Riven's recordings were almost identical.
He lived a monotonous life.
Coming home and continuing his work.
"You told me to take care of myself, yet here you are, slaving away," I said, shaking my head.
The servant would come and bring him something to eat.
He'd pause after a few bites before continuing.
I knew with those slight movements, he knew something was wrong.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"You chose death, I see."
It was obvious, he knew that there was poison.
They said he died from physical deterioration brought on by overwork.
I suppose that would have been true eventually, considering how had been living these past few months.
But they simply hastened the process with poison.
I mechanically saved every recording after watching him do the same things over and over again.
His complexion worsened with each passing day, and his eyes grew duller.
Until the final recording.
He walked into the frame and looked straight at the camera.
I shook my head. Of course, he knew.
He was wearing black.
The date showed it was after Amelia's funeral. She had died after Christopher.
"I chose to eat the poison they gave me, not because I want death. But because I can't let them know I'm aware. If they find out, they'll rush things."
I frowned. He was obviously explaining to me.
"I know you must be mad at us after everything that happened. Amelia was buried today. We're leaving you one after another. But Lily, the reason we stayed was because we wanted to know who killed our parents."
"By dying?" I mockingly asked.
"But we did not expect that they would have such a wide connection. I should have told Christopher and Amelia to leave as well. I should have done better as the older brother."
"You all should have left."
"I chose to eat the poison to gain more time in collecting information about our grandfather and parents' deaths. Now, I am trying my best to collect as much as I can regarding Christopher and Amelia's death."
He paused, coughing violently. Blood stained his sleeve.
Then he chuckled bitterly.
"Our decisions were wrong from the start. You were right, we should've done things differently. But we made our choices. We can only live with them."
He and I are quite similar when it comes to this.
"So, once you make your choice, own it."
That was the last of it.
A few weeks after that was the phone call.
The one I received at the airport.
I picked up my coffee and took a sip, frowning at its cold, bitter taste.
"I should make a new one."
I got up, leaving the study behind, closing the door softly.
...
That afternoon, I once again stepped out. I mounted my bike while wearing a black leather jacket, black pants, and boots.
I am going to Amelia's school, but not to get her things yet. That would be for tomorrow. Instead, I'm going there for the taste I promised Kieran.
Her school was three hours away from the villa.
After looking into the student who started the bullying of Amelia, I found out that he was a frequent visitor to the alley a few blocks away from the school.
Extorting and bullying other students.
After arriving, I waited for a few minutes before he finally arrived with two of his underlings, who were dragging their prey with them.
I yawned as I watched them beat the kid up before taking his money.
After the prey left, it was finally time for me to step out.
With a metal pipe at hand, I started tapping on the ground in a rhythmic pattern.
"Who are you?" he frowned upon seeing me.
I smiled sweetly.
I know the effect of this smile.
It was also one of my many weapons.
Because when I smile as sweetly as this, people tend to be drawn to my beautiful face.
Our family had beautiful genes, after all.
Christopher's popularity had already proven it. The reason why that manager made him face all those dealings.
My siblings all had their share of admirers. I myself included.
And as I intended, the three bastards ended up staring blankly at me.
Completely mesmerized.
I kept smiling as I slowly walked toward them, tapping the metal pipe against the ground.
After getting close to them, I can tell that they were already in a trance.
"Listen carefully. I am a crazy chihuahua."
Their trance state did not change, but they nodded at my words.
"When asked, you'll say that the crazy chihuahua came."
They once again nodded, the rhythmic sound from the metal continued as I spoke.
"Who am I?" I asked.
"A crazy chihuahua," they replied at the same time.
I smiled and looked up at a camera that could capture me.
"They are... such good dogs."
Then I swung the pipe down hard.
...
When I finally stepped out of the alley, I wiped the blood on my cheek.
I opened my phone and tapped on it, saving the footage that was captured from that camera before fixing everything.
There would be nothing there but them extorting the other student.
Of course, this was only a part of the taste I was talking about.
I plan to add another tomorrow before bringing it to him.
"Oh, that's right," I murmured, smirking to myself.
"We should get married on that day as well. I should buy a ring while I'm at it."
Mounting my bike again, I left the scene behind, as if I was never there.