Book II - 75

AUDREY

I felt a little dizzy when I opened my eyes. I didn’t understand what was going on. I was lying in the middle of the rooftop floor. I almost screamed at the sight of Gabriel’s bodyguard unconscious on the ground, bleeding to death.

Then I gasped in horror when I saw the figure in front of me. Edward Hopkins. Everything was back now. He punched me earlier, and I lost consciousness. So much for a man who called himself my father. I touched my forehead, and I was bleeding.

I moaned as I remembered I was in pain.

I pushed my legs to crawl over the corner, and he bent down in front of me. “I’m not going to hurt you, Audrey, only if you listen.”

“I’m never going to listen to you anymore. You’re not my real father. You neglected me. You hurt me!”

He touched my face. “Oh, but we are family, Audrey,” he whispered. There’s no more hint of a soul in his eyes. “Because even if I know you and that boy Liam messed up my life, turning Charles against me, I’m still willing to forgive you. Beca