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 the walls were painted

heat of summer could penetrate

with only the torment of stillness, existing was worse

Diana remained alive. Unaware of time or place, she could not hear anything 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

stood up, mouth agape, but no sound came

blankly at Karen and

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

pushed her back, protecting her

realizing just how deep

raised you all these years, but our bond is broken. I can

Karen's hand, signaling it was time

had no desire to engage with

was merely to support Jasper in putting an end to it all. He had truly loved Diana as his daughter, never allowing her to

their relationship had to be

the room, reminiscent of a deranged spirit

talk to me

it because someone said adopting a child would bring prosperity to

nothing but a hypocrite! You adopted me with ulterior motives, and now you

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

one last look, then silently walked away with

understand why I adopted Diana and Willa, especially with so many kids at home. Rumors spread, and I thought she was educated enough not to believe them.

curious, "Dad, why did you adopt her in

parents died in 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

remember how I felt back then, but I certainly

Karen's world. Even picking up a proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing

could I possibly become a

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