During his time at home, he'd hidden my SOS from the police.
His fingers traced the time of death on the report.
Finally, he asked Emma for a number.

"Was she cremated?"
"Yes."
I trembled—it was the actor Anna hired to sign the donation forms!
"It was all Anna! She set it up!"
I screamed, but no one heard.
My brother pressed, "When?"

The voices stammered, then said together:
"Yesterday afternoon!"
"Yesterday morning!"
Caught.

His eyes darkened.
If he investigated, he'd find Anna.
On the fifth day of Emma's search, I followed him to an alley.
The couple from before lay groaning on the ground.
"We didn't kill her! A woman paid us!"
My brother wiped blood off his hand.
"Who?"
"We don't know! We just took the money! She said she wanted revenge—she did it all!"
But the woman gave one clue:
A bamboo pendant necklace.
My brother froze, pulling out his phone to show a photo.
"Was it her?"
"Yes! That's her!"
I saw Anna's smiling face.
Even with proof, would he sacrifice his beloved?
But his eyes turned fierce, fists clenched and bleeding.
"Lily, I'll avenge you."
"John, it hurts."
He picked up a device, still gentle.
"It'll stop soon, Anna. Just relax."
"Okay."
She trusted him completely, unaware of the horror coming.
He drugged her—I recognized the mind-control substance.
When Anna passed out, he checked her phone.
He found the transfer records.
My phone and the bloody hammer hidden in her closet.
Then, a voice recorder.
"That day I drugged him..."
Hearing her boast about mom again, I shook.
Faced with proof his love killed his sister and mother, he snapped.
In his madness, I heard him mutter:
"Lily, I should've known—even if her dad was innocent, how could mom's testimony alone save him?"
"I always blamed her—why wouldn't she speak up?"
"Only after you died did I realize: my future father-in-law was a trafficker! Mom not testifying against him was already mercy!"
He cried, holding my photo.
Then he looked through our old albums.
"Lily, forgive me. Please."
I didn't want to hear it—but my spirit was trapped near him.
His apology came too late.
I heard it.
But I wouldn't forgive.
When Anna woke, chains bound her limbs.
The damp basement felt cold; a soft grinding sound echoed.
Terrified, she stammered, "John? Are you here? John!"
I smirked.
So the cruel monster could feel fear?
He emerged from darkness; lights flickered on.
Anna recoiled.
I saw her face twitch, frozen.
My brother held a blade near her cheek, smiling eerily.
"Scared?"
She forced a smile.
"N-no... John, let me go."
He shook his head, slicing her face.
"Ah!" she screamed.
He showed no mercy.
I felt only bitterness.
I'd explained so many times—he never believed me.
But now, dead, he understood—hurting his beloved for me.
How pathetic.
He seemed insane, enjoying her pleas.
"Did you think about this when you tortured Lily?"
Anna tried lying.
"I didn't! John, I didn't kill her! The police are still looking for the killer!"
He laughed, cutting deeper.
Until she fainted; he woke her with water.
He choked her, watching her struggle, thrilled.
"You think I didn't investigate? You monster!"