Miggy’s voice was low but stubborn. “Just give her back to me.”
Jazper Ray tightened his grip on my arm. “You’re not going anywhere with her.” His jaw locked, still trying to shield me even with a gun pointed our way.
Miggy laughed , not out of humor, but like someone who had run out of patience. “You think she’s yours? She’s mine.”
Before Jazper could fire back, a voice cut in. Ericka stepped forward, arms crossed, her eyes glittering with smugness. “That’s where you’re wrong.”
Jazper’s grip faltered slightly. “Ericka?”
“She was never yours to begin with,” Ericka said, tilting her head at me. “You don’t know the truth about her. But I do. I made sure of it… in case the first plan failed.”
A chill crawled down my spine. “First plan?” I whispered.
Her lips curved. “To get rid of yo
Miggy’s voice was low but stubborn. “Just give her back to me.”Jazper Ray tightened his grip on my arm. “You’re not going anywhere with her.” His jaw locked, still trying to shield me even with a gun pointed our way.Miggy laughed , not out of humor, but like someone who had run out of patience. “You think she’s yours? She’s mine.”Before Jazper could fire back, a voice cut in. Ericka stepped forward, arms crossed, her eyes glittering with smugness. “That’s where you’re wrong.”Jazper’s grip faltered slightly. “Ericka?”“She was never yours to begin with,” Ericka said, tilting her head at me. “You don’t know the truth about her. But I do. I made sure of it… in case the first plan failed.”A chill crawled down my spine. “First plan?” I whispered.Her lips curved. “To get rid of yo
"After you picked almost all the flowers from us, you were so happy to run away. I went with you when you saw your mom. You called out to her and ran straight into her arms—""I know," I cut him off. My voice cracked. "I already know what happened next." Tears spilled down my cheeks. "I know… that I was the reason my mom died."Jazper Ray pulled me into a tight embrace. "It was never your fault, Audrey. It was just… her time. It will never be your fault."I felt Ericka stand up behind me and place her hand on my back. "I know how you feel. I saw her before too. But Audrey… just like Jazper Ray said, whatever happened back then—it wasn’t your fault. Life was just testing us.""Magnificent," Lucas said with slow, mocking applause. "You’re being played by fate."I ignored him, looking only at Jazper Ray and Ericka. "Then why… why don’t I remember anything?""We don’t know either, A
“W-what?” I stammered, my voice weak. “H-how… how could that happen? Ericka is not my sister.”I shook my head hard, looking at him as if begging him to make sense of this.“You’re wrong. I have a sister, but it’s not Ericka. Her name is Anya. Anya!” My voice broke. “Are you all going crazy?”Jazper Ray lowered his forehead to mine, his expression torn. “Audrey… he’s telling the truth.”I blinked at him, stunned. My mind spun. How? Why couldn’t I remember?“Why don’t you tell Ericka how it all started?” Sassy’s voice cut through, sharp and cold. She lifted the gun and aimed it at us.Ericka lowered her head, staring at her hands. She hesitated, as if the words weighed too much.“It was after Christmas…” she began softly.December 27, 1996The day they were to scatter th
We stepped out.Sassy stood directly opposite, her mouth slightly open, her eyes locked on us in disbelief. Around her were six men, their stance protective, circling an old man in a wheelchair. My gaze froze on his face. He seemed familiar—too familiar.But then I saw him.The man standing beside the old one.My chest tightened. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. I knew that face. I knew him. And nothing in me was ready for it.He was wearing the same shirt color as every time we’d met.When my eyes landed on his face, it felt like my whole world tilted. How could this be? Why him?“Migs…” The name slipped out, my voice caught between surprise and fear.“Why?”“Audrey…” he answered softly, almost dreamlike.If I’d been confused earlier, now I was drowning in it. My questions doubled in an instant. I tried to take a step forward, but Jazper Ray blocked
Suddenly, my whole body went cold. My muscles tensed, and my heart began to pound.This is the place.Right here, where we’re standing.Worst of all… this could be the same prison where Jazper Ray was tortured.I stared at him in shock, my hand flying to cover my mouth. I didn’t know why, but tears began to spill again. Jazper Ray pulled me into his shoulder, his arms wrapping around me.“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Audrey,” he murmured.“W-why?” My voice cracked. “Why do you have to repeat everything? Why do they have to remind you of it all? Why do you have to torture me again? I’m already confused, Jazper Ray.” I sobbed harder. “I don’t even know who’s behind this. I don’t have enemies. I haven’t been slandered. Ericka and Sassy are the only ones I know who are mad at me, but Ericka swore it wasn’t her. Then who? And why would Lucas w
"Of course!" My voice broke with joy. "I love you too, and I’ll never get tired of saying it. Every single day, Jazper Ray. I love you, I love you, and I love you."He chuckled softly before kissing me, his lips warm and desperate, silencing my words. Without breaking the kiss, he took my hand and led me away, toward the secret place only the two of us knew existed.A place where the world couldn’t touch us.I pulled my hand out of his hair, deepening our kiss. Our breathing grew heavier, each inhale and exhale tangled together. This kiss felt like forever, and for the first time, it felt completely real. I’d never felt this kind of intensity from him before.He pulled back for a moment, just long enough for me to catch my breath."I love you, Mrs. Gibson," he said, his voice shaking with truth. "I’ve been in love with you since the day I laid eyes on you. I don’t want to lose you anymore. You’ve led my life to a bet