Whenever Kieran's sister was mentioned, the entire Stone family would fall into an unspoken silence. Even now, her name was barely uttered.

Karina picked at her food during the meal, barely eating, her thoughts miles away. Afterward, she stepped outside with a small bundle of flowers and a candle, placing them on the stone marker in the yard-a quiet tribute.

As she lit the candle, someone crouched down beside her.

"Let me help," came a familiar voice.

She didn't need to look up to recognize it-it was Kieran.

"About what happened back then..." Karina started, her voice tinged with hesitation.

But Kieran interrupted, as if he already knew what she wanted to say. "Let the past stay in the past. I won't bring it up, and neither should you."

He stared at the flickering candlelight, his tone quiet but firm. "When I was in rehab, I had a lot of time to think. Things weren't supposed to end up this way."

Who was at fault for how it all turned out? Himself, their parents, or maybe the entire Stone family? Likely, they all shared the blame.

her eyes,

low, Karina rose and left the Stone family home, carrying

approached the stairs, Kieran stood in the doorway, watching her for a long

out suddenly, "Karina, don't

but Kieran had already shut the door. It felt final, as though he was severing all ties between them. She hadn't

*

as he opened the car door, draping

Thinking it was rain, Karina glanced up and

breath, watching it dissipate in

replied. "And it looks like temperatures will drop even lower tonight. Let's head

could handle it. But Karina's condition

and was just about to get into the car when her gaze caught something from

thick smoke began billowing out of the Stone family's apartment, followed by

of dread spreading through

the cal ended, he noticed Karina still standing in stunned silence near the

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