Chapter 4

Wesley chimed in, "That's right. You hurt Nora, so you should pay the price."

Zachary had a look of cold indifference. It was as if he were just watching a show.

The hospital room was well-heated, yet I felt colder than if I were standing out in the snow. Nora watched me quietly, the faint smile hiding in her eyes piercing right through my chest.

I lowered my head, my voice barely a whisper as I said, "Okay."

If this was the only way to make my brothers happy, then so be it.

When I returned to the villa, the snow was still falling, and the pool had nearly frozen over. Clinging to a final shred of hope, I walked over and slowly knelt down.

It was incredibly cold. Every breath felt like knives cutting through my lungs.

Even my wolf, Moonwhisper, could feel my pain. She mourned for me, asking, "Why don't Corey and Wesley believe us?"

Why?

I often asked the Moon Goddess why she made me endure the pain of being betrayed by family and loved ones.

What had I done wrong?

I didn't know how much time had passed when our housekeeper Isla Jones rushed over. When she saw me, her tears immediately fell. "Ms. Newman, get up! Are you trying to scare me to death?"

She wiped her tears while reaching out to pull me up.

Isla was the only person left in this house who was kind to me. Ever since my parents died, she was the only one left who cared about me and protected me.

However, I shook my head, my voice so soft that it was barely audible. "I can't... Corey said that... if I knelt long enough, he'd have a meal with me."

Isla wept as she tried to reason with me. "What if he doesn't show? Are you really that foolish? Are you trying to freeze yourself to death out here?"

I didn't answer. I simply gripped my frostbitten fingers and forced myself to stay upright. Maybe I was foolish, but I had no other options left.

Even if it was just one last meal, it was worth it. Because deep down, I knew that I might never see my brothers again.

The snow kept falling, heavier and faster. Soon, I lost all sense of time. I watched as the sky darkened and lightened again. Eventually, I couldn't even stay upright. My ears rang, and my vision went completely white.

I wanted to lift my head to look at the front door to see if Corey had come back, but my neck felt weighed down, and I couldn't lift it. I had been fooled by my two brothers again, just like when we were children, and they'd stroke my head, saying that they'd only love me as their sister for life.

In the end, there was nothing left.

...

When I opened my eyes again, I was surrounded by warm air.

Isla was wiping my face, choking back tears as she said, "Ms. Newman, you're finally awake..."

I stirred slightly, and a wave of pain swept over my body. "Did... they come back?" I asked, my voice raw and hoarse.

Isla looked up, and tears fell harder from her eyes. She didn't answer, and in that instant, I felt hollow. No matter how much I wished it wasn't true, I already knew the answer.

There were six days left until I had to leave, and I wondered if I would never see my brothers again.

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly sat up with effort. "Isla, could you please... bring me a cup of hot milk?"

Her eyes were still red as she nodded. "Don't overthink it, okay? I'll heat it up right away."

After she stepped out, I threw off the blanket. The room fell into a heavy silence, and I looked around at the familiar furnishings. Suddenly, everything felt foreign.

This house stopped being mine the moment I knelt by that pool, and there was nothing left tying me here.

I went through my closet, picking out just a few changes of clothes. Later, I found the small wooden box my parents had left behind and gently held it close.

There wasn't much, and it wasn't heavy. Yet, it was all I had left.

I grabbed my suitcase and made my way down the stairs. Just as I reached the entryway, the door burst open from the outside.

A gust of cold wind swept in, bringing snowflakes with it.

I looked up and saw Corey and Wesley standing on either side of Nora, shielding her in the middle. She was wrapped in a white fur shawl. She was glowing, and her smile was soft and docile.

Corey's gaze swept from the suitcase in my hand to my face, his expression unreadable and cold. He asked, "Where are you going?"