Lewis reached out and brushed my hair back, slow and careful, like he was calming sothing wild inside .
"Elena," he said quietly, "I know you’re angry. I know it feels unfair. But if force can’t fix this, then we wait. We watch. Camilla planned everything too carefully."
I stared ahead, my thoughts tangled.
"So Nolan..." My voice wavered. "He died for nothing?"
That dream still clung to , heavy and sharp. Nolan had his flaws, but he didn’t deserve that ending.
"Not for nothing," Lewis said. " Camilla lured him there, but she covered her tracks well. Yenik backed her story. Harris sensed sothing was off, but without proof, they couldn’t hold her."
I turned to him. "Then what changed?"
"Lincy," he replied. "She was behind the plan to take Camilla out. The real question is who leaked the details. That trail led to Mr. Wave."
The na sent a chill through . "Mr. Wave?"
"He’s dangerous," Lewis said. "These people are like roots buried deep. Twisted together. It takes ti to pull them out. But Lincy won’t stay hidden. The authorities are already closing in."
My doubts hardened into sothing colder. "She’s heartless," I said. "Completely."
"If you’re thinking of helping Lincy," he added, "there’s still ti to act."
"Help?" I let out a short, bitter laugh. "Do you know how Riley died? Lincy pushed her there, little by little. This body was hers. I promised I’d see justice done."
Heat flared in my chest. Before it could spill over, Lewis pulled into his arms. His hold was firm, grounding.
"Alright," he murmured. "I won’t interfere. Just don’t let it tear you apart."
I felt embarrassed, my anger fading. "Do you think I’m a child?"
He tipped my chin up, making et his eyes. They were deep, steady, serious.
"We haven’t spent many years side by side," he said, "but I’ve always watched you. Life with the Morrigans wasn’t kind. You learned to carry the dark alone."
His thumb brushed my jaw.
"But things are different now. You have ."
I swallowed.
"You can be angry with ," he went on. "You can joke, demand, lean on . To , you’ll always be that fearless girl. As for the storms let stand in front of them."
"Carl..." I whispered.
No one could hear words like that and stay untouched.
"Don’t worry," he said, his gaze unwavering. "I’ll handle everything."
...
The autopsy report was released.
The Morrigans held a funeral.
Of course we went.
Lewis and I wore black and moved through the gates together. The air felt heavy, familiar in the worst way.
The sa place.
The sa family.
Last ti, Nolan had stood here to attend my funeral.
Now, I was here for his.
The irony almost made laugh.
One by one, we had fallen into Camilla’s trap.
And there she was standing before Nolan’s ashes, crying like she’d rehearsed it a hundred tis. Tears slid down her face, empty of feeling.
Vivian sat nearby, dressed in black, hollow and unmoving. It was like everything inside her had already been drained away. Her eyes were red and swollen, but dry.
Greg and Malcom looked thinner, grief carved into their faces.
As mourners passed by, my gaze drifted
And landed on Tate.
Since last year, Tate had been overseas, busy strengthening alliances and expanding territory. He hadn’t even returned when I died.
But now that Nolan was gone, he was back.
The Morrigans had never been one of the strongest families, but they were always lively. Loud. Full of people coming and going.
Now everything felt hollow.
Grandma was still in the hospital. Nolan was gone. The house that once felt crowded now seed to be falling apart, piece by piece.
Was this what that person wanted?
Watching it all from a distance, I felt nothing. No pity. No sadness. They had planted these seeds themselves.
What unsettled more was sothing else.
If the one who held a grudge against the Morrigans was truly behind all this, then he wouldn’t miss Nolan’s funeral.
People like that always ca back.
Not to mourn but to watch.
To stand in the wreckage and feel satisfied.
Which ant there was a strong chance he would show up today.
Lewis and I didn’t need to rush.
We only needed patience.
I kept my distance from the Morrigans to avoid drawing attention. I didn’t even look at Camilla. I blended in with the crowd, bowing my head like any other guest offering condolences.
Then soone moved toward us through the crowd.
Julian.
According to Lewis, he had been staying in the room that was supposed to be our wedding room. The irony almost made laugh.
He looked terrible.
His face was pale, his cheeks sunken, his posture stiff like soone who hadn’t slept in days.
I gave him a quick look silent, sharp.
Stay calm. Don’t attract attention.
He understood imdiately.
Lowering his gaze, he approached respectfully. "Uncle Lewis," he said evenly.
Then his eyes shifted to .
"A... Aunt Riley."
I nodded gently, my expression calm. "You’re here. You don’t look well. Make sure you rest."
"Thank you, Aunt Riley," he replied quietly.
As he lifted his hand, sothing caught my eye.
The bracelet.
My breath paused.
I rembered it shattering the mont my life ended.
It seed he had spent days searching the house for the missing beads. Now the bracelet was repaired, a new moonstone added but still incomplete.
"There’s still one missing," he said with a faint, tired smile. "No matter how hard I look, I can’t find it."
He knew.
He knew my ashes were part of that bracelet and yet he wore it every day.
Late regret ans nothing.
I felt no sadness. Only a deep, crawling disgust.
Keeping my voice polite, I said, "You’ve known the Morrigans for a long ti. Go and pay your respects."
To anyone listening, it sounded kind.
Julian heard what I truly ant.
Go to Camilla.
Get close.
Find out what you can.
Pain flickered across his face. "Aunt Riley, you "
"Go," I said softly. "The Morrigans are in chaos. They need you."
His jaw tightened.
"Understood."
Watching him walk away, shoulders hunched, I felt nothing. Neither satisfaction nor regret. He and the Morrigans had built this ss together.
I turned my gaze away.
I was about to speak to Lewis
When it happened.
Without warning, I looked up.
And locked eyes with soone across the room.
Cold slamd into .
It started at my feet and raced upward, freezing my limbs, stealing my breath. My body went rigid, instinct screaming before my mind could catch up.
Those eyes
I knew them.
I would never forget them.
He was here.
The one who ended my life.
Standing at Nolan’s funeral.
And in that sa instant
His gaze shifted.
And landed on .
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