"If Leila were still alive, she'd never want to see you like this," Hendrix added.
I laughed so hard that tears streamed down my face. "You have no right to mention her name."
He sighed, the sound heavy with defeat. "What do you want, Vienna? As long as you don't hurt innocent people, I'll agree to anything."
Before his words faded, a sharp pain exploded in my waist.
I looked down—a dagger was buried in my side, blood flowing freely.
For a split second, a cold, ruthless light flashed in Cassidy's eyes before she quickly replaced it with a look of terrified innocence. Her hands trembled as she backed away.
"It wasn't me! I didn't stab you—you ran into it yourself!" she cried, her voice shaking. "Please, don't hurt me!"
My face hardened into ice. "You're begging for death."
I yanked the dagger out and drove it straight into her abdomen.
Once. Twice. Thrice.
The sound of steel against flesh echoed in the air. Her body went limp, sliding to the floor as blood seeped through her dress.
By the time Hendrix realized what had happened, Cassidy had already collapsed, unconscious.
He seized my throat, eyes burning red with rage.
"She's innocent!" he roared.
"Vienna, how did you become this kind of monster? This—this is why I despised you back then! I only ever loved Leila because she wasn't like you. Five years later, you're even worse! I should've killed you when I had the chance! I should never have helped you avenge your parents!"
His furious expression overlapped with the memory of that night five years ago.
Back then, these same hands were wrapped around my father's murderer's neck. Now, they were choking me.
I clawed at his wrists, my nails digging into his flesh until blood welled up beneath them.
"Then kill me!" I spat. "Do it!"
Tears mixed with blood as they dripped down my chin, each drop burning against his skin.
He froze, his fingers trembling.
After a long, heavy silence, he released me and slammed his fist into the wall instead.
"I'm tired, Vienna," he muttered hoarsely. "I don't want to keep doing this with you."
"Take those three stabs as repayment for everything the Wilson family once did for me."
"From now on, we're strangers. Touch Cassidy again, and I'll make sure you regret it."
Through my blurry vision, I watched him carry Cassidy away, leaving behind nothing but blood and shattered glass.
At some point, my sister's framed photo had cracked down the middle—a perfect reflection of what we'd become: fractured beyond repair.
My sworn brother stumbled toward me, panic laced his voice. "Vienna, you're just going to let her go? How could Hendrix treat you like this? You're his sister!"
I let out a bitter laugh, pressing a trembling hand to my bleeding side.
The blood soaked my palm instantly. "I won't let her go," I said quietly. "Not unless I die first."
"Between me and Cassidy, only one of us gets to live."
—
At the hospital, after hours of emergency surgery, Cassidy survived.
The child in her womb—Hendrix's child—was saved as well.
Hendrix never left her side, his expression clouded with guilt and fear.
When she finally woke up, she broke into tears the moment she saw him.
"I didn't kill anyone, Hendrix! I swear I didn't! You believe me, don't you?"
He quickly pulled her into his arms, his voice low and gentle. "I know you're scared. I don't blame you."
"Don't worry. No one will ever hurt you again."
Her tears flowed harder. "You're lying! You'll never marry me! You'll go back to the Wilson family once I'm gone—I mean nothing to you!"
"I'm not lying," he said softly. "We'll get married in three days. I promise."
To prepare for the wedding, Hendrix worked tirelessly.
The gown was one he had once designed for Leila. Even the wedding ring had been crafted from Leila's keepsake.
Everything was set.
The ceremony was flawless.
Until the moment the bride was supposed to walk down the aisle—the doors stayed closed.
Then the massive LED screen behind the altar flickered on.
Instead of wedding photos, a single image filled the hall—Cassidy's terrified, blood-drained face.
A deafening thud split the air.
A large gift box fell from above and crashed right in front of Hendrix.
The box shattered open—splinters and silk ribbons flying—spilling out a heap of bloody, mangled flesh.
