You Faked Your Deaths to Punish Me?! That’s Illegal, Family! novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I was packing up what was left of my parents’ and little sister’s things-three years gone without a word.

My fiancé Jake’s laptop sat open on the table, suddenly lighting up with message after message.

CrazyForCandy:

[Mom, Dad, Candy-one month till the IPO. Time to come home and cash in.]

Hubby’s Little Secret:

[We cleaned out everything three years ago and bailed when the company was tanking. Now Lily’s paid off every debt and somehow saved the whole thing. If we get some work done and just show up, she won’t recognize us, right?]

DadDavidson:

[She’ll know. That girl lives for family. She’s been a mess without us. We could look like different people entirely and she’d still figure it out.

She’ll hand over the company the second we ask.]

MomDavidson:

[Jake honey, these three years must’ve been rough. Once we’re back, we’ll break off your engagement to Lily so you can marry Candy like you two wanted. We’ll finally be a real family.]

My hands went cold instantly.

I could barely move the mouse as I clicked on their profiles-the same accounts I’d messaged for three years straight. Nothing but silence.

I was about to fire something back when my sister’s message popped up.

Hubby’s Little Secret:

[Jake, whatever you do, don’t let Lily near our documents. I heard she’s been asking about declaring us dead. Don’t let her file anything.]

CrazyForCandy:

[Relax babe, she still thinks you’re all alive somewhere. She talks about you guys constantly. And even if she tries, I’ve got a guy at the county office. He’ll bury any paperwork she files.]

I pulled back from the keyboard immediately.

A cold smile crept across my face right then and there.

You want to play dead?

Well, I’ll make it official-starting NOW.

The group chat started the day they disappeared.

I scrolled through the messages, feeling colder with every line.

While I was losing my mind with worry, the four of them were laughing at ine.

You Faked Your Deaths to Punish Me?! That’s Illegal, Family!

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Chapter 1

[She’s ugly crying right now. If she knew we were on a beach in the Maldives, oh my God-]

[Good. That’s what she gets for taking Jake from you. Never listened to us anyway. Hope she cries herself sick.]

[She challenged me in front of the entire board. Disrespected her Dad completely. Let’s see her handle millions in debt now.]

[Mom, Dad, Candy-enjoy the trip. Lily’s too stubborn to let our name fail. She’ll kill herself fixing this. When you get bored traveling, just come back and take everything.]

Each message hit like a slap. Everything went numb.

Three years ago, their car went off a cliff into the ocean.

Over a thousand people searched for three days. Nothing.

I stayed in that water for seventy-two hours straight. My body swelled so badly I looked ready to burst.

I screamed until I had no voice, cried until I couldn’t see, refused to leave.

Then everything fell apart-company bankrupt, millions in debt overnight.

Creditors spray-painted our building: PAY UP.

Employees I couldn’t pay cornered me in the parking lot. Threw paint on me. Beat me down. Broken ribs, broken arm. They ripped out a chunk of my scalp. There’s still a bald spot.

I begged strangers for money on my knees.

Days, I chased clients.

Nights, I delivered food, drove drunks, worked bottle service until I blacked out.

Three years. Four hours of sleep a night. My hair falling out in clumps. Severe depression.

I couldn’t go home. Couldn’t face their things, their smell, the thought they might never come back.

Three years in hell.

Just because my sister wanted my fiancé.

Because I didn’t step aside when my parents hinted.

Because I disagreed with my father once.

So they destroyed me. And Jake helped.

I stared at his message: [Don’t worry, I’ll start hinting you’re alive. She’ll come around.]

Almost laughed at how pathetic I’d been.

I screenshot everything, saved it.

The lock clicked. I yanked the cord out.

Jake rushed in, froze.

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You Faked Your Deaths to Punish Ms2! That’s Weral Familyt

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Chapter 1

Looked at the laptop. Then looked at me.

“Did you use my laptop?”

I kept my face soft.

“Sorry, I knocked the cord loose going through my parents’ stuff. Did I mess anything up?”

Relief flooded his face. He pulled me close, voice gentle.

“Nah, you’re fine. Thinking about them again?”

“Lily, listen-maybe they’re still-”

“Jake.”

I looked him in the eye.

“It’s been three years. I’m done waiting. Tomorrow I’m filing to have them declared dead.”

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You Faked Your Deaths to Punish Me?! That’s Illegal, Family!

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