o the past-before the accident, before he went b

ids; her family's mansion sat adjacent to Elliot's estate. When

d, her father, who was supposed to be my guardian, squandered my family's enti

he way she looked at him-a gaze filled with both cont

nd her friends would laugh at him behind his back, whispering abo

ised al

ld his confidence, encouraging him

ground up. With his sharp intellect and my unwaver

re a team destined to spend our lives togethe

try woven with love, success, and the

uld conquer the

, naive

d him from suffering, had become the v

much love, had grown into poisonous vi

iot's hands began typ

to bring her flowers, playing

was like bitter bile i

truth right in front of him, even after

spital bed, "the sealed medical records, and the video diaries. Keep them safe. Promise

I asked. And now, that very loya

hone, a gentle smile curved his l

mpletely different person. The brute who had just ordered my brother's torture, the murdere

der expression vani

the infirmary. Patch him up. But do

, a chilling reminder

ouse and headed strai

selecting a bouquet of pristine whi

y weren

ly beautiful. He had once promised to fill our garden with b

his hair. He even cleared his throat, subtly altering his voice to sound

ly's voice floated out of the room,

s tightly shut, covered by

blind-a calculated move to main

open, his eyes brimmi

you feeling?" He walked to h

once belonged to

tightly. "I wish I could see your handsome face. I'm so lonely w

softly, stroking her hair. "You're so b

ly pouted, a hint of mild repr

," Elliot said lightly, "but I brought you somethi

ilies," she said, a trace of confusion in her voice. "They're... beau

in her facade; sh

't expec

liot remembering e

s known my favorite flowers were bluebe

confusion, his subconscious beginning

d with concern. He was even catering to her over such trivial matters. "Don't worry. Next time it will be roses,

any physical wound. It was as if my very spirit w

sacred vows, now

ctly manicured hands reached up to cup his

e," he whispered,

Her demand was bo

on of a second, then pres

I couldn't bear to witne

ears with my hands, desperate to blo

trapped within it, forced to o

ce and the innocence-flashed before my e

ned into a dark, destructive force. And I was nothing