I sent the voice message thinking Mom, Dad, and both my brothers would feel at least a flicker of worry.
Instead, in the next second.
Behind me, a burst of laughter erupted.
"See? I told you Zelda would say exactly that."
"I won!"
"Now transfer me a million!"
My second brother Julian's sneering voice rang out, unmistakable in the airport.
I turned around and saw them all standing not far off, laughing softly — Mom, Dad, and both brothers, who were supposed to be at the hospital caring for Willow.
Before I could take it in, my eldest brother Adrian strode over.
He seized my wrist and spoke with a mocking edge.
"Zelda, didn't you say you'd stop competing with Willow for attention as long as we gave you money?"
"So what was that message you just dropped in the family chat, saying you're going to die?!"
"Our family despises that disgusting two-faced act more than anything!"
"You really were raised wrong. Not fit to be seen in decent company!"
"Now hurry up and come home with us. Stop the suicide theatrics and embarrassing yourself here!"
Suicide theatrics. Adrian leaned hard on those words.
A sharp pain seized my heart.
A few months ago, Willow had smeared me as a cheater to explain how I'd gotten into an Ivy League university.
The Sinclairs never doubted her for a second. They reported me to the Department of Education, then burned my acceptance letter right in front of me.
"We're people of standing in Harbor City. We will never let someone like you drag our name through the mud!"
Dad roared, and locked me in the house for a month.
That was how I missed the enrollment date at the university.
So the jump that had left me hollowed out and broken, in their eyes, was nothing but suicide theatrics.
I didn't explain again. I didn't say another word.
I turned to check the detonation time the system showed me.
Ten minutes left.
Ten more minutes, and I could go to another world.
A world where I'd have a family who loved me.
I turned and walked away, step by step, toward the waiting seats in the airport.
I'd barely gone a few steps when Adrian coldly grabbed my hand again.
"Zelda, I'm talking to you!"
"If you're going to stage a suicide, at least pick a good spot. What's here at Harbor City Airport to kill yourself with?"
"You planning to block a plane and get run over? Or jump off one?"
Adrian's mouth curled with derision as he finished.
Julian, phone in hand, cut in, his face full of impatience.
"You've made enough of a scene. Hurry up and come home with us!"
"Willow still has to get back to her dorm. We can't hold up her studying!"
"Just say it. How much do you want this time?"
He pulled up the payment screen and tapped at the numbers, offhand.
I glanced at it and spoke again.
"I already told you. I don't want money anymore."
The moment I said it, Julian's finger stopped.
He chewed the inside of his cheek, impatient, and let out a low scoff.
"You don't want money?"
"Zelda, are you actually planning to die here at the airport?"
His eyes locked onto me, then dropped, sliding to the prosthetic legs that made me move so clumsily, and the corner of his mouth lifted.
"If you die today, I'll donate every last dollar of the billion-plus I've got to cripples just like you!"
Cripples. Julian bit down hard on the word.
I froze, my nails digging into my palm.
Before I could speak, Adrian suddenly spoke up.
"What's the point of donating money?"
"If Zelda really dies today, I'll kneel and kowtow to every disabled person who comes to that hospital for treatment!"
"Fine."
I cut Adrian off. I lifted my head to the system's countdown.
Only three minutes left.
"Adrian, Julian. You'd both better keep your word."
