My slap landed hard. He didn’t move, grabbing my wrist. “Hit me! Just let it out!”
“Jenny has paid the price!” Rain streamed
down his face. “Everyone who hurt you…I’ve dealt with them.”
“So?” I sneered. “Does that erase my
suffering?”
He suddenly embraced my legs, his voice choked. “I love you! Talia! From long ago…”
Join the bookshelf
く
I stepped back, dropping the umbrella. Rain
soaked me.
For countless nights, I’d fantasized about
hearing those words. Now, they were utterly
ironic.
“Love?” my voice was colder than the rain.
“Harrison, do you deserve that word?”
As I turned, his heart–wrenching cry was
swallowed by thunder.
I didn’t look back, walking towards the
brightly lit mansion.
9
Zane saw me drenched and ordered hot
water.
He used a towel to gently dry my hair. “Ignore him. Why get yourself wet for him?”
I suddenly hugged him, burying my face in his
<
chest.
He stiffened, then stroked my back. “Talia,
we’ve both been broken, but wounds heal.” “Mm,” I murmured.
Perhaps from the rain, I developed a high fever.
Zane called the family doctor, but the storm blocked roads.
“I’ll get him,” Zane put an ice pack on my forehead. “Hold on, I’ll be back soon.”
In my hazy state, a pungent smell of burning filled my nostrils. I opened my eyes to flames. “Young mistress!” panicked shouts came
from below.
A loud crash; a burning beam fell, blocking
the escape route.
grew dizzy, memories flooding back.
く
I recalled my mother bringing me to the
Hayes mansion at ten, my name changing to
Talia Hayes.
Harrison gave me a stuffed rabbit. “From now
on, you’re my sister!” He spoiled me rotten.
At fifteen, I dated a bad boy.
He walked me to and from school, but when I skipped school, he broke his leg looking for me; I broke up with my boyfriend.
My feelings then became clear.
