Chapter 20

Charles sincerely hoped that Natalie could find it in her heart to forgive Jayden since they'd been siblings for over two decades. However, Natalie didn't say a word. She just stared at Charles, as if she was silently asking, "Are you seriously asking me that?" Charles opened his mouth to continue, but the words caught in his throat. In the end, all he could do was sigh heavily and leave. Natalie thought back to what he said, and honestly, she found it laughable. Jayden? Innocent? If anyone had the right to call themselves innocent, it was her. Natalie had grown up in a world of warmth and privilege, loved unconditionally by her parents and Jayden. Yet, without warning, he'd turned around and given his love to someone else. Worse, he'd used that love as a weapon—wounding her, again and again, believing every single lie whispered into his ear, and believing she was the villain. Then, he'd pushed her toward death for that woman. After she was gone, he'd cried and cried and expressed his regret and innocence but never once acknowledged his own mistakes. Not once did anyone blame him. They all said Clara was the one at fault, that Jayden had been deceived. How was that fair? The executioner should still face consequences for their actions. Natalie had learned the hard way that no one was going to hold Jayden accountable. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands. … The rain that night wasn't heavy, but it felt particularly cold and gloomy. The street was silent, empty except for one slender figure walking slowly toward the hospital under a black umbrella. "Didn't you say you'd take your time with his punishment? Why the sudden rush now?" the system questioned in Natalie's mind. She smiled faintly, her eyes as cold as ice. "We've been siblings for over 20 years. I thought I knew him well. I honestly thought he would cry, apologize, admit he was wrong, and beg for my forgiveness when he saw me again. "But he didn't. He just tried to make it up to me without ever acknowledging what he did. I gave him so many chances, and he threw them all away. "I don't want to waste any more time on him. I'll let the law deal with him instead." "I have the evidence of Jayden's crimes. You could've just submitted it to the authorities. Why do you still need to go find him?" The system pressed for answers. Natalie shook the rain off her umbrella and stepped into the corridor. Her tone was apathetic as she responded, "Because Clara might have orchestrated everything, but Jayden was the one who carried it all out. So, before he's handed over to the authorities, he needs to truly experience the pain I went through." Her heels echoed ominously in the silent corridor—sharp, deliberate, unnerving. Natalie stood outside his hospital room for a moment before pushing the door open and walking in. Jayden lay in bed, pale and drenched in sweat. His eyes were squeezed shut, his whole body tense. It was clear that he was trapped in yet another nightmare. All of a sudden, he jolted awake. His heart missed a beat when he noticed Natalie watching him silently, backlit by the corridor light. "Natalie?" Still shaken from the nightmare, Jayden couldn't tell if the person in front of him was his real sister or the woman who looked exactly like her. Natalie let out a cold chuckle. "Who do you really think I am, Jayden? Or more importantly, who do you want me to be?" Jayden was caught off guard by her strange question, his fists clenching at his sides. "I—" "You already know the answer, don't you? So why won't you say it? Why can't you face me? What is it you're so afraid of, Jayden?" she pressed. "Are you afraid that I'll come back from the dead to exact my revenge, or do you not want me to come back to life because you're too scared to face me?" Her words hit like bullets, one after another. The blood drained from Jayden's face as he reached for her in desperation. "No—Natalie, please, I can explain!" "That's enough!" Natalie cut him off sharply. "Why do you think I'll listen to your explanation, Jayden? Where was this explanation when I begged you to believe me? When I cried, pleaded, and screamed for you to listen? You never heard me then. Why should I hear you out now?" She wasn't here for apologies, and she wasn't here to trade tears or talk about the past. She was here to see him off. "You were right from the start, Jayden. I am your younger sister. The same sister you tied up and left on that cruise ship to die. The same one who should've died but didn't. Are you disappointed, Jayden?" Natalie gauged his reaction before continuing, "Jayden, you always said that everyone should pay for their mistakes. Since you won't accept that punishment willingly, I'll help you." After saying that, she placed her hand firmly over his face. A burst of white light erupted around them, and Jayden let out a sharp, blood-curdling scream. "No! Please don't do this to me!"