[EVE]

Sullivan stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, venomous whisper. "You don''t seem to understand, so let me make it clear: you''re not wanted, and you never were. You should be grateful we even took you in and gave you a name. But this is how you repay us?"

A ringing filled my ears, a pulsing ache forming behind my eyes. His words cut so deeply I instinctively took a step back, reeling from the force of his contempt.

I glanced over to Sophia, hoping for an answer—anything—but she turned away, her face a mask of indifference.

"Well?" Sullivan sneered. "Is that all?"

A dull ache twisted in my chest, but I forced myself to stand tall, refusing to let them see my struggle. Nothing in their faces reflected what I had truly asked.

Yes, they might have saved me from a life of poverty and despair, but gratitude felt like a foreign concept in this moment.

Everything they had given me, I had already repaid in full—and with interest.

How many times had I taken bullets, poison, and knives for their precious daughter? Not to mention the fact that they had kidnapped me, plotted my exile, all while pretending that nothing happened?

That debt Sullivan spoke of had long been settled. I owed them nothing. I had broken free from the shackles of gratitude they had tried to bind me with, and now, I would no longer play the part of the grateful orphan.

"Just tell her, Sullivan," Sinclair''s voice echoed in my ears.

He placed a light hand on my shoulder, and only then did I realize my fists were clenched so tightly that my nails had dug deep into my palms.

Sullivan finally let out a disdainful scoff, his gaze sweeping over me like I was an annoying pebble stuck in his overshined shoe.

He then turned away without another word, and Sophia and Sophie fell into step behind him. Stay connected with empire

Just before he disappeared, Sullivan glanced back with a twisted smirk. "St. Rosaria Orphanage. Go dig around and see what you find. Maybe then you''ll get just how little you ever mattered. Hahaha!"

His mocking laughter echoed down the hall, but I barely heard it. All I could think was that I finally had it—the name of the orphanage!

=== ???? ===

St. Rosaria

He was dressed in a casual black clothes and plant, his usually perfectly combed hair still damp, soft strands falling over his forehead, giving him an unexpectedly youthful, even boyish look.

"W-what . . . what are you doing?" I stammered, watching as he leaned closer instead of letting go. My palms pressed against his chest, but it felt more like a useless push against a warm, solid wall.

"Lina said," he started, dead serious, "that if I got the chance like this, I should lean in, lock eyes, and give you no room to breathe. Supposedly, it''ll make you weak in the knees."

I retrained to slap some sense into him.

What was Lina even thinking?!

"Lina told you that, huh?" I held his gaze, a wry smile forming. "Guess she also forgot to mention that charm isn''t just leaning in and looking intense. It actually takes . . . well,

personality

. Which, let''s be honest, isn''t exactly your strong suit." In fact, his character was lacking.

I pushed him back which he released me fortunately.

Cole blinked, taken aback for a moment, before a small smile broke through.

"Ouch," he murmured, clearly amused despite the hit.

Still, he didn''t budge from my path. I finally narrowed my eyes at him, crossing my arms.

"What do you want this time? I''m going to be late."

Cole''s face turned serious. "I''ll be away for a few days. I have some things I need to take care of. But I made sure your security''s arranged for the whole week, so you don''t have to worry."

"Oh, is that so?" I let out a scoff, flicking my hair over my shoulder. "Well, that''s a relief. A few days without you around sounds like a dream come true."

His voice softened, a faint sadness lacing his words when he spoke again. "Are you . . . really glad that I''ll be away from you?"

I froze, fighting the sudden ache in my chest. Part of me wanted to turn around, but I knew I couldn''t let myself waver, not now.

I''d already made up my mind to move on, to break away from him and find a fresh start, even if it felt like tearing something inside me apart.

Steeling myself, I kept my gaze fixed forward. Without looking back, I took a step and walked away, willing myself not to feel the heaviness of his gaze lingering on my back.