Chapter 7
With a resounding thud, Thalia was knocked to the ground, the framed photograph of her mother slipping from her grasp.
The frame shattered upon impact, sending shards of glass skittering across the floor. The photo of her and her mother lay torn and marred.
Tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks. Her gaze remained fixed on the fractured picture, her body paralyzed. As her trembling fingers reached for it, Cassian enveloped her in a tight embrace, halting her
movement.
His own heart ached, watching her so fragile. He gently held her trembling hand, pressing reassuring kisses to her forehead, his voice
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trembling with concern, “Thalia, please, don’t cry. It’s dangerous to touch the glass. I promise, we’ll keep the photo safe.”
Thalia struggled in his arms, her voice tight with emotion, “Let me go! It’s the only picture I have of my mom–it’s all I have left!”
Cassian quickly took her injured hand, urgency in his tone, “Stop moving–you’re hurt.” Just then, Callum started to speak, but fell silent as he saw Selene reaching for the photograph, both their expressions shifting.
As
Selene stretched for the photo, a shard sliced into her hand, drawing blood. Cassian instantly released Thalia, his face drained of color as he grabbed Selene’s hand, alarmed, “Selene, you’re bleeding!”
Selene wore a guilty expression, regret etched on her face. “Thalia, I’m so sorry. Your
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mom was beautiful and so kind–I kept the photo by my bed, looking at it every day. I didn’t mean to take it.”
Thalia’s mind raced with disbelief. What had her mother ever done for them? They had only ever taken from her, even her father, yet they shamelessly displayed her mother’s photo at their bedside. How could people be so cruel?
If her mother could see this, how it would
break her heart.
Sorrow seeped into her soul, invisible to those around her. Callum, his expression grave, immediately called for the family doctor to tend to Selene’s wound.
Meanwhile, Selene brushed off her bleeding hand with a soft, guilty smile. “It’s just a little blood. As long as the photo is okay, that’s
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what matters.”
Everyone crowded around Selene, fussing over her pain, as Thalia knelt carefully to retrieve the bloodied photograph. The old image, now tinted with red, obscured her mother’s face altogether.
It felt painfully similar to the moment when her mother died before her. Once again, she found herself cradled in her mother’s arms, her mother’s face bloodied and unrecognizable.
Overwhelmed, her hands trembled uncontrollably until everything went black.
Before she lost consciousness, she saw two figures rushing toward her in a panic, but even with fading focus, no emotion stirred within her.
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When she finally awoke, Selene’s face loomed, full of guilt, though the words that followed clashed with her expression. “Thalia, I meant well. Surely, you’re not mad at me?”
Thalia’s silence was her only response, her face an impassive mask, as Selene dropped the pretense with a smirk. “Do you see how easy it is to replace you? This is just the
start. Everyone who once loved you will love me instead.”
Determination glittered in Selene’s eyes. “Whether Callum or Cassian, they’ll both be mine.” Thalia’s eyes turned empty, her gaze distant as she absorbed the threat.
Selene’s smile deepened with malevolence. “Do you know why Callum’s been acting so differently toward you?”
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Slowly, Thalia lifted her head, urgency in her gaze. “Why?” She needed to understand why her brother had turned away. Had she done something wrong? She would change if it meant regaining his love.
Selene, as if waiting for this moment, stirred the concoction in her hand with a self–satisfied grin. “It’s simple. I had a priest declare your fate cursed. He told your brother that you bring misfortune and even blamed your mother’s death on you.”
Thalia’s body quaked, the numbness in her heart replaced by searing pain. No wonder her brother’s demeanor toward her had changed, keeping her at arm’s length, believing she was the cause of their mother’s death.
Her fists tightened, eyes shutting against the unbearable pain.
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During this time, Cassian visited her several times, but she remained silent. He would sit by her bed, speaking gently, “Thalia, the doctor said you’re exhausted. You shouldn’t dwell on things so much. Selene took the photo because she was worried about you. I know you resent her–being your father’s and Rowena’s daughter–but if you give her a chance, you’ll see she’s truly kind.”
Mention of the photo was the only stimulus. that seemed to reach Thalia.
Cassian kissed her cheek softly. “Thalia, Callum’s taken the photo to be repaired. I’ll come see you again after work.”
Callum appeared in the evening with the restored photo, though their mother’s face was now unrecognizable. “Despite Selene’s efforts, it’s just too blurry now.”
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Thalia looked at the altered photo, no longer showing any familiar features, and spoke softly, “Throw it away.”
Callum’s hand tightened on the picture, shock coloring his features. “But Thalia, Selene worked so hard to save it.”
To her, the photo was the root of this chaos, and the remaining fragments were losing meaning.
Her voice was raw as she spoke, “Callum, do you truly think I killed Mom?”
Silence hung thick in the air. Callum’s lack of response was answer enough.
Thalia remembered how, after their mother’s passing, relatives whispered in disgust, “Why did she survive the crash when her mom
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didn’t? She must have caused it.”
Back then, Callum had fiercely defended her, standing up to relatives, even at the tender age of 17, comforting her, “Don’t listen to them. It was an accident, not your fault. You’re my beloved sister, always.”
Now, looking back, it all seemed like a distant dream.
Seraphim entered the room, his expression darkened. “Nothing happened while you were away, but now that you’re back, everything’s in chaos. Why can’t you be as obedient and sensible as Selene?”
Thalia remained silent.
Seraphim’s gaze was filled with
disappointment, as though she’d never meet his expectations. After he spoke, Thalia
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finally broke her silence. “I’ll move out.”
Her mother had left her a company, and she no longer wanted to stay in this place.
Callum seemed to anticipate her thoughts, his demeanor freezing momentarily. “Thalia, I’ve already arranged for Selene to begin managing the company.”
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