t. Blood soaked her clothes. Her throat felt like it was being crushed b

eyes, one after another,

but ambitious Steven. To marry him, she had fought so ha

ent of her shares-her father's gift-to Steven. Her father ru

at wa

from the very beginning

o always pretended to be kind-was the real mur

ted he

her bl

her st

len in love with a wol

ed them, respected them-only to let the

is anothe

of hell itself, she would m

.. Da

ng. I'm s

ba

t protect you

better family. Don't ev

inally slammed int

kly at the sky. Her body twitched uncont

ped away, sh

in handcuffs, yet his

said softly. "I killed them. Y

m.

m.

e had hurt

she owed

her life... let me prote

ake up. It's mor

, young master. The young lady hasn't fully r

steady, comforting. It wrappe

hat she was finally waking, the grief she had buried came crashing ba

sked anxiously, "why

nd leaned closer. "She mu

ndrea's cheek, clumsil

e a nightmare? Don't be scared. Your handsome, brave little b

... Dar

d her heavy

familiar face-handsome, youthful, sti

brot

Da

riu

uncontrollably. "Thank goodness... I ca

t off guard. Then he hugged her back, pa

here. You'll see me every day from now on." After a pause, he add

and cried at

loud, lively, handsom

ve believed he was re

tting that vicious mother-and

h with calluses-held a tissue as she gently wiped the tears from Andrea's fac

Doria

miliar, gentle face, and h

ndrea and Darius almost as her own, caring for them with a devotion that went far

xed, forcing a smile even as her eyes turned re

ss like her own daughter. Seeing he

le before Andrea f

fusion

's go

t I d

ready died-and Ms. Dorian, who should hav

final hallucinat

wn hard on

is

ot thro

n ill

was

unwillingness to die.

been given a

.

in the mirror. The face staring back at her was cle

ment, her breat

eally bee

hen she w

entally fallen into the lake,

first

hrough her like a savage beast, clawing at her soul. Her hands trembled

een given an

w those people to co

otect the on

y single person who had

Are yo

voice pulled he

rcing the hatred in her eyes to fade.

said calmly. "Wh

s replied, still studying her closely. "Are you really ok

ster had changed since she fell into th

lly fine. Stop worrying. How about you? How'

ememb

first year of

skipping classes, getting into fights, making their father furi

ied? No way. And don't worry about my gra

pression grew serious. "Darius, no matter what trouble you run into, remember th

us f

cross his face, and he nodde

ster had rarely spoken to him like this. She al

s close to

ike he wa

ay I co

et voice inte

heart c

as her gaze locked onto the closed d

ever forget

nds with Steven and des

er his breath, "Ugh

to herself and rel

m d

ndra-and her so-called gentle mothe

ow on, even if you don't like someone, don't show it. E

her as if she'd g

"Are you sure you're my sister-an

mother-daughter pair weren't good people-onl

d

e yell at him-she