Chapter 3

I stumbled toward the door, but Victoria stepped in my way.

"I won't stop you from leaving, but you terrified Julian. You're going to apologize to him."

Her voice was cold, completely devoid of warmth.

I squared my shoulders and looked straight into her eyes.

"Are you fucking deaf? I said, apologize to Julian!"

Victoria grabbed my arm and shoved me hard toward Julian.

I forced a cold smile, speaking slowly, word by word.

"He. Doesn't. Deserve. It."

Julian's face instantly twisted into a pitiful, wronged expression, fueling Victoria's rage even further.

She kicked me brutally behind the knees, forcing me down onto the floor.

"Apologize! Are you fucking mute?!"

My knees slammed into the hard tile. The sheer agony robbed me of my voice, which Victoria took as open defiance.

"Smash!"

A wine bottle shattered right over my head.

Crimson wine and warm blood streamed down through my hair, pooling into a vivid red mess on the floor in front of me.

I couldn't tell if what blurred my vision was blood or tears. All I knew was that it hurt. It hurt so damn much.

From the top of my skull down to my chest.

The pain made me dry-heave, but nothing came up.

I could only press a trembling hand against my chest.

Seeing the state I was in, a flicker of hesitation flashed across Victoria’s face.

Then, her expression turned cold again.

Breathing heavily, she tossed aside the broken bottle neck and pointed toward the door.

"Get out! Get the fuck out!"

"You and that sick sister of yours—never show your faces in front of me again!"

"You don't even have to tell me. I saw through you a long time ago. Every single second I spent around you made me sick to my stomach."

I forced myself up, dragging my injured leg as I limped toward the exit.

I didn't look back once.

"Sean!"

Victoria's voice rang out from behind me.

"You think leaving alone proves anything? Leaving your sister behind just so you have an excuse to crawl back later, right?"

I paused for a second, but didn't bother to turn around.

"Only someone like you would think of something so pathetic. Don't worry, I'm never coming back. And my sister... she's already gone."

Victoria moved faster, cutting me off at the door and blocking my path with her arm.

"Make yourself clear. What do you mean, 'she's gone'?"

Julian covered his nose, looking at me with pure disgust as he pulled Victoria back.

"Victoria, why do you care so much? It's just a manipulative trick."

"Where else would his sister be besides your place? She's practically an invalid. Do you really believe she went out shopping at the mall?"

He chuckled mockingly.

Victoria was half-skeptical, glaring at me and pointing a threatening finger in my face.

"Sean, you better not be playing games with me, or I'll make you regret it."

As if trying to settle her own unease, Victoria pulled out her phone and dialed the family estate.

"Go check where Sean's sister is. If she's still in the house, carry her out right now and dump her on the street."

The other end of the line went dead silent for a moment before the housekeeper spoke, her voice choking up.

"Ms. Vance... Mia passed away."