Chapter 11
Chapter 11
William regained consciousness quickly.
His first moment of awareness brought pure terror to his eyes.
Because he discovered his limbs securely fastened to a bed with restraints.
A bright light shone directly into his face, making it nearly impossible to open his eyes.
William struggled with all his might but couldn’t move an inch.
I watched his futile struggles and laughed softly.
“Mr. Rhodes, don’t waste your energy.”
“This restraint technique cost me a fortune to learn from international mercenaries.”
“So far, no one has managed to break free.”
William finally gave up resisting. He looked at me, a strange light in his eyes, and asked:
“What do you want?”
I methodically put on my gloves, feeling the cool latex against my skin.
Yet inside, I felt an unusual calm.
I took out a graduation yearbook, turning to William’s page.
In the photo, he looked much younger than now, his back still straight, his hair not yet gray.
He stood in the center of the photo, smiling benevolently.
And standing behind him was my missing older sister, Lily.
Looking at my older sister’s face, I felt a strange disconnect as I spoke matter–of–factly.
“Mr. Rhodes, you’ve taught at Westridge High for many years, right? You’ve probably taught so many students you’ve lost count.”
William lay relaxed on the bed, his body language easing as he answered naturally.
“Forty years. A full forty years.”
I nodded.
The conversation took on a lighter tone, as if between old friends catching up.
Chapter 11
William even initiated the next topic.
“But you know, the two students who left the deepest impression, the two I liked best, you know both of them.”
“Coincidentally, they even had the same name.”
“Both called Lily, such a beautiful name. Pretty girls, young and full of life.”
Remembering something, his face took on a nostalgic expression.
I fought back the urge to vomit and forced a smile.
“Seems you remember quite clearly what you’ve done.”
William adopted a gentle expression, his tone remaining casual.
“Of course. Lily was once my most satisfying… work.”
“Oh, I mean your sister, the older Lily.”
Clearly, William had realized something.
He turned his head to stare directly at me, his tone ominous.
“Your little sister Lily–your family sent her to me deliberately, didn’t they?”
I remained silent, confirming his suspicion.
Years ago, my older sister left a letter before running away.
I was too young then to know its contents.
I only knew that after my older sister left, my parents became silent, even starting to argue.
Later, they brought home my little sister and gave her the exact same name as my older sister: Lily.
My parents deliberately raised her to be like my older sister.
Not only di
her clothes and appearance match my older sister’s childhood, but even her way of speaking, her walking style–she developed these under my parents‘ deliberate guidance to become increasingly similar to my older sister.
By eighth grade, I suddenly realized she looked exactly like my older sister.
Later, my parents pulled strings to get her into Westridge High–the same school my older sister had attended.
Soon after, my little sister chose to jump to her death.
After Mom died, I found the truth in her diary.
