Chapter 1

On April Fools' Day, Ethan Reid builds me a crystal coffin, Liam Reid custom-designs a burial dress, and Julian Reid fills the bottom of the coffin with imported flowers.

To satisfy their adopted sister, Alexandra Martin, who wants to pull an April Fools' prank, they tell me to spend the night in the coffin.

"If you can handle spending the night in there and actually take a joke, we'll officially acknowledge you as part of the family," they say.

I'm so desperate to belong that I put on the dress and climb in without hesitation.

However, the second the lid locks, I realize there's no air coming in. As the oxygen runs out, I panic and start frantically pounding against the glass, screaming for help.

On the other side of the lid, Alexandra goes live, laughing as she points her phone at me.

"Look, everyone. She's such a great actress. She's holding her breath until her face is literally turning purple. Talk about staying in character!"

Ethan looks down at me with disdain.

"Cassie, knock it off! You just got in there, and you're already throwing a fit. Stop embarrassing us."

The suffocation intensifies. My lungs feel like they're about to burst, and I can't even form the words to beg for help anymore.

However, Liam merely sneers at me. "You're certainly going above and beyond for some attention."

Julian leans in close to the glass, clapping and laughing. "This is hilarious. You're a total drama queen!"

Then, I hear Ethan talking to the camera.

"She does this every single time. She's a total buzzkill who loves playing the victim just because she can't stand seeing Alexandra happy. She always has to ruin everything."

I stare at them through the glass in despair.

I'm not faking it. I'm actually dying!

Chapter 1

I used the last ounce of my strength to claw at the crystal glass. My fingernails were torn to shreds, and they left a bloody smear across the surface.

My brother, Liam Reid, leaned in. His face was inches from mine on the other side of the glass. He frowned slightly at the horrific red streaks.

"Cassie, what's wrong? Look, if you're actually not feeling well, I'll let you out right now."

He pulled a key from his pocket, but before he could slide the key into the lock, Alexandra Martin swooped in and locked her arms around his.

"Oh, please, Liam! She's totally playing you!"

Alexandra pointed at the blood on the glass, bursting into a fit of giggles.

"Look at that. It's so obviously fake! She seriously went out and bought fake blood just for this prank. Man, she really took April Fools' to heart this year. Talk about staying in character!"

Liam hesitated for a split second before dropping his keys back into his pocket with a booming laugh.

"Cassie, you're a trip! You actually prepped fake blood ahead of time just to mess with us today?"

My jaw hung open as my body began convulsing.

"Help… I can't… breathe…"

I locked eyes with Liam, desperately mouthing the words over and over, begging him to see the agony in my face.

Instead, Liam just flashed me a thumbs-up, totally unbothered.

"Honestly, the shade of that blood is spot on. You really went above and beyond to fit in with us, didn't you? The application is a little sloppy, though. Next time, let me show you how the pros do special effects."

Alexandra held up her phone, shoving her camera directly against the glass coffin.

"Check it out, guys! Her eyes are rolling back and everything. Give this girl an award. Smash that follow button for my sister's crazy acting skills, guys! Let's see how long she can milk this guilt trip!"

I thrashed around in agony, frantically throwing my elbows and knees against the lid.

Thud! Thud!

I even slammed my forehead against the glass until blood blurred my vision.

My eldest brother, Ethan Reid, walked over and let out a helpless sigh, rapping his knuckles on the glass right above my head.

"That's enough, Cassandra. Cut the theatrics and save your breath."

He didn't sound angry. Instead, his voice had that soft, indulgent tone of an older brother humoring a kid throwing a temper tantrum.

"I drilled the vents on this thing myself. There's no way you're suffocating in there," said Ethan. "We told you you're staying in there overnight. Just lie back and stop trying to trick us into letting you out early."

I shook my head in despair.

At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to scream at the top of my lungs, "No, Ethan, you don't understand! Someone blocked the vents!"

However, I barely had the strength to keep my eyes open.

My brother, Julian Reid, leaned down until his nose was practically touching the glass. He was laughing as he tapped the spot right in front of my face.

"You little drama queen. Liam literally picked out the softest silk for that shroud so you'd be comfortable, so just close your eyes and go to sleep."

He patted the lid as if he were soothing a toddler.

"Just hang in there until morning and pass this final test. First thing tomorrow, I'll buy you that strawberry cheesecake you're always raving about. Consider it your prize for beating the game."

Ethan and Liam joined in, chuckling along.

"As if we'd wait for you to suggest it, Julian. We already placed the order with the bakery. It'll be here first thing in the morning."

"Think of it as Cassie's homecoming present."

My brain was entirely starved of oxygen now, and massive black spots began to eat away at my vision.

Outside, my brothers were still laughing, happily planning my reward for tomorrow, fully believing that this would finally make me one of them.

Meanwhile, my consciousness was slipping away. I couldn't even make out their faces anymore.

My arms fell limp.

I took one final look at them before my pupils completely dilated.

All of a sudden, my body felt weightless.

My soul drifted effortlessly through the crystal glass, hovering in mid-air.

I looked down, only to realize that my corpse had already turned a ghastly shade of blue and purple. My lips were completely black, and my eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

Down below, Julian was still tapping on the lid. His tone was teasing.

"Are you actually holding your breath? If you don't get a performing arts scholarship for this commitment, it's a crime."

Liam laughed. "She probably just wore herself out playing dead and decided to take a nap."

I looked at their smiling faces. Though they couldn't hear me, I screamed at them at the top of my lungs, "This isn't an act. I'm actually dead!"

Chapter 2

My corpse lay perfectly still inside the crystal coffin.

The smile on Liam's face slowly faded. He leaned in until his nose was almost touching the glass. He stared intently at my face.

"Ethan," Liam said, his voice tense.

Ethan was looking down at his phone. "What's up?"

"Something's wrong with Cassie."

Liam reached into his pocket and pulled out the spare key to the coffin. "She's white as a sheet, and her lips are turning purple. What if she actually went into shock? I'm going to open it and check on her."

He was about to slide the key into the keyhole when Alexandra lunged forward, grabbing his wrist.

"Liam, what are you doing?"

Liam frowned. "Her complexion's off. It's way too pale."

"What do you mean her complexion's off?"

Alexandra pointed at my corpse inside the coffin, looking completely exasperated. "That's because she stole my foundation!"

Liam blinked. "Your foundation?"

Alexandra's eyes reddened, and she bit her lower lip, looking like she had been mistreated.

"I couldn't find my shade anywhere this afternoon. She must've swiped it to pull off this show! Her skin is naturally dark and sallow, so of course, she looks like a ghost wearing my lightest shade!"

The more she spun the story, the more aggrieved she appeared. Tears even welled up in her eyes.

Ethan snapped his head up, and his gaze instantly turned ice-cold. "Alexandra, are you saying she stole from you?"

Floating in mid-air, I screamed with everything I had left, though it was soundless.

"I didn't steal anything! I'm pale because I suffocated to death!"

Sure enough, they were utterly deaf to me.

Alexandra wiped her cheek and nodded softly. "Yeah… that limited-edition bottle you brought back for me from your Perdia trip last month."

Ethan's expression darkened. He marched right up to the crystal coffin.

Bam!

He delivered a vicious kick directly to the side of the coffin. The sheer violence of the impact sent a massive tremor through the coffin.

Inside, my corpse rolled with the momentum, and my head struck the unyielding glass with a heavy, sickening thud.

"Cassandra, it's bad enough you're a thief, but now you're playing dead just to mess with Alexandra? Do you seriously think we're going to buy this little pity party?"

Liam's hand dropped slowly to his side. The spare key dangled uselessly from his fingers.

The flicker of genuine worry that had just crossed his face was instantly replaced by pure, unadulterated disdain.

"And to think I actually fell for it. I can't believe you'd pull a stunt like this just for attention. You make me sick."

Alexandra lifted her phone, pouting into the camera.

"See that, everyone? My sister is so desperate to frame me that she stole my makeup and faked her death."

The chat went crazy, filled with endless hate comments directed toward me.

Julian let out a cold snort from the sidelines as he looked at my face. "Did you really think a thick layer of foundation would fool us?"

He reached out and flicked the glass right above my eyes. "The colored contacts are a nice touch, though. You really nailed that glazed, dead-eyed look. Honestly, with this much commitment, you're wasting your talent not acting for a living."

"That's enough. Just leave her be," Ethan said, smoothing down the hem of his suit jacket, which had ruffled when he kicked the coffin. "No one is allowed to open that coffin tonight. Let her stay in there and think about what she did."

He turned back to Alexandra, his harsh features softening instantly. "Come on, Alexandra. Let's head back to the living room. We put together some April Fools' gifts for you. Let's go unwrap them."

Alexandra's eyes lit up, and she immediately looped her arm through Ethan's.

"Seriously? Thanks, Ethan!"

Right before leaving, she cast one final look over her shoulder at my body. Her lips twisted into a smug, victorious smirk.

With a sharp click, the garage lights cut out, and the heavy roller door gradually descended.

Chapter 3

My soul trailed behind them, drifting into the mansion's living room.

The massive coffee table was buried under a mountain of beautifully wrapped luxury gift boxes.

Alexandra let out a squeal of delight, throwing herself onto the couch to start tearing into them.

There was an array of limited-edition bags, a custom diamond necklace, and the keys to a sports car. With every box she opened, she planted a sweet kiss on each of their cheeks, making the three grown men beam with adoration.

I floated quietly against the ceiling, watching the picture-perfect family of four.

Ethan rubbed the bridge of his nose and reached for the last two deep blue velvet jewelry boxes sitting at the edge of the table.

Alexandra's eyes lit up, and she reached out to grab them. "What are those, Ethan?"

Ethan pulled his hand back slightly. "These are for Cassie."

Alexandra's hand froze mid-air, and the smile instantly vanished from her face.

"It's a custom white dress and a matching bracelet," Liam chimed in.

Julian let out a soft sigh. "Ever since we brought her back, she's been wearing nothing but those same two ragged T-shirts. She doesn't even own a decent dress.

"Once she's released tomorrow, we'll give her these. Just a little token to show her she's officially part of the family."

Alexandra stared daggers at the velvet boxes.

All of a sudden, her eyes welled up, and tears began to stream down her cheeks.

"Are you guys abandoning me?"

She spun around, weeping hysterically.

"She's been so awful to me! She stole my foundation, played dead just to scare me, and completely ruined our April Fools' Day! Yet you guys went and bought her these amazing homecoming gifts?

"Is it because she's blood-related? And since I'm adopted, do you think I don't deserve to be a part of this family anymore?"

My brothers instantly panicked.

Julian scrambled over, dropping to one knee by the couch as he grabbed Alexandra's hands. "Alexandra, what are you talking about? You'll always be my one and only little sister!"

Ethan looked at the boxes in his hands, then at Alexandra, who was practically hyperventilating from crying so hard.

Without a shred of hesitation, he shoved both boxes into her lap.

"Don't cry. It's just a dress and a bracelet. They're yours," he said.

Alexandra sniffled, looking up as she made a half-hearted attempt to push back. "But… these were supposed to be Cassie's homecoming presents."

Ethan sighed, and something unreadable flickered across his eyes.

"After the stunt she pulled today, she doesn't deserve a dress like this. When we let her out tomorrow, we'll just buy her a random gift to make up for it."

Tears spilled from my eyes.

I wanted to tell Ethan not to bother making it up to me because I wouldn't be able to receive a gift from them anymore.

Just then, Alexandra's waterworks cut off instantly.

Right in front of them, she tore into the packaging.

She pulled out the dress, which had been custom-made to my exact measurements, and held it up against herself excitedly.

A wicked gleam flashed in her eyes as she spun toward the three of them.

"Guys, I have to try this on right now!"

Soon after, Alexandra stepped out. The white dress was noticeably tight on her frame, and the bracelet hung from her wrist.

She did a little spin in the center of the room and asked coyly, "Well? How do I look?"

The guys nodded in unison, complimenting her, while Julian whipped out his phone to snap a dozen pictures of her.

All of a sudden, Alexandra looped her arm through Ethan's, tugging at him playfully.

"Ethan, since Cassie can't wear this anyway, let's go down to the garage. I want to show her how it looks on me! Please?"

Ethan's brows pulled together. "She's supposed to be in a timeout. Why go down there now?"

"Oh, come on. Just for a second! Let's go live on the stream, too. We can let the viewers vote on who wore it better!"

Worn down by her relentless nagging, Ethan finally gave in with a helpless shrug.

"Fine, fine. You win."

Once again, the heavy roller door began to slowly roll upward.

Chapter 4

The blinding fluorescent lights snapped back on, cutting through the darkness and illuminating the flower-lined crystal coffin.

Inside, my body remained in the same contorted position it had landed in when Ethan kicked the frame. I didn't move an inch.

Alexandra was vibrating with excitement as she unlocked her phone and restarted her live stream.

Lifting the edge of her skirt, she strutted over to the coffin like a proud peacock.

"Hey, Cassie, wake up. Take a look at this! Ethan gave me this gorgeous white dress. Doesn't it look amazing on me?"

I lay there motionlessly.

When I didn't answer, Alexandra pouted for the camera, playing up the disappointment. "Oh, man. Looks like Cassie's still mad at me. She won't even look at me."

Ethan stepped forward and rapped his knuckles sharply against the glass.

"Cassie, cut the crap," he barked. "Just sit up, apologize to Alexandra, and we'll call it even. I'll buy you a nicer dress later."

Nevertheless, the coffin remained terrifyingly quiet—no breathing, no movement, nothing.

A flash of satisfaction crossed Alexandra's eyes, but she masked it instantly, pulling on Ethan's sleeve with a look of feigned maturity.

"It's fine, Ethan. If she wants to ignore us, just let her."

Ethan stared at my unresponsive body, and impatience flickered in his gaze.

"Fine! Since you love lying in there so much, knock yourself out! Nobody is allowed to let her out tonight. She stays right there until morning!"

With that, he turned toward the wall to hit the garage door switch.

Liam and Julian shook their heads, turning around to follow him out.

Just then, a few eye-catching messages flashed across the chat.

"Wait, is the girl stuck in that coffin, Cassie? The one who works the graveyard shift washing dishes at the diner on Penwood Street?"

"Holy shit, it's her! I used to talk to her all the time when I got off work late!"

"One time, I asked why a young girl like her wasn't in school, and why she was out scrubbing plates in the cold until her hands were raw and bleeding. I even asked her what she was working so hard for."

The chat started moving at lightning speed as random viewers expressed their shock and confusion.

Then, a much longer comment popped up.

"She just smiled at me and said she finally found her biological brothers. She said she was saving up every penny to buy them the gifts they'd always wanted. So... why do you guys have her locked in a coffin?"

The smile instantly froze on Alexandra's face, and a suffocating silence fell over the garage.

Ethan's voice shook. "Graveyard shift… washing dishes?"

My brothers turned around in unison. Their eyes were glued to the text on the screen.

Fragments of memories from the past few months suddenly started flashing through their minds.

It had been the dead of winter, during the coldest stretch of the year, when I started coming home in the early hours of the morning.

Back then, Alexandra had sworn up and down that I was out sleeping around with random men.

Enraged, Ethan had slapped me across the face before throwing me out into the snow, forcing me to stay out in the cold for the night.

"No way… I'm sure she was out with…"

Liam's voice trembled violently.

Panic set in for Alexandra. She lunged forward, trying to block the phone screen with her hands as she yelled, "It's a lie! It's all fake! You can't believe random people on the internet! She definitely paid people to say that just to make us feel bad!"

"Get out of my way!" Ethan roared, shoving Alexandra so hard she hit the floor.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked unhinged as he threw himself toward the crystal coffin.

Shaking uncontrollably, he fumbled through his pockets, only to realize he didn't have the keys on him.

"The keys! Where are the damn keys?" he screamed at Liam.

Liam scrambled over to the tool bench on the far side of the room to dig through the mess for the spare key he had tossed aside earlier.

Ethan's patience was running thin.

He grabbed a sledgehammer leaning against the corner of the wall, raised it high over his head, and brought it down against the brass lock of the crystal coffin.