Chapter 3

At this point, the families of the victims were relentless, contacting the media and demanding the death penalty for me. They wanted justice.

Some even stormed the police station, shouting that I should pay with my life.

The mounting public and media attention placed immense pressure on the police.

Three days later, Captain Jefferson finally came to see me.

He placed a cup of water in front of me and then handed over a folder of documents. My brows furrowed tightly as I saw the contents.

"Annabelle, your academic record is impressive. You won multiple scholarships, worked part-time jobs, and were even recognized as an outstanding graduate. Were you that desperate for money?

"We found out that throughout your four years in college, you held multiple part-time jobs—sometimes three at once. Yet your bank account only has three thousand dollars left.

"You could’ve landed a great job after graduation. With your qualifications, any top company would’ve hired you. So why resort to murder?"

Finally, they were asking the right questions.

I smiled calmly at Captain Jefferson. "Do you have kids? When your child grows up, will you let them marry whoever they want and pursue their dreams?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Naturally, I’d let them decide. You had a bright future ahead of you. Why throw it all away?"

"Because I didn’t have a choice."

Leaning back in my chair, I grinned bitterly. "My family, my future, my career—none of it was ever mine to choose. The only thing I could choose was death.

"You guys are pretty good investigators. Keep digging. Find out why I did this."

"Are you implying your uncle mistreated you?"

Sargeant Keller immediately shot up from his seat. "According to our interviews with neighbors, your uncle had big plans for you. He said he'd give you ten thousand dollars as a wedding gift and even renovate the house for you.

"The neighbors confirmed that you came home every weekend and seemed to have a good relationship with them."

"Good relationship? What kind of good are we talking about? Was it the part where a college student had to earn money to support the whole family, or when they tried to sell me off to a raper so their worthless son could keep living in luxury?"

My words left them stunned.

At that moment, Captain Jefferson received a call. He stepped out and was gone for quite a while.

When he returned, his face was pale.

"Annabelle, why didn’t you report Pete Wagner when he assaulted you five years ago?"

"Report it? Of course, I did! You can check the records!

"When I screamed for help, no one answered. When I begged for justice, they told me they had connections. They said if I dared to speak up, they’d ruin me.

"What you see is only what they want you to see.

"In your eyes, I’m just an ungrateful monster. But look closely, I’m a victim too!"

I yanked down the collar of my shirt, revealing a shocking scar.

"This scar... It's my shame and their crime!"

Captain Jefferson’s expression turned grave. Sargeant Keller’s eyes widened in shock.

"You..."

"July 23rd, five years ago. 7:10 p.m. Do I need to remind you, Sargeant Keller?"

He froze. With how dumbfounded he looked, one would’ve thought he’d remember.

"You were the one I rescued that night after my shift."

I nodded. "Yes. But I had no evidence. They destroyed it all. When I lost all hope, I tried to end it myself. You remember now, don’t you?"

Sargeant Keller clenched his fists, his body trembling.

"Annabelle, but... you can’t kill so many people!"

"They were accomplices! Every last one of them was guilty! Why shouldn’t I kill them?"

I screamed, my voice raw and hoarse, "My parents died because of them, too!

"Tell me, why shouldn’t they die?"

The room fell into stunned silence.