ATHENA

"I didn''t mean to-"

"Murder them? Take everything away from me? What didn''t you mean to? Because from the looks of things, you''ve been living a pretty good life using my trust fund."

I look around before my eyes fall on hers. And to think I loved this woman when I was a child.

Honestly, I don''t care about the money, and I would have left her alone had she not turned out to be my parents'' murderer.

"I was desperate," she whimpers, tears now streaking through the smeared mascara. "I didn''t know they''d actually die. I thought they''d just be scared and give into what I wanted, I swear to you!"

"Wrong answer." I stand, the cold water dripping from her clothes onto the floor like guilt refusing to disappear.

"Please, Athena-"

"I wanted to believe you were just heartless. Maybe you abandoned me out of pride or resentment. But you made sure they never came back. You made sure I never had a family again."

I toss the knife onto the table beside her with a loud ng, watching her flinch.

"You want the truth you little bitch? Fine! Your whore of a mother took Marcus from me, lived my life, and I had to watch! I was going to marry him because I saw him first. But Elena being a whore she was, went and slept with him, trapping him with pregnancy! That''s why I hate you and your mother! I took nothing because it was all mine to begin with! But hearing Leah''s story," Sheughs, "I guess the apple doesn''t fall far from the tree. She and her parents were also searching for information. So we traded and everything would have been perfect had you minded your own business!"

I don''t remember reaching for the scalpel again.

But suddenly, it''s in my hand.

The sharp edge gleams under the flickering ceiling light, the tip pressed against the soft flesh beneath her jawline.

My breathse out ragged, like every inhale is dragged through broken ss and all I see is red.

I can''t hear anything except the blood roaring in my ears, and the sound of my own thoughts screaming.

She''s sitting here, breathing, bleeding... alive.

Why should she be allowed that?

"Do you feel it?" I whisper, my voice trembling but not weak. "That little flutter under your skin? That''s where I''ll start. I''ll cut just enough to make it hurt. Just enough to make itst."

"Didn''t You hear a word I said?"

I smile,

"Oh I did. That''s why I''ll reward your hard work."

My hand lifts, slow, and controlled. One strike and it would all end. The ache in my chest. The scream in my soul. The little girl inside me begging to finally have justice.

I stab her, making her cry out in agony.

The sound is loud, piercing the silence like ss shattering.

She thrashes in the chair, the ropes digging into her skin as blood seeps through the gash I made on her shoulder. It wasn''t fatal but that''s because It wasn''t meant to be.

I stab her thigh making her cry even louder. Then I stab another non fatal point.

I want her to feel it.

Just like I felt it.

The loneliness. The pain. The nights I cried myself to sleep, whispering my parents'' names into the dark. The way was bullied and made fun of at the orphanage all because she had a stupid crush on my father  s

Her screams fade into a background as rage takes over me like a storm.

I pull the scalpel back again, ready to go deeper. This time to silence her for good.

But before I can make the next cut, warm hands wrap around mine.

Not rough or forceful.

Just... grounding.

"Athena," Alex whispers in my ear, and something about the way he says my name makes the scalpel slip from my grip.

I don''t even notice the tears on my cheeks until he brushes them away.

"Look at me," he murmurs again, stepping in front of me, shielding her from my view. "Breathe, baby. Come back to me."

I''m trembling. My chest rises and falls like I''ve been running a marathon. My throat feels raw and tight.

"I almost..." My voice breaks. "I almost-"

"I know,” he says softly, cupping my face, bringing my forehead to his. "But you didn''t. You''re still you."

I look down and see the blood on my hands. The scalpel on the floor. The woman

slumped unconscious in the chair behind him.

"I hurt her, I swear I was going to kill her." I whisper.

"She hurt you more," he replies. "And

I would love to see you kill if it brings

you peace but I know it won''t. We can find and something more fitting to your angelic heart."  s

"I just wanted the pain to stop." I mumble.

"I know baby," he whispers, brushing his thum over my cheek. "And I love you. Which is why won''t let you

carry this weight

to s

belongs

I stare at her lifeless posture, the ropes still wrapped tight, her chest rising just

enough to show she''s breathing.

Alex is holding me tightly now, rocking me slightly like I''m the one who needs saving.

Maybe I do.

Because for a moment I almost lost myselfpletely.

And if he hadn''t stopped me... I don''t know if I''d have found my way back.fn5f0a Th?s chapter is updated by Find_Novel(./fn5f0a

Once again he saves me.

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continue reading tomorrow, everyone!