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

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

in the doorway, watching her

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

the door. It felt final, as though he was severing all ties between

*

as he

her hair. Thinking it was rain, Karina glanced up and was surprised to

a warm breath, watching it

it looks like temperatures will drop even lower tonight. Let's head home. You shouldn't be standing out here

mind being the snow, knowing he could handle it. But Karina's condition was different- keeping warm was

the car when

Stone family's apartment,

dread spreading through her

the phone with emergency services, calmly providing the address. Once the cal ended, he noticed Karina still standing in

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