Chapter 394 Memory Shards Return

    Chapter 394 Memory Shards Return

    b26 /b

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    She reasoned that revisiting old haunts–faces, streets, and sunsets they had shared–might elerate her brother’s healing mind.

    “By the way, did you notice the strange look Serena Fane gave you today?” Laura muttered, frowning.

    Quinn tipped her chin, the corners of her lips curving in a faint, humorless smile. “A strange look? Laura, that woman has never gifted me anything but sour looks.”

    Laura let out a low whistle, reliving the scene in her mind. “Sure, she always red like were standing on her turf. But once you changed into that evening gown, her stare turned vicious–like you had wiped out her whole bloodline.”

    you

    Quinn gave a small shrug. “Who knows what she is plotting. Either way, I refuse to sit here and wait for her to strike.”

    Laura’s brows knitted. “Best be careful around small–minded people like her. They always hit below the belt.”

    Quinn nodded once, then carefully folded the ruby ne into its velvet box. “I know what I am doing. When she has finished donating her stem cells to Rowan’s savior, if she still dares raise a hand against me, I will answer in kind.”

    Laura’s indignation red. “Lucky her. If she were not the match your brother’s savior needs, the Fane family would have tossed her out long ago. You have swallowed too much already.”

    In truth, Laura had nearly stormed over tonight to p the woman–twice.

    Quinn’s voice softened, yet her resolve remained firm. “This is nothing. Rowan is my only family. Anyone who saved him is someone I will protect–no matter the cost.”

    Laura tilted her head. “You might have rtives on your mother’s side. She was separated from her family before you adopted her. Given her age, she probably had brothers or sisters. Families back then had several children.”

    Quinn’s smile held equal parts fondness and sorrow. “Finding them is not that simple. My grandparents searched years ago and found nothing. Time kept stretching, and then, my mother passed. If she did have siblings and they learn the truth now, it would only reopen old wounds.”

    Laura exhaled slowly. “That is true.”

    Chapter 394 Memory Shards Return

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    Quinn brushed a thumb over the jewelry box, the cool surface of the ruby ne beneath its lid. iFamily/i… iWhile /iishe /iilived/i, iMom /iilonged /iito /iifind /iihers/ii. /iiEvery /iisearch ended /iiin /iidisappointment/i. iIf /iiher /iikin /iare still out ithere/i, are ithey /iilooking /iifor /iiher/ii? /iiOr /iihave /iithey /iierased /iithe /iiidea /iiof /iiher /iipletely/ii? /i

    At the Whitethorn residence, Julius lounged against the leather back of the couch, one long- fingered hand holding a cigarette.

    Gray–white smoke spiraled through the silent night, stark against the darkness.

    “Smoking in the middle of the night will only keep you awake,” a voice cut through the hush.

    Julius nced up at Gavin, who had just walked in. “I did not ask you toe.”

    “You are my patient,” Gavin answered calmly. “Checking on you is my job.”

    Ignoring him, Julius lifted the tumbler from the table and downed the liquor in one swallow, the cigarette still burning between his fingers.

    Gavin let out a halfugh, half–groan. “Trying to die early? Smoke and wine at this hour–is that your n?”

    Julius flicked ash into the tray. “Maybe the drinking will knock me out. Since your prescriptions do nothing, why can’t I self–medicate?”

    Gavin’s eyes narrowed. “No prescription can help while you cling to thoughts of Quinn. Use her concern. Let her stay with you, follow the treatment, and maybe–just maybe–you will sleep.”

    He remembered clearly: in the clinic that day, Quinn’s worry for Julius had been unmistakable.

    Julius let out a brittleugh, the sound as thin as cracked ss. “And then what? I milk her pity, she forces herself to stay, my insomnia vanishes. She leaves, and I spiral again. Round and round–that’s meaningless.

    He had yed that cruel

    game

    before.

    Back then, to make Quinn fall, he weaponized every advantage–her soft–hearted mercy, the tilt of his smile, even the way moonlight slicked across his shoulders–while keeping the monsters inside him locked behind a carefully painted mask.

    Yet none of it had been enough.

    One single betrayal shattered her trust, and with it every borate lie he had spun.

    Chapter 394 Memory Shards Return

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    Say he tricked her into staying again–what chain could possibly keep her once the pity wore off?

    Gavin lounged back, voice dripping mischief. “How can you be sure the cycle repeats? Maybe this time she’d stay. If you’re too noble to exploit her sympathy, let me y the viin. I’ll tie her to your bed so at least you can finally sleep.”

    The sentence had barely left Gavin’s mouth when Julius rose in a single predatory motion and mped one hand around the man’s throat. “Touch her and you die.”