Chapter 9

��Dad’s home.”

I turned toward Ricky, who was resting his elbow against the car window, watching me with a smirk. “We’ll have to wait until after Dad goes to bed for your tutoring session,” he said, leaning closer, his voice low with warning. “You know what happens if you lock the door.”

He leaned back, looking satisfied with himself, his lips curling into a lazy smile.

I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to punch him in the face.

Back when Ethan Clint was around, no one dared to treat me like this.

We got out of the car and entered the house.

As soon as I saw the man sitting in the dining room, my blood ran cold.

Even from behind, I recognized him instantly. I would never forget that figure, no matter what.

The man slowly turned to face me, his smile warm as he called out, “Chloe.”

Chloe Watson’s stepfather—Ricky Shane’s father—was none other than Richard Shane.

My entire body tensed up. Every cell in me screamed with the urge to flee. My heart pounded in my chest, my breath catching in my throat.

I bolted up the stairs to my room, telling myself to breathe, forcing myself to stay calm.

I remembered now. Richard Shane did have a son he adored, a boy he bragged about constantly, a supposed prodigy.

I’d tried to forget, but fate had other plans.

At that moment, Chloe reappeared.

My heart raced as I processed everything that had happened in the past few days. None of it made sense, and I was losing control. I didn’t know who was behind all of this, who was pulling the strings.

But I knew one thing for sure: Richard Shane needed to pay for what he did. And Ricky? I’d send him to the afterlife to keep Chloe company.

If his precious son died, Richard Shane would suffer.

And there’s no greater pain than a parent burying their child.