Jared paled. “Jenny wasn’t doing very well mentally in the beginning. You don’t know what that trophy means to her. I only sent it to her because I didn’t want her to hurt or kill herself. You can’t hike anymore, so it probably doesn’t mean anything to you anyway.”
“How are you so sure it means nothing to me?”
Only then did Jared look remorseful. He came to stand in front of me and held my shoulders. He explained gently, “I didn’t think too much about it at the time. We can go to whatever mountain you want, okay? I’ll film a new video for you.”
Looking into his eyes, I felt conflicted, and my mind was a mess.
Then, my parents suddenly rushed inside.
“Jared! Jenny’s hurt!”
Jared let go of me and rushed out, while my parents glared at me for doing nothing.
“You don’t even care if something’s happened to your sister, do you? I already know you’re behind this.”
They ran out too.
As I prepared for bed, I received a call from Jared. He was silent for a long while before he finally spoke grimly. “Come over, Charlie. They found new evidence on the case. I think it might prove your innocence.”
I did not fully believe him, but the chance was too important to ignore, so I rushed to the location he had sent.
When Jared saw me, he averted his gaze and bit his lip nervously.
I was about to ask him what was going on when my father hit my good leg with his hiking pole. I fell to my knees, and I heard my calf bone crack.
I shuddered at the pain.
