By the Time He Regretted, She Was Gone Forever

Quinn’s expression flickered, clearly dissatisfied with the lack of reaction. Just as she opened her mouth to push further, Enzo suddenly stirred. His drunken eyes cracked open, his voice hoarse and laced with impatience.

"She’s nothing more than a servant in this house. What’s with the attitude of a lady of the house?"

"Make me a bowl of hangover soup."

A nearby servant instinctively stepped forward, but Enzo lifted a hand, stopping them.

His fingers curled slightly as he pointed straight at Kinsley.

"You do it."

"Miss Moore, don’t tell me you can’t even manage a simple bowl of hangover soup?"

The words landed like blows, sinking deep into her chest.

Kinsley took a slow breath before turning toward the kitchen without a word.

Watching her retreating figure, Quinn felt a rush of satisfaction wash over her.

Once upon a time, everyone had compared her to Kinsley. And every time, she had come up short.

Even Enzo, the boy she had known since childhood, had once been utterly devoted to her.

But now, everything had changed.

The Moore Family had fallen, Moore Corporation was no longer a name that carried weight in Ashford. Now, the city belonged to the Keller Family.

Time passed in silence as Kinsley finished making the hangover soup. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, her voice soft but steady.

"It’s ready. Do you want to drink it now or wait until it cools?"

Enzo barely spared it a glance before reaching out. Without hesitation, he swept the bowl to the floor.

Porcelain shattered against the tiles, the sharp fragments scattering like fallen glass. A few jagged pieces cut into Kinsley’s calf, bright red seeping down her skin in thin, glistening trails.

For a split second, Enzo’s gaze flickered, but he said nothing.

Kinsley didn’t flinch. As if she felt nothing at all, she crouched down, quietly picking up the shards before turning back to the kitchen.

Watching his indifference, Quinn leaned in, her voice laced with amusement as she draped herself against his shoulder.

"Why don’t we just make her my servant? I could use one at home."

The words barely left her lips before Enzo shot her a cold look. The playful smirk on her face stiffened instantly.

"You should go. I’ll consider the project in Rainier Bay."

A clear dismissal.

Quinn hesitated but knew better than to argue. She left without another word.

Kinsley, oblivious to her departure, continued moving like a machine, her hands repeating the same empty motions.

She didn’t hear the footsteps approaching behind her.

Didn’t notice until warmth pressed against her back.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against a familiar frame. The scent of alcohol lingered in the air, but the grip around her abdomen trembled slightly.

She stiffened.

Uncomfortable, she tried to pull away, but Enzo didn’t let go. His voice, hoarse yet strangely steady, brushed against her ear.

"Kinsley, when did you become like this?"

"Kinsley, give me a child."

Kinsley abruptly pushed him away, her entire body trembling like a leaf caught in a storm.