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.

lowered her eyes, staying

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

stairs, Kieran stood in the doorway, watching her for

she began descending, he called out suddenly, "Karina, don't come back

as though he was severing all

*

Wilfred asked as he opened the car

rain, Karina glanced up and was surprised to see snowflakes swirling in the

exhaled a warm breath, watching it dissipate in the cold.

like temperatures will drop even lower tonight. Let's head home. You

knowing he could handle it. But Karina's condition

about to get into the car when her gaze caught something from the corner of

billowing out of the Stone family's

of dread

with emergency services, calmly providing the address. Once the cal ended, he noticed Karina still standing in stunned silence near the entrance.

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