I visited Nate at the detention center one final time.

Through bulletproof glass, he sat in prison orange, eyes hollow pits in his gaunt face.


Recognizing me, he lunged at the barrier, screaming into the receiver:

"WHY?! Why did you set me up?!"

I studied his contorted features calmly before speaking softly:


"You planned to drug the woman who loved you like a brother. Why shouldn't I return the favor?"

He pounded the glass frantically until guards wrestled him back.


"YOU were the one begging me to introduce you to Wilson!

You said you were sick of Liv! That you'd hand her over to me! Why did you LIE?!"

I leaned closer, enunciating each word with perfect clarity:

"You actually believed anything that came out of a scumbag's mouth?"

My words shattered whatever remained of his composure.

He snarled, spittle flying: "Get Liv! She'll save me! She won't let me rot in here!"
I laughed softly, the sound crystal clear through the connection:

"You haven't heard? The Lin family released a statement this morning disowning you completely. You're back to being a parentless orphan."

"IMPOSSIBLE!" His eyes bulged. "Liv always loved me best! She wouldn't—"

"Loved you best?"

I cut him off, my gaze glacial:

"And you repaid that love by planning to drug and rape her? What delusional world are you living in where she'd still save you?"

He froze, mouth working soundlessly.

I stood to leave, then paused as if remembering something:

"Oh, your sister asked me to relay a message."

He looked up, a pathetic flicker of hope in his eyes.

"She said you're lower than the stray dog she rescued last year. At least the dog knows loyalty."

Without waiting for his response, I walked away.

His animal howls followed me down the corridor.

But I knew the truth—

It wasn't remorse. Just fear of consequences.

With the Lin family's influence, saving him would have been possible.

But my father now viewed him with utter disgust.

Evidence of his years facilitating Wilson's predatory behavior—helping recruit victims and silencing witnesses—was compiled into a comprehensive dossier and delivered to prosecutors.

Three months later, the verdict came down:

[Multiple felony counts, sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole.]