Gemma was saved.Nina, pale from blood loss, had no color left in her lips. She used the table for support as she stood up, swaying slightly as she moved toward the hospital room.“Ma’am, please sit and rest here for a bit. We need to give you a transfusion. In your current state, you won’t make it to the room, let alone take a few more steps without fainting,” the nurse said, quickly grabbing Nina’s arm.Nina knew she wasn’t in the best shape. She didn’t push herself, instead taking a seat to rest. After drinking some glucose water to regain her strength, she went to see her daughter.Gemma’s condition had improved. Her fever had come down slightly.“Her temperature should return to normal in about three hours. If it spikes again, come find me immediately,” the doctor instructed carefully.Nina committed every word to memory. After the doctor left, she sat by her daughter’s side, gently stroking Gemma’s forehead as she murmured, “Sweetheart, please wake up soon.”Meanwhile, on
Mrs. Watson didn’t even dare to sleep through the night. She woke up every two hours to check on Gemma, making sure everything was just right. Even with all these precautions, she still worried about Gemma’s safety. There was no way she would risk feeding her something unsafe.“Alright, you can go now,” Nash said. Without concrete evidence, he couldn’t just lay the blame on Mrs. Watson. If only he had security cameras installed at home, he would know exactly who was responsible for Gemma’s poisoning.As soon as Mrs. Watson left, Nash received a call from his assistant. “Mr. York, I’ve sent over the background report you requested.”According to the report, Mrs. Watson’s family life was straightforward. She had a daughter who got married a few years ago. The couple ran a grocery store together and had a young son. They had no debt, and there were no large deposits in their bank records. Her previous employers also spoke highly of her, saying she cared for their children as if t
"Her fever’s already gone, isn’t it?" Hope asked, glancing at Gemma in her cradle. Resentment slowly took root in her heart. Gemma had stolen everyone’s attention. Why did she have to take Orion’s too?All Hope wanted was to play a game with Orion, but even that was too much to ask."Yes, her fever is down, but I’m still worried," Orion replied, patience wearing thin. His tone held a hint of irritation as he added, "I told you, if you want to play, go play by yourself. Stop bothering me. Gemma is my sister, of course I’m concerned about her!"Orion no longer felt the same fondness for Hope as before. Gemma might not be Hope's sister, but they were all going to be one family and would be living together. Shouldn't Hope be just as worried about Gemma’s fever, like a sister would be? How could she still be in the mood to play, and expect him to join her?"Orion?" Hope froze, her eyes widening. Orion had just pulled away from her. He had never been so harsh with her before. Tears
"You all can go over to her, but I’m the only one who can’t. How is that supposed to make me feel like part of this family? You’ve never really wanted me to fit in," Hope said, feeling more and more upset as she spoke.If Gemma were to disappear from the world entirely, then Orion would only have one sister, her. His focus would be solely on her, and he would never be cross with her over another sister again.If only she had given Gemma more of that medicine before. She remembered the little bottle still tucked away in her backpack. The bad people had told her the substance was powerful. Just half a bottle could kill an adult, and a child would need even less. Just a few more drops, and Gemma would be gone forever.Then, not only would she see her real mom again, but she would also have Orion all to herself."Stop thinking that way," Orion insisted. "We really are a family. It’s because we’re a family that we need to take care of Gemma and be considerate of Mom."But no matter w
"Alright then, I’ll go bake you a simple cake now. We’ll save the more complicated recipe for tomorrow morning," Mrs. Watson finally relented.Hope nodded enthusiastically. It wouldn’t take long to give Gemma the medicine, just a minute or two, which was plenty of time.As soon as Mrs. Watson left, Hope went back to Orion. "Hey, do you remember Gemma’s little plush? The one that looks like a kitten? She used to love it.""I remember," Orion replied, recalling the toy. He had picked it out himself on a family outing to the toy store. He had known right away that Gemma would love it, and he was right. She couldn’t part with it after they brought it home."The plush is hanging on the upstairs balcony. Why don’t you bring it down? It might help her sleep more peacefully," Hope suggested, her tone full of concern for Gemma.No one would have guessed that behind such an innocent demeanor was a malicious intent.Orion had no idea that leaving Gemma alone would put her in danger. Tru
As Nina spoke, a chill ran through her body. She had considered every possibility, even the idea that someone might have broken into their home to harm Gemma while they were out. But never, not even once, had she suspected a six-year-old child.Yet here she was, holding the evidence that this very child had nearly killed her daughter."What?" Nash was equally stunned. But with the bottle in his hand, there was no denying the reality right in front of him.Compared to the adults, Orion reacted even more strongly. He stormed down the stairs with Gemma’s toy in hand and shoved Hope hard enough to knock her over. She scraped her hand on the floor and began to cry in pain and frustration."How dare you cry?" Orion’s voice was thick with anger. "My sister’s suffering is way worse than a scraped hand. She’s so little, with tubes all over her, and it’s all because of you. Why did you do it?"He couldn’t understand. Hadn’t they treated Hope well enough? Even if they weren’t perfect, did th
Alongside his anger, Orion felt a sharp pang of guilt. His parents had once suggested sending Hope to a welfare home, but he had wanted to keep her because he liked her as a sister. But what he had brought into their home wasn’t a sister, it was someone who could kill.“Get out! Go far away. I never want to see you again!” he shouted, pushing her away when she tried to grab his sleeve. She fell to the ground, landing heavily.Mrs. Watson stepped out of the kitchen holding a cake, and when she saw the scene, she started to go over to help Hope. But before she could get too close, she heard Orion snap, “Stop pretending to be pitiful. You’re so fake and disgusting. You poisoned my sister, and you think I’d feel sorry for you?”Mrs. Watson froze, her eyes widening in disbelief.Poison?She looked at Hope, unable to connect the idea of poisoning with this small child who barely came up to her waist. How could someone so young do something so cruel?Then, out of the corner of her eye
Although she was young, Hope knew the difference between comfort and hardship. In this home, even though they weren’t her blood relatives, everyone treated her kindly. She felt safe here. She could play in the garden without constantly preparing to flee with her family. If they sent her back, she would be alone, wandering the streets. She would never see her family again, especially since she hadn’t completed her mission.As despair sank in, Hope pleaded, “I know I was wrong. I won’t do it again, I swear. Please, let me stay here. I promise I won’t hurt anyone.”She could even accept that Orion might never play with her again, as long as she could stay.“It’s too late for that. I don’t believe you,” Orion said, moving closer to Nina. Last time, he had pleaded on Hope’s behalf. This time, it was the opposite. He shook his head at his parents. “Mom, Dad, please don’t let her stay. I’m afraid she’ll hurt my sister again.”This had happened once, and it could easily happen again.
Up ahead was a village. “Miss, it’s really late today, so I’ll take you home first. My parents and brother will take good care of you, and you can get a good night’s sleep at our place. Once you’ve rested, we’ll take you to town tomorrow.” The young girl tightened her grip on Vera’s hand. “My mom is a great cook! She’ll definitely make a big meal to welcome you.” It really was late. The sky was completely dark, and Vera’s phone battery was nearly dead. The girl was still so young. She had already gone out of her way to bring Vera back from the deep mountains. It wouldn’t be right to ask her to take her all the way to town tonight. Vera still had some cash in her pocket. After covering the cost of transportation, she decided she would leave the rest for the girl’s family. If it weren’t for the girl, who knew how long she would have been wandering in the mountains? “My house is just ahead. It’s not in great shape, so don’t mind it too much. Next year, whe
Vera’s nerves tensed up again. A sudden sound in the middle of nowhere was never a good sign. If it was a snake or some other large animal, she would be in serious trouble. Her ankle was swollen, and she couldn’t run fast. Would this be where it all ended for her? She had to leave quietly. But the ground was covered in thick layers of fallen leaves, with dry branches hidden underneath. Crack. As she stepped back, her foot snapped a twig, the sound piercing through the silence. Only one thought filled her mind—this was it. The rustling nearby grew louder. Vera squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself. Then, a voice suddenly spoke beside her. “Miss, why are you here alone? Didn’t your family come with you?” It was a person. Not an animal. Vera’s eyes flew open. A young girl stood in front of her. Fear dissolved in an instant, replaced by relief. She was saved.“I came here alone. Little one, do you know how to get out of here?” Ver
Hunter took a bite of the biscuits and ravioli she had made. The taste was surprisingly good. It wasn’t on the level of a Michelin-starred chef, but it had something even more special—the taste of home. And of course, there was the oatmeal. He took one spoonful after another, finishing the entire bowl. *Meanwhile, Vera still hadn’t found her brother. Disappointment weighed heavily on her as she prepared to leave. But just then, her phone buzzed. An anonymous message. She tapped it open and stared at the image attached. It was a watch. Alone, a watch meant nothing. But this watch was her brother’s. Vera immediately zoomed in on the photo, carefully inspecting the engravings inside. There they were—his initials. No mistake. This was his watch. Below the image, a location pin was attached. The place was nearby. Vera’s eyes filled with determination. If she had found nothing, she would have simply left. But now, she had recei
When Yelena woke up again, she was shocked to find that she wasn’t at the club. She sat up abruptly, looking around in confusion. Then, she got out of bed, slipped on her slippers, and pushed the door open. “Where am I?” “At my place,” Hunter replied casually. He was working in the living room when he saw her wake up. “You slept for a long time. I couldn’t just leave you alone at the club, so I brought you back here.” Seeing the uncertainty on her face, he added, “It’s already late. Just stay here for the night. I’ll take you back tomorrow.” Yelena nodded. There was no other choice now. “There’s food in the fridge. If you’re hungry, heat something up. There are also snacks in the drawer—take whatever you want.” “Alright.” She really was hungry. She opened the drawer, grabbed a few small bread rolls, ate them quickly, and then went back to her room to rest. *The next morning, Yelena woke up early. Thinking about everything Hunter had done—treatin
Yelena quickly lowered her arm, letting her sleeve fall over the mark to cover it. “It’s nothing. Here’s your cocktail. Please enjoy.” “Yelena.” Hunter grabbed her wrist without warning. He pulled up her sleeve, revealing the deep, ugly scars on her arm. His brows knitted together instantly. “Who did this to you?” The force behind it was brutal—downright inhuman. Yelena remained silent. Who else could have done this besides Liam? But she had agreed to this. She had willingly accepted Hunter’s request and entered Liam’s world. She had no right to complain. Her silence gave Hunter all the confirmation he needed. “Liam did this to you, didn’t he?” Yelena nodded. “It’s nothing. The wounds have already started healing. They look worse than they feel. Give it some time, and they’ll fade.” “Wait here.” Hunter stood abruptly and walked away. Yelena had no idea what he was doing, but since he told her to wait, she didn’t argue. A few minu
Then again, it made sense. How could a normal person possibly empathize with a lunatic? If Yelena could understand Liam, that would make her just as twisted. *For the next few days, Yelena stayed home to recover. During that time, Liam came back a few times, bringing her flowers and food. Like a child showing off a treasure, he placed the food in front of her. “Yelena, these are your favorite honey crullers. I got them fresh from the bakery. Try them and see if you like them.” “I’m not really hungry.” She didn’t want to eat anything he gave her. She couldn’t even stand looking at him. But she had made a promise. So, she had to force herself to stay. Liam’s expression darkened. “Are you really not hungry, or do you just not want to eat what I give you?” For someone like him, once he had lost his temper once, the second time would only come faster and smoother. With a heavy thud, he slammed the honey crullers onto the table. “Yes, I hit y
If Liam had been a normal person, Hunter never would have sent her here in the first place. But of course, Yelena could only think that. She wasn’t suicidal enough to say it out loud. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. “I was really just messaging an old classmate. If you don’t believe me, go ahead—check my phone.” She wasn’t worried. Whenever she contacted Hunter, she deleted each message immediately. She had even forged an entire fake conversation just in case Liam ever got suspicious. So, no matter how thoroughly he checked, there would be nothing for him to find. Liam narrowed his eyes. “Is that so? Then why do I still feel like you’re lying? Women like you—nothing but liars, every last one of you.” Then, he struck her again. Yelena screamed. The pain was relentless, merciless. She had no idea how long it lasted—only that by the time he finally stopped, she was barely breathing. Her body slumped against the floor
Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind Yelena. She spun around, her heart hammering in her chest. Liam was walking toward her, a faint smile on his lips—but the coldness in his eyes told a different story. Memories of his past cruelty flashed through her mind, sending a shudder down her spine. She forced herself to stay calm. “Who are you messaging?” He was getting closer. So close that when he finally stopped, they were nearly pressed against each other. Then, without warning, his fingers clamped around her chin, gripping tighter and tighter. Pain shot through her jaw, and Yelena winced. “No one. Just an old classmate. I ran into her a few days ago while I was out.” “Oh? Is that so?” Liam’s voice softened, almost gentle. To anyone watching, he might have seemed like a kind, easygoing man. But Yelena knew better. He would never let her off that easily. And sure enough— In the next second, he grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her hea
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.“Haven’t I been just fine lately?“Or do you think my hand isn’t injured enough? If that’s the case, go ahead—do it yourself. “You already know I wouldn’t fight back no matter what.” Without warning, Yelena stretched out her injured hand, an act that instantly enraged Liam. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He snapped. “I was just making a casual remark. Is that really what you think of me? I already told you—I’m not going to lay a hand on you.“It wasn’t intentional before, and you know it. We both do. Stop acting like you’re above all this when we both know who sent you here.” Yelena felt a pang of sadness. They had spent so much time together, yet this was how he treated her—always choosing to hurt her. “I know—I wasn’t someone you chose, and none of this was intentional. But after all this time we've spent together...“I thought maybe I was a little different to you. But I guess I was wrong. Nothing has changed at all.