Chapter 4

Two days later, the call came from the examination center.

"Ethan Vance, the complainant's identity has been verified. Please come in."

I set down my phone, threw on the same jacket I wore that day, and adjusted my hair in the mirror.

The reflection staring back was calm, like someone heading out to pick up a package long overdue.

In the same examination room, all three doctors were present, with an extra manila folder on the desk.

The senior examiner slid the folder toward me.

"The complainant has been confirmed. It's an applicant from your same cohort: Chloe Miller."

He turned over a photocopy of the signed complaint. Black ink on white paper, with Chloe's name penned neatly in the signature box.

Every stroke was deliberate and clean—the handwriting she had practiced since childhood. I knew it by heart.

I stared at the name for several seconds, feeling nothing inside.

I had known this answer before I died in my past life; I just hadn't possessed the strength back then to demand justice.

"Thank you, sir. Am I allowed to confront the complainant directly?"

The examiners exchanged looks, and the senior doctor nodded.

When Chloe was summoned inside, Julian trailed behind her, his face sickly pale. He even tripped over the doorframe coming in.

The moment Chloe saw the photocopy in my hand, her feet froze to the floor.

"Ethan, listen to me—"

"I'm listening." I lifted the sheet of paper so her name faced her directly. "Did you write this?"

Her lips trembled, dark circles bruising the skin under her eyes, looking as if she hadn't slept in days.

"I wrote it," she forced the words out of her throat. "But Ethan, I wasn't trying to ruin you. I just felt..."

"Felt what?"

Julian spoke up softly from behind her, his voice trembling:

"Ethan, Chloe was just trying to keep things fair..."

I cut my eyes toward him, and he swallowed the rest of his sentence.

"Chloe, your complaint claimed you suspected I had prior knowledge of the test plates. The re-test results are out, supervised by three senior examiners. I passed every single plate without an error. How do you explain yourself?"

She stood there, her slender frame shrinking inward.

"I..." She couldn't find the words.

I stepped forward and dropped the paper onto the desk beside her hand.

"Fine. If you won't explain the complaint, let me ask you something else."

I stared into her panicked eyes, keeping my voice low, but crystal clear.

"The bottle of water you handed me the morning of the exam—where did you get it?"

She reacted as if hit by an electric shock, recoiling violently until her back slammed against the doorframe.

Sweat beaded on her temples, rolling down her face.

She was terrified—so terrified she couldn't speak.

In my previous life, she had always been composed, gentle, and self-assured in front of me. Even after destroying my future with her own hands, she had never shown an expression like this.

So you know how to be scared after all.

Julian tugged at her sleeve from behind, speaking fast and desperate: "Ethan, it was just a regular bottle of water! Chloe had a whole case in her trunk, and I drank one too!"

I didn't even look at him. My gaze remained pinned to Chloe's face.

"I'm asking you, Chloe."

She suddenly covered her eyes with both hands, her shoulders shaking violently.

When she lowered her hands, her expression had completely crumbled, her lips trembling for a long time before she could push out a whisper.

"Ethan... that water... did you not drink it?"

Her voice was cracked, barely audible.

"Did you know... all along?"

Julian snapped his head toward her, all the color draining from his face.

"Chloe, what are you talking about?!"

Chloe didn't look at him. Her eyes were fixed on me.

"I remember now... I remember everything..."

The examiners looked at one another. The senior doctor stood up, his puzzled expression turning stern.

I stood my ground, folded the paper, and slipped it into my pocket.

"Chloe, regarding your false complaint, I will formally report this to the authorities. As for what you just said, I suggest you explain it clearly right in front of these three doctors."

My voice was quiet, but unwavering.

She looked up, her lips parting repeatedly, but nothing came out.

Julian bit his lower lip hard, glaring at Chloe's back, his fists clenched tight at his sides.

I pulled the remaining bottle of water from my bag and set it gently onto the desk.

The plastic made a soft tap against the wood, but in that dead-quiet room, everyone heard it.

"This is the water you gave me on the morning of the test. I didn't finish it. Whatever is left inside can be sent to the toxicology lab."

The lead examiner picked up the bottle, unscrewed the cap to inspect it, and tightened it back down.

He picked up the internal phone on the desk and dialed an extension.

"Send the investigative oversight unit up here immediately. We have a situation requiring a formal inquiry."

Chloe dropped to her knees, staring blankly at the bottle I had placed on the desk, the light in her eyes fading completely into darkness.