Chapter 6
I collapsed into his arms like I’d been holding my breath forever.
I needed this. I needed him.
He held me tight, sighing as he saw the exhaustion written all over me.
“Kiara, I’m back for good,” he murmured.
“And I’m never going to let anyone hurt you again.”
Tears welled up behind my eyes, and for the first time since I’d been given. a second chance at life, I finally drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.
I didn’t know how long I’d been out when my phone rang. It was Sylas.
His voice was sharp and furious.
“Kiara, what the hell did you do? Why is Anastasia still trending on every platform? And why did all the photos disappear from my phone and my assistant’s?”
I let out a small laugh.
“Why are you always so obsessed with me, Mr. Howell? Aren’t you supposed to be all–powerful? What, now? Can’t protect your precious little princess?”
He held back his rage, lowering his voice to a threatening calm.
“This is about you not wanting to get divorced, isn’t it?
“Fine. I know someone’s pulling the strings. Tell them to take down those trending posts, and I’ll let you stay as Mrs. Howell.”
Chapter 6
Lying in Arnold’s arms, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“You should really look in the mirror, Sylas. Do you really think you’re that desirable?”
“Kiara, don’t push your luck…
I hung up before he could finish.
Moments later, the phone rang again. This time, it was the smartwatch I’d bought for Michelle.
She was crying, her voice small and trembling with fear.
“Mommy, I’m really scared. Anastasia ran away again, and Daddy went after her.
“There’s no one home, but I keep hearing noises outside.
“Can you come be with me?”
My heart clenched. Sylas had left his barely recovered daughter home alone just to chase after Anastasia?
“Michelle, stay put. I’m on my way.‘
I quickly put on my clothes, flustered and hurriedly getting ready to leave.
No matter what, I had raised that child from birth. I couldn’t just abandon her.
Arnold stood up, ready to follow me, but I stopped him.
“Michelle gets nervous around strangers. Don’t worry–I’ll bring her back.”
I rushed into the Howell’s residence, only to be slammed to the ground by
Chapter 6
a powerful shove.
I struggled, but he pinned me down like I was a criminal.
Sylas.
Then Anastasia stepped out from the shadows, smirking. “You really do care about my daughter, huh?” she said sweetly. “Too bad she already knows I’m her real mother.
“We’re the real family now.”
I stared at the girl I’d raised with my own two hands.
“You lied to me?”
Michelle’s eyes burned with pure contempt.
“You’ve always been a control freak, way too strict–I hated you for it.
“Every year on my birthday, I made the same wish. I wished for a new
mom.
“And now, finally, my wish has come true.”
I couldn’t speak.
So it turned out that my strict discipline was seen as abuse in her eyes?
She had wished for me to be replaced?
Fine. If that’s what you want, I’ll give it to you.
Sylas knelt beside me and grabbed my chin in a bruising grip.
“Call whoever’s backing you. Now. Or I’ll make sure you understand what it really means to be used and tossed aside.”
Chapter 6
The threat in his eyes chilled me to the bone.
“Sylas,” I said hoarsely, “why are you doing this to me?”
He stepped on my chest hard, but his eyes were soft as he turned to look at Anastasia.
“When I was young and got kidnapped, it was Anastasia who saved me.
“She gave me her favorite pair of friendship bracelets.
“But after I was rescued, I couldn’t find her again.
“Now that she’s back, I won’t let anyone hurt her.”
He turned back to me, full of scorn.
“You were just someone I used to hide how I really felt. I picked you because you were simple, naive, and easy to manipulate.
“And pretty enough.”
Something snapped in my memory. When I was young, I made a bracelet for Arnold by hand.
Just so he’d treasure it, I had it custom–woven with real gold thread, and the chain was solid gold.
That same day, I witnessed a man dragging a struggling boy into a car.
When the man briefly stepped away, I hurriedly opened the door and pulled the boy to safety.
He clung to me tightly and insisted on keeping the bracelet as a token of
thanks.
Afraid the man would come back, I handed it to him without hesitation.
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Later, the bracelet vanished, and I never thought about it again.
Now, it seemed Anastasia must have found it.
“Sylas, if one day you realize you repaid the wrong kindness and loved the wrong person, will you regret everything you once did?” I thought.
