Vivienne pushed open the heavy iron gate, rubbing her arms.

Though the sun was shining bright outside, the place seemed to cast a chilling shadow over everything.

"Mom, Grandpa, are you sure you don't need me to come with you?" Vivienne asked.

Jasper shook his head. "No need, sweetheart. Your mother and I can handle this. You just wait here, okay?"

Vivienne nodded, watching Karen and Jasper disappear through the doorway.

She settled back into the car and began to nibble on a strawberry cheesecake.

As Karen pushed open the door, a nauseating stench hit her full force.

The person inside, hearing the noise, slowly turned her head.

Her hair was a tangled mess, unwashed for days.

Stains marred her clothes, and her bare feet were caked in dirt.

The source of the foul smell was clear-it emanated from her.

Jasper sighed deeply at the sight. "Diana..."

The person trapped here was, indeed, Diana!

After the cliff side explosion, Diana had been rushed to the hospital. Once she survived, the Perez family had locked her away here.

The villa might have looked like a luxury home, but it was more akin to a prison cell.

It had everything-a complete set of furniture.

darkness turned the spacious abode into a

no lights, no windows, and even

of sunlight, not even the heat of

the torment of stillness, existing was

place, she could not hear anything outside her darkness. She relied on touch to find something to eat when

agape, but no

at Karen and

charged at them, screaming, "I am the only daughter of the Perez

pushed her back,

realizing just

these years, but our bond is broken. I can

patted Karen's hand,

engage with the

to support Jasper in putting an end to it all. He had truly loved Diana as

had to be

the room,

you talk

someone said adopting a child would bring prosperity to the

me your righteousness! You're nothing but a hypocrite! You adopted me with ulterior motives,

only regret is that I didn't finish you off that day. If I had, there would be no Vivienne, and I

Diana one last look, then

Willa, especially with so many kids at home. Rumors spread, and I thought she was educated

did you adopt her in the first

one of my men. Her parents died in the line of duty, and I initially planned to send her to an orphanage and support her from a distance.

how the threads of fate entwined. "I don't remember how I felt back then, but I certainly don't

concept of regret had no place in Karen's world. Even picking up a proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing did not

could I possibly become

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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