Double Star

16 : Since When Did My Stepbrother Become So Hot?

PoV - Sarah

I kept my eyes wide open, frozen in shock. How is this possible? Why is my dad on this screen?

"You're probably wondering why I made this video, right? Well, first of all, if you're seeing me here, it means that I'm no longer part of this world..."

I stepped closer to the screen, unable to tear my eyes away. He knew? He knew he was going to die? My heart pounded. How? Why?

Dad fell silent for a moment, as if searching for the right words. His gaze was distant. He sat at his desk, fingers interlaced, a deep tiredness etched into his features. He looked... overwhelmed.

And yet, I had never noticed it before. Were my parents pretending that everything was fine, even when everything was falling apart? Were those warm smiles at dinner all just part of the illusion? I started replaying every happy moment in my mind-was I living in a fantasy where I believed everything revolved around me?

"Sarah, what I'm about to tell you may change the way you see things. First, I want to apologize. I'm sorry to burden you with this responsibility. You are everything to me-the only one I could truly trust. You must know: no one else can see this video except you. That cat statue I brought from Japan it's not just a decoration. It's a discreet system that reads fingerprints and activates on your touch. I already asked you to put your fingers on it once, remember?"

I glanced at the statue, confused. So... when I touched it, it scanned my prints? It activated this hidden message-my father's last words, meant for me and me alone? Oh God...

"I know this is a lot to take in, but the worst part is still to come. You've probably seen some strange papers lying around, right? They're the reason I'll be dead soon. Everyone wanted them to get to the precious jewel of our family. But those papers are indecipherable without specific knowledge. They're coded. I was receiving death threats. That's why I made this video. The person behind this-he will stop at nothing to get those documents. And I fear he'll come for you too."

I stared at the screen, trembling. He? Who is he? Did Dad know the person who killed him? If he was getting death threats, why didn't he go to the police? My mind swirled with questions. I looked into my father's weary eyes, tears brimming. I miss you so much, Dad... seeing you like this-broken-it's unbearable.

"Dad..."

"I miss you, Daddy."

I whispered, aching for his arms around me, for the soothing voice he used whenever I couldn't sleep because of my illness.

I miss him-miss him terribly, and there was nothing I could do. My tears flowed freely as I moved even closer to the screen, shrinking the distance between us to just a few centimeters.

"Sarah, darling... I..."

His voice cracked. He covered his eyes with one hand, and as if he could feel my pain through the screen, a tear slid down his cheek. He composed himself slowly, rubbing at his red eyes before facing me again.

"I'm leaving all my fortune to you. Everything will transfer to your account when you turn eighteen."

I wiped my tears, trying to concentrate, but just knowing he thought of me even in his final days made my heart ache more.

"I don't care about your damn fortune, Dad! I don't care about anything! Why did you leave me? You and Mom? Couldn't you have found another way? Didn't you think of what would happen to me?"

I screamed in anguish, collapsing to my knees, struggling to breathe. All the grief I'd thought I had managed to handle over the last six months surged back like a grenade, blasting my heart into shreds.