Michael's Final Trick

I numbly picked up the slip of paper, selected and unlocked a bike via the Citi Bike App, and rode it to the address on the paper.

The pawnshop was located in a very remote suburb. When the shop owner learned why I came, he immediately took out the bracelet without saying anything.

It seemed that Michael had already told him.

I felt nothing. All I wanted was to return the bracelet to Nicole as soon as possible so that we would be even.

To my surprise, the shop owner suddenly lost hold of the bangle when I went to get it.

The bracelet fell to the ground and shattered into pieces with a crack.

I froze on the spot, my face turning ghastly.

The shop owner exclaimed, "Young man, why weren't you more careful? It's not my fault!"

"Jack Thompson!" Nicole's angry voice suddenly came from behind.

I turned around abruptly and met Michael's provocative gaze.

"Nicole, what did I tell you? Jack did it on purpose!" he said. "He smashed Mom's bracelet just to spite you. And to think you were still trying to forgive him all this time!"

Nicole seemed not to hear him. Her eyes fixed on the pile of broken jade on the ground as she walked over with heavy steps.

She squatted down stiffly. After a long pause, she picked up the broken pieces one by one and clenched them in her palm.

When I saw the dejected look on her face, I felt an unprecedented sense of panic and couldn't help but explain, "It wasn't me. He was the one who let it slip from his hands. I didn't sell Mom's belongings back then either…"

However, my explanation seemed to be the last straw, for Nicole suddenly stood up and slapped me across the face upon hearing me speak.

I lost balance and took a nasty fall.

My stomach was already cramping with pain, so tears instantly streamed down my face as my body protested against the abuse.

Nicole's chest heaved, and she looked as black as thunder. "How can you still have the nerve to say that? I've been giving you chances for the past five years. I told myself I would forgive you as long as you come home and tell me where Mom's belongings are.

"Yet, what have you done? Jack, you really aren't worthy of being a member of the Thompson family!

"You certainly do not deserve to be my brother!" she shouted at me with red-rimmed eyes, losing her composure in a rare display of disbelief as a result of being extremely disappointed in me.

My heart plummeted into the fiery depths.

I suddenly felt a metallic taste in my throat, but I managed to swallow the blood that was tickling at the back of my throat.

When I spoke, my voice came out in a rasp. "What if I really am going to die?"

"What are you trying to play the victim for?" Nicole glared at me with disgust, her hand gripping the broken jade so tightly that blood dripped from it.

"I won't feel sorry for you even if you die!"

"Okay." I clenched my fists and slowly got up.

At this moment, a sudden realization struck me.

I was dying soon. All these past entanglements really were not that big of a deal and were no longer all that important.

Since she believed I was responsible for everything, so be it.

Once I died, I would return to dust, and nothing would matter anymore anyway.

So, I smiled at her wryly before turning around and leaving the store.

Nicole yelled from behind, "Where the hell are you going?! Are you trying to be the death of me?"

I didn't turn around, but my voice drifted over just the same. "You don't need to die. I'll die instead."

…

Nicole didn't contact me for the next two days.

She sent the bracelet for repair, but found that the bracelet could never be restored to its original state, no matter how well it was repaired.

She almost went bananas looking at the weird-looking jade bracelet.

On the first day after I left the shop, she publicly announced for the first time that she was severing ties with me.

"From now on, I will no longer concern myself with Jack's affairs. He can look for whatever jobs. He can even sleep with someone, for all I care. I won't interfere anymore," she stated expressionlessly in front of the media.

"I just hope that no one will mention his name in front of me, because it makes me want to throw up."

The media was in an uproar. Meanwhile, Nicole swiftly and decisively removed me directly from the family tree.

The next day, she took Michael to pay respects to our ancestors. She even changed his last name and acknowledged that he was the son of the Thompson family.

A relative couldn't comprehend her action and questioned, "Is it really necessary? Jack is your own brother. How can you just ignore him like this? What if something happens to him?"

"What could possibly happen to him? He was still doing just fine when I suppressed him for the past five years, wasn't he?" Nicole replied sarcastically. "He won't die because he can't bear to leave, and he's too ashamed to face my mother!"

Unfortunately, she was wrong again, for I was right beside her in spirit form at this moment.

I died in the river near the house two days ago.

I was in so much pain and sorrow that death was rather a relief for me.

To my surprise, Nicole received a call from the owner of the shop where I had ordered my cremation urn on the third day.

"You're Jack Thompson's sister, right? He listed you as his emergency contact, so don't try to deny it!" The shop owner was so frustrated that he was about to swear on the other end of the phone.

"Your brother had ordered a cremation urn for his ashes from us, but he keeps delaying in paying the balance. Do you still want it?"