Chapter 7

The memory faded, slipping away like smoke as I was pulled back to the present, where the real nightmare was unfolding in front of me.

Just then, the door slammed open, jolting me fully back to reality.

The room seemed to freeze as York shoved my mother through the door, his grin dripping with malicious satisfaction. I caught a glimpse of the ring on his finger—identical to the one Susanna wore. A bitter laugh escaped me. So, they were a pair now. Susanna was marrying York.

"Susanna, here's the last one from their family. I've brought her here," York said, pride laced in every word. His eyes gleamed with twisted pleasure.

Seven years ago, my gruesome death broke my mother, driving her into the grip of Alzheimer's. I had been watching her slip in and out of clarity over the years, torn apart by guilt and sorrow. Sometimes, she did not even remember my name; other times, she cried for me like I had just died.

Susanna's gaze flicked toward them, her expression curling into disgu