Look Past Me Chapter 2

He was right. For days, I went from one law firm to another, covering every corner of Crestfall.

No one would take my case. The moment they saw me, their faces would close up, their doors would shut.

"Miss Moore, please, don't put me in this position. Mr. Howard gave specific orders."

"You should try somewhere else, Miss Moore."

"Miss Moore…"

I sat on a park bench, the file of evidence for my sister's case heavy in my lap. I pulled out my phone, and a new social media post popped up.

It was from Aria.

The caption read: [My brother's sending me abroad! Yay! ~]

Below it was a selfie of her posing with a new Chanel bag. A moment later, a "like" appeared on the post. From Asher.

My hands were shaking so badly I could barely hold the phone. Blood rushed to my head, and the image of my sister's broken body flashed in my mind.

Aria had pushed her from the fifth-floor window of their school. The coroner's report detailed multiple injuries sustained before the fall. Just hours before she died, Sienna had texted me, promising to bring me a cupcake after school.

By the time I got there, her body was gone. Under pressure from Asher, the school claimed the security cameras were broken.

Aria had looked at me with smug triumph. "So what if my brother spoils you? When it comes to my future versus your sister's life, there's no comparison."

Rage coursing through my veins, I decided to go to the most prestigious law firm in the city. They were powerful. Surely, they wouldn't bow to Asher's influence.

I went to the bank and withdrew every penny I had—a million dollars in cash. I walked into the law firm, ignored the receptionist's protests, and dumped the entire bag of money on her desk.

"I need to file a lawsuit. Is a million dollars enough?"

The receptionist recognized me and fell silent. A moment later, a partner came out. "Miss Moore, I'm afraid we can't…"

"If a million isn't enough, then take this." I ripped off my emerald earrings—the ones Asher had bought for ten million at that auction—and threw them on top of the cash. That had to be enough.

The partner just shook his head. "Please, Miss Moore, you're making this very difficult."

"Still not enough?" I tore the diamond necklace from my neck and the bracelet from my wrist, thrusting them at him. "How about now?"

"I… I can't accept these," he stammered.

Suddenly, his eyes flickered to something over my shoulder. "Mr. Howard. Miss Howard."

My heart plummeted. I turned around. It was Asher and Aria.

Aria smirked at me, a look of pure victory on her face. The memory of my sister's death choked me.

Asher strode forward, his brow furrowed, and grabbed my arm. "Elara, are you trying to give away my gifts?" he demanded.

I wrenched my arm free. "Yes. Do you want them back?"

"You…" He looked furious, but then seemed to collect himself. He pulled me into his arms. "Elara, stop this tantrum. I told you, no one will help you without my permission. Why can't you just be reasonable? Sign the settlement, and all of this will be over."

"I even brought Aria here to apologize to you."

He pushed Aria in front of me. She bowed her head, her expression a mask of perfect contrition. "Elara, I'm so, so sorry. I never meant for it to happen. Sienna and I were just playing around, I didn't think…"

She went on and on, then leaned in close, grabbing my hand. Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "You should have seen the look on her face when I made her drink toilet water. That little bitch. She kept crying for her big sister while I was hitting her. You really are a good sister, aren't you, Elara?"