
plain sight.
<
I felt sad for him. I don’t know how he didn’t
have nightmares.
But Jake was holding those photos now,
frantically searching for something.
He was desperate.
The corners of the photos were bending under
his tight grip.
He listened to his people’s report, then stared
at the computer screen in disbelief.
It was the video of my accident. Two cars
collided head–on, my car just went flying.
The image was devastating.
Jake’s eyes went red. His hand was shaking on
the mouse, but he kept watching the video, over and over again.
く
“How did you know about the crash?”
Jake’s voice was hoarse.
He was probably wondering how Riley knew
something that he didn’t.
Riley just smirked. “Didn’t you figure it out? Her
last call was to me.”
“She barely had the strength to talk, but she
used her last breath to tell me something.”
“What?” Jake was tense.
Riley took his time, savoring Jake’s frustration
and anger.
“What?” Jake’s eyes were bloodshot, staring at Riley.
Finally, Riley dropped the smirk. “She said
Ashley killed your mother.”
<
12:02
“No way.”
Jake shot down the claim instantly.
