Chapter 10

Dry leaves whipped around the cemetery.

Freya stood still, clutching a bouquet, eyes locked on the shared tombstone. She didn't say a word—just stared at the photo carved into the stone.

A leaf landed on her shoulder. She sighed, long and slow.

Then she turned, fake pouting over her shoulder.

"Seriously, Demi? You two are snails. My arms are gonna fall off!"

Pregnant now, I moved like a sloth. Terrance hovered like I'd shatter.

He barely left my side. The shareholders were losing it.

He couldn't care less.

We finally made it to Mike and Cecilia's grave.

I couldn't shake the memory—the sniper across the street, two clean shots.

By the time I got there, Mike was already dead. Cecilia was barely hanging on.

"Demi... why... why did I lose again...? I did everything Mom said. Wasn't I supposed to marry well and live happy?"

She'd asked that so many times, I stopped knowing what to say.

Once, she really did see me as her sister.

But over time, those twisted lessons got to her.