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.

all-black decor and the perpetual darkness

windows, and

of sunlight, not even the heat of summer could penetrate

torment of stillness,

outside her darkness. She relied on touch to find something to eat when hunger struck. The sudden light was blinding, and it took Diana a while to adjust and recognize

up, mouth agape,

blankly at

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

her back, protecting

just how deep

to say. I've raised you all these years, but our bond

Karen's hand, signaling it was

had no desire to engage with the madwoman

putting an end to it all.

relationship had

to leave, Diana's eerie laughter filled the room, reminiscent

you talk

our bond? Was it because someone said adopting a child would bring prosperity to the Perez family? Or that this adopted daughter

nothing but a hypocrite! You adopted

that I didn't finish you off that day. If I had, there would be no Vivienne, and I wouldn't be in

back, giving Diana one last look, then silently walked away with

Jasper explained, "The things Diana mentioned, they're probably rumors she overheard. Many couldn't understand why I adopted Diana and Willa, especially with so

curious, "Dad, why did you adopt her in the first

the line of duty, and I initially planned to send her to an orphanage and support her from a distance. But you wanted a sister, Sasha. Do you regret

how the threads of fate entwined. "I don't remember

of regret had no place in Karen's world. Even picking up a proverbial wolf in sheep's

could I possibly become a

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

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