Chapter 6
A murder case involving the Everhart heir quickly shot to the top of trending topics online.
The post only revealed that the victim had been employed at the Everhart estate before dying under mysterious circumstances.
The ending mysteriously promised a real-name livestream at 8 PM that night to speak for the victim.
It already had over a million likes.
Elite family scandals involving death were always hot topics of conversation in New York.
At Everhart Corporation headquarters, crash-an expensive crystal ornament shattered.
Magnus paced his office in fury.
“Find Sierra immediately! Take down every post online related to the Everharts!”
Odessa sat on the sofa, looking panicked.
“Magnus, I really didn’t do it. After you left, I had someone take her to the hospital, but she jumped out of the car…”
He pulled the distressed Odessa into his arms to comfort her.
“It’s fine, I’ll handle this. Don’t worry. Sierra is nothing-I don’t believe she can cause any real trouble!”
“Will I be implicated? I’m scared…”
He kissed Odessa’s forehead, declaring firmly that she wouldn’t be.
Sierra hadn’t expected the post to gain such traction. While pleased, she was also worried-would Magnus see it? Would he stop her?
She was currently hiding with Eli in a small motel. As long as she finished tonight’s livestream, she wouldn’t fear anything!
At exactly 8 PM time, she opened the livestream as promised, with her prepared evidence and a recording beside the computer.
Once the recording was public, people worldwide would seek justice for her. She’d never have to fear Magnus again!
Taking a deep breath, she held up her ID and started streaming.
“I am Sierra Whitlow, filing a real-name report against the Everharts…”
Her phone rang-call after call from Magnus. She declined them.
Finally a message popped up: “If you don’t want something to happen to Eli, end the stream now!”
Below was a link-apparently another livestream.
A terrible feeling washed over her as she clicked it with trembling fingers.
That little face was covered in tears. Eli was tied to a chair, crying for Mommy.
Before the stream, Eli had said he wanted ice cream. She’d been writing her speech and given him money.
Since it was just in the hotel lobby, she hadn’t worried.
15:26
Now senior police and authoritative news outlets had joined her stream, opening rebroadcasts. The viewer count instantly hit 100,000.
Magnus called simultaneously. She answered.
“Sierra, do you think you’re some kind of righteous crusader? Have you considered Eli?”
She asked tremblingly, “What do you want?”
His laugh was chilling. “Eli’s little life hangs on your decision. You have three minutes to end the stream! Don’t blame me for being
ruthless!”
“Countdown-three minutes!”
“Are you insane? Eli is your biological son!” she screamed, remembering images of Magnus holding Eli with loving tenderness.
“Two minutes left!”
Sierra closed her eyes as tears fell onto her speech. Her mother’s figure from twenty-plus years of hard work floated through her mind.
“Please… don’t force me, Magnus… you’re so heartless!”
“One minute left!” His voice remained cold.
A piercing scream gripped her heart. She snapped her eyes open to see Eli suspended high above, the wooden platform removed to reveal a massive crocodile pool below. Hungry crocodiles opened their bloody jaws, green eyes fixed on Eli slowly descending!
“Mommy! Save me!”
Sierra felt like she was being torn apart, the pain beyond bearing.
She surrendered.
“Magnus, let Eli go…” She pressed the end button on the livestream with a million viewers.
Magnus waved his hand, and Eli was lowered to safety.
Thirty minutes later, Eli was brought to her.
Magnus’s sinister voice echoed in her ear.
“Sierra, don’t ever think such thoughts again. Odessa didn’t kill your mother. And this is New York-you can’t escape my grasp!”
He glanced at the speech on the table, gave a cold laugh, then scattered the white fragments high in the air.
“Overestimating yourself!”
Sierra had no strength left to fight Magnus. She held her recovered son tightly in her arms.
She finally understood-Magnus’s heart belonged only to Odessa. She and Eli didn’t matter even the slightest bit to him.
She had given up, but Odessa apparently had no intention of letting her go.
