8 My corpse was not a pretty sight . My features were still twisted in the agony of my final moments . Lividity had already set in , mottling my skin with dark patches . The blood that had pooled around me was turning black , I couldn't smell it , but I knew the stench must have been unbearable . Adrian , however , seemed oblivious to it all . He walked slowly towards my body , then knelt and gave my shoulder a gentle push . Chapter 2 " Rosalie , stop pretending . I'm here . " " Get up . Come on , get up and slap me . Kick me . I don't care . " " I'm begging you , please ... just stop pretending . " " How could you be dead ? I poisoned you myself , and you didn't die . How could thirty - three lashes kill you ? " His back was to me , so I couldn't see his face . All I could see were his shoulders , shaking violently . I rolled my eyes . Is he really that happy about this ? Adrian stayed by my body for the entire night .. 1444 02 He didn't say another word . He just sat there like man possessed , humming the same nursery rhyme over and over again . I remembered it . Mom had taught it to us when we were children . She said it could make you forget your pain , just for a little while . So whenever one of us was sick , the other would sit by their bed and sing that song . I listened to his hoarse , broken voice and watched the moon rise outside the window . A strange , unfamiliar ache settled in my che- st . " You bastard . " " It's too late for that now . " When dawn broke , Adrian finally forced himself away from my side . He staggered , nearly falling , and had to lean against the wall to steady himself . Not long after , the lawyer arrived with people from the funeral home . But Adrian refused to let them take my body . His eyes were a terrifying shade of red . He spoke , each word heavy with grim determination . " I want an autopsy . I need to know ... I need to know why she died . " The results came back quickly . When he learned it was brain cancer , Adrian lost control . He tore the report to shreds . Then , as if remembering something , his body swayed , and he collapsed to his knees . In front of everyone , he began to weep like a lost child , " The blood you coughed up that day ... it was real . You were really sick . " " It's all my fault ! " " Sister ... if I had just gotten you to a doctor sooner ... would you still be alive ? " I looked away , embarrassed for him . Penny , who was still dreaming of becoming Mrs. Sterling , never expected Adrian to find my body so soon . She also never expected it would take him less than an hour to uncover every single one of her wicked deeds . Chapter 2 When she heard Adrian wanted to see her , she arrived full of joyful anticipation . But the moment she walked in , Adrian's hands were around her throat . He squeezed , his knuckles turning white , as if he wanted nothing more than to snap her neck . 1444 Penny tried to ask why , but then she saw her own family , tied up and trembling in the corner of the room , and she understood ever- ything . Her voice was a desperate , strangled plea . " Adrian ... I was wrong to deceive you ... but I did it because I love you . " " You said it yourself ... you said I was the only person in the world who was good to you . " At her words , Adrian's fury intensified . He threw her to the ground and brought his foot down hard on her hand . With a sickening crack , the sound of splintering bone mixed with her piercing scream . " You orchestrated the car crash that drove a wedge between my sister and me . " " Not only that , you knew she was terminally ill , yet you deliberately deceived me , manipulated me into distrusting her . " " Penny . " " However much I once loved you is how much I hate you now . " Penny stared at Adrian's demonic expression , her body shaking with terror . vi But she still tried to bluff . " Go on , kill me then ! If you have the guts , do it ! " Adrian laughed , a chilling , mirthless sound . He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her to her feet . " Don't forget . I'm the last mad dog of the Sterling family . And I'm even crazier than my sister . " " Did you really think I'd let you die so easily ? " A horrifying realization dawned on Penny , and her eyes widened in terror . Watching her , I knew , in that moment , she would have rather been locked away in a prison cell for the rest of her life . 9 Adrian's methods were , indeed , monstrous . He acquired vials containing a cocktail of deadly viruses . One by one , he had them injected into Penny's body . But he also provided her with the world's most advanced medical team , ensuring she stayed alive . And so , Penny's body became a living petri dish , a vessel for a hundred different diseases . Miraculously , she survived for five years . And for five years , I watched I watched her struggle in agony , watched her be ravaged by sickness . The resentment in my heart had long since faded . But for some reason , I still couldn't leave . Chapter 2 Penny finally died . But Adrian's thirst for vengeance was not quenched . He had her body thrown into a wild animal enclosure . Then he had her ashes scattered in a stagnant , filthy marsh . He had truly made her bones to dust and scattered her ashes to the winds . 1444 After it was all done , Adrian , his hair now streaked with gray , knelt before the memorial tablets of our parents and me , and drank until morning . He lived in that house for another five years . Sometimes , his mind would break . He would see us , still alive . He'd set the table with all our favorite foods . I would sit there , a silent observer , and watch him talk to the empty chairs . Everyone knew he had gone mad The few people who still ass with him slowly drifted away . But Adrian clung on . Watching him like this , I knew . He couldn't hold on much longer . Sure enough , one day , I saw him huddled in a dark alley , his trembling hands pulling a single vial from his coat pocket . A virus . I tried to stop him , but I was too late . Adrian's eyes grew hazy , his focus blurring . Then , with a sudden burst of strength , he stood up and looked directly at me . " Sister . " His voice shook as he stared right at my ghostly form . " Am 1 .... am I really not dreaming ? " 4-424-1 Chapter 2 I looked at him calmly and sighed . " I'm already dead . Can't you just let me go ? " He floated anxiously towards me , his words tumbling out in a rush . " I know I was wrong . I was so stupid . You were right to call me an idiot - that's what I am . " " How could I have believed a stranger over you ? " " Sister , I can't believe I'm really seeing you again . " By the end , his voice was thick and raw . I drifted back , keeping my distance . " You don't have to do this . I've already forgiven you . " At my words , a flicker of hope ignited in his eyes . " Then ... in our next life ... can we be siblings again ? " " No , let's be brother and sister , but be the older brother . I'll protect you for a lifetime . " 1444 I just smiled and shook my head . I could feel the ties that bound me to this world growing lighter , weaker . I knew it was time for me to go . " Adrian , the powers that be told me our connection was only for this lifetime . " " If you want to atone , then live a good life . " With that , I reached out and gave his spirit a firm , decisive push . He tried to resist , but his soul was forced back into his body . At that moment , someone found him collapsed in the alley , coughing up blood , and immediately called for an ambulance . As they loaded him onto a stretcher , his head lolled weakly to one side , his eyes searching for me . His lips moved , forming silent words . " Sister ... I don't want to be alone anymore . " " It hurts so much . Please , take me with you . " I didn't answer him . A voice , calm and final , spoke in my ear . " Rosalie Sterling , your earthly grievances have been resolved . You may now pass on . " I gave Adrian one last look , then turned and stepped into a blindingly brilliant white light . [ End of Story ]