You Faked Your Deaths to Punish Me?! That’s Illegal, Family! novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Jake froze completely.

“Lily-you’ve spent three years telling everyone they’re still out there. What happens when they come back and find out you declared them dead?”

The irony hit me hard.

He’d spent three years saying the opposite:

“Lily, nobody survives that kind of fall. It’s been three years-if they were alive, they’d be home. File the paperwork and stop torturing yourself.”

First time he’d ever pushed back this hard.

I let my face crumple, threw his own logic back at him.

“You’re right. Three years. If they were coming back, they’d be here.”

“I know you don’t want me to get hurt, but I can’t keep doing this. I can’t leave them floating out there like ghosts. Next week I’m holding a memorial. Everyone should get to say goodbye.”

His whole body went tense. He grabbed my shoulders hard enough to bruise.

“Lily, no-just wait. Maybe they’re already trying to get home. And we’re days away from the IPO. If you announce this now, investors will panic. The whole thing could collapse.”

I actually laughed at that.

“I’m the CEO. Their legal status doesn’t affect anything. If I’d done this three years ago, I wouldn’t have buried myself paying off their debts…”

God, I’d been such an idiot. Refused to accept they were gone. Shouldered every dollar of debt because I couldn’t stand the thought of them coming home to financial ruin.

I’d wanted to protect them. Give them back the life they’d had.

I’d been so desperate for my family that I’d worked myself into the ground for three years.

Sharp pain shot through my ribs. I looked straight at him.

“Jake, you’re acting weird. What’s wrong?”

His eyes darted away.

“Nothing. We’ve already waited this long-a few more weeks won’t hurt. Just hold off until after the IPO closes.”

He pulled me against his chest, voice dropping into that gentle tone he used when he wanted something.

“Lily, watching you destroy yourself over this kills me. You and Candy were inseparable, I know you’re not ready to let go. As long as they’re listed as missing, you have something to hold onto. Don’t take that away from yourself yet,”

Ten years I’d fallen for that voice. That look.

Now it turned my stomach.

10:53

You Waked Your Bouths to this mind.

Chapter 2

When did he and Candy even start? Before the accident? During? How long had I been the joke?

Didn’t matter anymore.

I pushed away from him, managed a weak smile.

“I’ve held on long enough. Three years is plenty.”

He stood there, mouth working like he wanted to argue but couldn’t find the words.

Once he was asleep, I grabbed his phone off the nightstand.

The second account practically jumped out at me.

I transferred it to my device and pulled up the most recent conversation.

CrazyForCandy:

[Lily’s losing it. She wants to file death certificates tomorrow. Talking about holding a full memorial service for all of you.]

Hubby’s Little Secret:

[Oh God Jake-two days ago was your anniversary with her and you came to see me instead. Did she figure something out?]

CrazyForCandy:

[Relax. She doesn’t pay attention to that stuff. Last year I spent her birthday with you and she just felt bad I was “working so hard.”]

MomDavidson:

[Your sister thinks Jake walks on water. She’d believe anything he tells her. That’s the only reason she hasn’t caught on to you two.]

DadDavidson:

[She does whatever Jake suggests. Just convince her to wait. We’re not dead-she can’t throw us a funeral.]

CrazyForCandy:

[Already handled. If she tries to file anything, my guy at the registrar’s office will make sure the paperwork gets “lost.”]

I kept scrolling. Message after message of them laughing about me. Planning around me.

Every birthday I’d spent alone. Every holiday. Every anniversary.

He’d been with Candy.

There was a recent family photo near the bottom.

My parents looked ten years younger, faces I barely recognized.

Candy looked like a completely different person. Prettier. Polished. Like a stranger.

I smiled.

Even luck was working in my favor,

10.53

You Pokod Your Dastha to Dunich you mu

Chapter 2

Want to play dead?

I’ll make sure it sticks.

70.57

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