Chapter 50
When I stepped back, I examined myself in the mirror.
The reflection staring back looked almost otherworldly. My ivory dress flowed gracefully, its simplicity enhanced by the soft fabric that clung to my figure before flaring out at the waist.
My hair, styled in loose waves, was pinned to one side with a silver clip, the soft curls framing my face. There was something fragile about my appearance, like I might break if touched.
Later that afternoon, as I wandered the school grounds, I bumped into Linda by the artificial lake.
She was dressed in a silver gown, understated yet undeniably luxurious, the fabric shimmering under the sunlight.
Around her neck hung an expensive diamond necklace, one I knew must have come from Arman.
His way of comforting her, no doubt.
Linda looked like a picture of perfection as she sat by the water, but the smile she wore was anything but kind.
“Sophia,” she began, her voice as sweet as poison, “do you think being Moonshadow Alpha’s sister will protect you forever?” Her eyes gleamed as she continued, “Even if you know about Ryan and me, what does it matter? He loves me. Your brother loves me. No one could ever love someone like you.”
I studied her flawless appearance, taking in every detail of her makeup and the way the sun glinted off her necklace.
Then, without missing a beat, I laughed.
“Is the water in the lake good?” I asked, smiling sweetly. “If you didn’t drink enough the other day, I could fetch you some more.”
Her expression faltered, her eyes narrowing, but I didn’t wait for a response.
turned and walked away, leaving her fuming by the water’s edge.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting everything in a warm, golden hue, I made my way -backstage to the
party.
The performance was about to begin, and I hurried with my skirt in hand.
But just as I reached the steps, I realized something important was missing the props I had packed
for the curtain call.
–
A cold knot formed In my stomach. I was sure I had everything prepared earlier.
How could they be gone now unless someone had tampered with my bag?
Panic bubbled up, but there was no time to lose.
Most of the students were already gathered at the sports ground, so the school building was practically deserted. I decided to retrace my steps, hoping to find what I needed.
I rushed up the stairs, the sound of my heels clicking against the marble echoing in the empty hallway.
But just as I reached the floor of the dance classroom, I froze.
Standing a few
steps ahead of me, half-hidden in the shadows, was Ryan.
The golden–red light of the sunset illuminated part of his face, casting deep shadows across his features.
His eyes, dark and brooding, stared at me from beneath the dim lighting. He stood there, unmoving. his presence unsettling in the quiet.
“Where are you going, darling?” His voice was low, almost a whisper, filled with something sinister.
I clenched my jaw, refusing to be intimidated.
“None of your business. Move.”
I stepped forward, determined to pass him, but before I could take another step, a strong hand gripped my shoulder.
The
force was sudden, catching me off guard.
In that split second, my mind went blank
And then, I felt it my body lifted off the ground, weightless for a brief moment before everything came crashing down.
The staircase loomed behind me, and I tumbled backward, my body slamming against the hard
teps as I fell.
ain exploded through me as I hit the ground, my back throbbing with every breath.
I landed by the iron railing at the bottom of the stairs, a sickening snap echoing in my ears as my ankle twisted painfully.
For a moment, I couldn’t move, the shock paralyzing me.
Ryan slowly descended the stairs, stopping beside me. His eyes, once so familiar, were now cold, inreadable. He crouched down, staring at me as if I were a broken doll.
Sophia,” he said, his voice eerily calm, “don’t blame me. You’ve always had everything handed to you. Even if you miss this chance, there will be others.”
I glared up at him, fury burning through the pain.
But he continued, undeterred.
“Linda isn’t like you. She’s worked hard for what she has, and she deserves it. This is the best she cant
- do.
Before I could react, his hand gripped my already injured ankle, and with a sickening thud, he slammed my leg against the railing.
The agony was immediate, and I cried out, feeling the bone twist unnaturally beneath his hold.
Through the haze of pain, a vision flashed before my eyes. Ryan, kneeling before Lirian, begging for forgiveness, pleading for me as I lay dead and decaying.
His voice, trembling with remorse, echoed in my mind: “I regret it. I regret everything. I love her. It was always her.”
Was this love?
This twisted, violent act?
After everything we had shared, after all the years of passion and trust, was this how he showed his affection?
I didn’t want his love anymore.
