Amber’s Pov
“What is going on here?” My voice shook as my eyes darted from Jason to my sister tied up in the chair.
Jane’s cheeks were streaked with tears, her hair messy, her clothes ripped. She looked so small, so helpless.
Jason leaned against the wall, calm as though the sight before us was nothing. A cruel smile tugged at his lips.
“You pissed me off, Amber, even when I tried to be nice,” he said flatly. “So I pulled your sister out of her boarding school. I thought she’d help me teach you a lesson.”
Jane whimpered, “Amber… please…” Her voice was barely a whisper.
My knees weakened, but I forced myself forward. “Why, Jason? Why would you do this to her? She’s just a child!”
Jason’s eyes darkened. “Don’t act innocent. You think I’d just let you get away with what you did to Chloe?”
I frowned. “What I did to Chloe?”
He pushed off the wall, his face twisting with rage. “Because of you, Chloe’s jaw is broken. She’s in the hospital getting stitches as we speak.”
I scoffed. “She killed my son, Jason, she deserves more than that!”
“And you know what’s worse?” Jason’s voice dropped. “She was pregnant with my child. She lost the baby because of you.”
I arched my brow and tried to act surprised, “Your child? How is that possible? Didn’t you say you took her as your sister because she saved your life?”
Jason laughed. It was hollow, bitter, full of scorn. “You’re so stupid, Amber. Chloe took care of me and saved my life while you were partying and too busy to come see me. If she hadn't been there that night when the doctors tried reaching you all to no avail I would have been dead!”
My lips parted, but no words came. My chest squeezed painfully even though I've tried to tell him the truth countless times he's never believed me.
“It’s been four years and yet you still worship her,” I smiled bitterly.
He stepped closer, his eyes burning. “If you hadn't neglected me then I would be worshipping you and not her!”
My stomach twisted but I said nothing. I just realized that my parents had been right all along.
“And you—” he sneered, “you went ahead and got pregnant. You betrayed me and ruined everything!”
Tears blurred my vision. “Ruined everything? Jason, he was our son. Our baby boy—”
Jason’s voice rose, harsh and cruel. “He wasn’t my son! I’m glad he’s dead. The only children I’ll ever have will be with Chloe.”
The words struck like blades. My heart split wide open. I could barely breathe.
“How… how can you say that?” I whispered, tears clouding my eyes.
He threw a piece of paper at me. “Thanks to Chloe, I found out what you were really doing that night.”
My eyes widened and I shook my head when I saw the paper was a DNA test, “No… this is fake, Jason, you can't believe this.”
He scoffed, “You think I’m a fool? This is the same result I got after running the same test in 4 various hospitals!”
“Fine, you've always believed whatever Chloe tells you. Just let Jane go, she has nothing to do with this,” I whispered.
Jason shook his head slowly, smiling like a madman. “No, darling. She has everything to do with this. If you want her safe, you’re going to do exactly as I say.”
My heart sank. “What do you want?”
“You’re going to make a video,” he said coldly. “You’ll post it online, apologizing to Chloe. You’ll tell everyone it was an accident. That you’re not blaming her for your son’s death. The trolls will stop. The hospital will reinstate her. Everything will be fine again.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Never. Never in this life will I defend her. She killed my son, Jason! She doesn’t deserve sympathy, she deserves prison or worse!”
His eyes gleamed dangerously. “That’s why Jane is here. To motivate you.”
Jane sobbed harder, shaking her head. “Amber, please… don’t let him—”
Jason leaned in close, whispering like poison. “If you don’t do the video, I’ll post her naked pictures online.”
Jane gasped. “No!” She broke into hysterical sobs, thrashing against the ropes.
Jason laughed cruelly. “Just imagine it. Your sweet, innocent sister is barely eighteen. Everyone at her boarding school seeing her like that. Her reputation will be destroyed. She’ll never recover.”
I felt sick. My whole body trembled. “You’re bluffing.”
Jason smirked. “Am I?”
He pulled out his phone, tapped a few buttons, and Jane let out a bloodcurdling scream. “No! Don’t! Amber, stop him!”
The horror in her voice told me it was real. Jason wasn’t bluffing.
My world collapsed. I could not let her suffer. “Stop! I’ll do it,” I shouted. “I’ll do the video!”
Jason grinned, victorious. “Smart girl.”
He shoved a phone into my hand and forced me to sit. My tears blurred the camera as I spoke, my voice hollow.
“My son’s death was an accident,” I said, the words cutting me open. “Chloe isn’t to blame. I forgive her. Please stop harassing her. She deserves peace.”
Jason ended the recording, smiling with satisfaction.
Then, without warning, his fist shot out and smashed into Jane’s face. A sickening crack echoed. She slumped in the chair, blood pouring from her mouth.
“Jason!” I screamed.
“That’s your punishment,” he hissed. “For laying a hand on Chloe.” He stormed out, leaving the door wide open behind him.
I rushed to Jane, my hands shaking as I untied the ropes. “Stay with me, Jane, please… please forgive me,” I sobbed, cradling her limp body.
Her jaw was swollen, twisted. Her breaths were shallow.
I dragged her to the car and sped to the hospital, my tears blinding me.
Hours later, I sat outside the emergency ward, wringing my hands, praying she’d survive.
“Rough night?”
The voice froze me. Chloe strolled out of the hallway, perfectly fine, no sign of injury. Her lips curved in a mocking smile.
“You—” my voice broke. “You’re not hurt.”
She laughed. “Of course I’m not. I was never pregnant either. But Jason believed it because he's madly in love with me and believes whatever I want him to even when I told him you cheated and he's not your dead son’s father.”
I scoffed, “Why am I not surprised that you're a manipulating conniving bitch.”
Chloe’s eyes gleamed with victory. “I pushed him to the edge. I wanted him to finally admit to you what he feels for me. And he did, didn’t he?”
“You’re disgusting,” I spat. “Nothing but a filthy whore, that's what he admitted.”
Her smile faltered for a second before she masked it with a glare. “Careful, Amber. You’re in no position to insult me. This isn’t over. I’ll deal with you soon enough.”
She flicked her hair back and sauntered off, her laughter echoing in the corridor.
Later, I sat by Jane’s bedside. Her face was pale, her jaw wrapped in bandages, machines beeping around her. I held her hand, guilt crushing me.
“Please wake up, Jane,” I whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
The door slammed open.
Jason strode in, his eyes red, his face twisted with fury.
“Where is my son, Amber?” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
