Chapter 4 — Yin-Yang Contract

She closed her eyes in utter despair. Yet, this was far from over.

The door to the study resounded with another knock. This time, the rapping was measured, steady, and carried an undeniable authority. Like a startled rabbit, An Kelly snapped her eyes wide open, staring toward the entryway with undisguised terror.

Who is it?!

Police, routine inspection.

A strange male voice drifted in from the corridor. An Kelly trembled violently, her gaze shifting to me, brimming with absolute dread and frantic supplication.

Van... I was wrong... please, tell them to go away... I beg you...

I looked down at her with cold detachment, my expression devoid of the slightest emotion.

Realizing your mistake now? It is far too late.

I stepped forward and pulled the study door open. Standing in the threshold was my legal counsel, Julian, accompanied by two uniformed police officers. Julian gave me a brief nod before his gaze drifted to An Kelly, who was collapsed upon the floor. His voice was frigid, stripped of all warmth.

Ms. Kelly, we are the legal representatives of Ms. Van. We are here to officially inform you that due to your actions involving extortion, harassment, and the intentional dissemination of private materials belonging to another, we have formally filed a criminal report with the police.

The two officers behind him took a decisive step forward, producing the official documents and an arrest warrant.

An Kelly, you are strongly suspected of involvement in multiple criminal offenses. You must accompany us to the station to assist with the ongoing investigation.

Extortion. Invasion of privacy. Tax evasion. Each and every one of these charges constituted a severe felony. An Kelly completely fell apart, burying her face in her hands as she unleashed a piercing, desolate shriek.

No! It was not me! She framed me! Van framed me!

She pointed a trembling finger at me, behaving like a deranged lunatic.

She seduced me! She set a trap for me! Arrest her! Take her away!

Julian offered a faint, sardonic smirk as he handed my phone over to the officers.

Officer, you will find complete audio and video recordings stored right here. From the moment Ms. Kelly forced her way into my client's home, utilizing photographs of a nursing mother as a form of intimidation, all the way to her attempts at financial extortion and the illegal seizure of private property—every single detail has been meticulously documented.

Taking the device, the officer skimmed through the digital files, his expression instantly growing severe. One of them stepped forward, drawing out a pair of handcuffs. The cold metal glinted menacingly under the harsh indoor lighting.

Ms. Kelly, please cooperate with us.

No! I am not going anywhere! I refuse!

An Kelly thrashed and wailed, fighting like a madwoman losing her final grip on reality.

Stone! Stone, save me! Come and rescue me right now!

At long last, she remembered my brother, a man utterly blinded by his infatuation. Unfortunately, distant water cannot quench a nearby fire. At that precise moment, my phone began to ring. An unknown number. I pressed accept. From the other end of the line, a man's voice erupted, trembling with a fury bordering on madness.

Van! What on earth have you done to Kelly? Why are representatives from the tax bureau showing up at her company? Have you lost your mind?!

It was my brother, Stone. It seemed he had finally received word from An Kelly's personal management team. I switched the device to speakerphone. Stone's furious roaring filled the entire room, every single word distinctly audible. The police officers, the lawyer, and even An Kelly—who was still pinned and subdued upon the floor—heard every last syllable with crystalline clarity.

Brother.

I simply uttered that single word, my tone unnervingly calm.

Do you still believe she was merely joking around?

The other end of the line plunged into a dead, suffocating silence.

6

Stone's profound silence cut far deeper than any harsh reprimand could have, resembling a cruel and bitter joke. Hearing his voice, An Kelly clutched at it like a drowning person grasping at a final straw, screaming at the top of her lungs:

Husband! Save me! Van is trying to destroy me! She called the police to have me arrested!

Finally, Stone regained his composure on the other end. His voice dripped with an incredulous, incandescent rage, threatening to shatter completely.

Van! You actually dared to call the police? She is your sister-in-law! Do you have any remaining respect for this family at all?!

Family?

I let out a low laugh, the sound heavy with unmasked bitterness and derision.

When she frightened my child into weeping uncontrollably and complained that the noise was bothersome, you and she were a family.

When she used my private photographs to threaten me, attempting to drive me away with nothing left to my name, you and she were a family.

When she even set her sights on the house our parents left behind—the only thing I have left in this world—and tried to steal that away as well, you and she were a family.

And what about me? Brother, in your heart, what exactly am I?

With every word I spoke, Stone's breathing grew heavier and more hurried through the receiver. An Kelly's face drained of what little color remained. Denying him any opportunity to offer further excuses, I directly replayed the audio recording from our earlier phone conversation, letting it echo loudly across the quiet room.

Kelly was merely making a joke, do not take it to heart. She has been under a tremendous amount of stress lately, so just try to accommodate her a little.

That indifferent, nonchalant, and fiercely protective voice echoed through the space like a violent physical blow—striking across Stone's unseen face, and piercing straight through my own heart. The gazes that the police officers and the lawyer cast toward me were now filled with profound pity. On the other end of the line, Stone remained entirely mute. Perhaps he had never imagined—not even for a second—that I would record our call. An Kelly froze completely, staring blankly at me as though she were laying eyes on my true self for the very first time.

You... you plotted against me...

I plotted against you?