Chapter 100: Beneath the Surface

The silence that followed Adonis’s departure was thick, weighted with the echoes of the battle that had just transpired. Ashley stood frozen in place, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the shadows swallow Adonis whole. His dark words lingered in the air, like a storm cloud threatening to return.

Amelia lowered the gun slowly, her hands shaking as the adrenaline that had fueled her courage began to fade. She had never held a weapon before, let alone pointed one at a man like Adonis. Her knees buckled slightly, but before she could fall, Ashley rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her sister.

“It’s over,” Ashley whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She wanted to believe it, but deep down, she knew Adonis’s words carried a dangerous truth. This wasn’t over, not by a long shot.

Amelia buried her face in Ashley’s shoulder, her body trembling from head to toe. “I didn’t know what else to do,” she admitted in a shaky breath. “I couldn’t let him hurt you.”

“You did what