When the Woman He Betrayed Returned, His Heart Broke Again

I reflexively drew a dagger to strike.

A shadow lunged from behind and slammed a foot into my chest, sending me flying ten meters. I crashed into the wall hard and staggered to my feet, meeting Hendrix's cold, furious gaze.

"I told you—don't touch Cassidy!" he barked.

"Leila's death had nothing to do with her. She brought it on herself!"

He pulled Cassidy protectively behind him, the same way he once shielded my sister. Seeing the rage flare in his face, I laughed—bitter and scornful.

"Hendrix, you know Leila better than I do," I spat. "You really believe she would hurt someone? If she were capable of such cruelty, our parents wouldn't have died that night."

When our parents were silenced, my sister was the only one left at home. She'd been hidden trembling in a wardrobe, too terrified even to speak. I spent six months guiding her through therapy until she could barely breathe past the memory. It was then I learned the man I loved loved my sister.

Hendrix's expression hardened; his voice icier than before.

"Leila wasn't that kind of person. But she had a sister like you. If not for you, she wouldn't have gone astray!"

"Vienna, you never reflect on yourself. Your arrogance killed your parents, and your cruelty killed Leila. After all these years, you still don't see it?"

"You're the source of all evil—the real murderer!"

Each accusation stabbed through me like a dull knife, cutting deep but leaving me numb.

Beside him, Cassidy began to sob pitifully.

"It's all my fault," she whimpered. "If I hadn't come, Ran wouldn't be so angry. Even though she hit me, I don't blame her. Just take it as me repaying my debt to Leila…"

Her fake tears glistened under the dim light, and rage flooded through me.

In a blink, I lunged forward, stomped on her calf, and forced her to kneel. My hand clamped on her hair as I slammed her forehead into the ground—right in front of my sister's portrait.

"You called me cruel?" I hissed. "Then let me show you cruelty!"

The sound of her skull hitting the floor echoed in the hall.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Hendrix drew his pistol and pressed the muzzle to my temple. There was a sharp snap as he pulled the trigger.

Cassidy screamed hysterically.

"Hendrix! Save me! Vienna has gone insane! Do something!"

Sneering, I spat, "Weren't you just saying you don't blame me? Cassidy, what are you playing? Who are you pretending to be pitiful for?"

I hauled her up by the throat and shoved her until she faced my sister's photograph.

"Look at my sister's face. Everything you have today wasn't earned—it was given to you by Leila!" I leaned close enough to breathe on her. "Too bad I'm not Leila. When I kill, I don't hold back."

Hendrix's whole body trembled, his voice hoarse with fury.

"Enough!" he roared. "Vienna, how far are you going to go?"

"Leila is gone! She's dead! No amount of revenge will bring her back!"

I lifted my sister's framed photo and placed it between us. My smile was more painful than tears.

"Then do it," I said softly. "Shoot me, right here, in front of Leila."

"You broke your promise once already—what's one more time?"

Cassidy crawled to Hendrix's legs, clutching them desperately.

"Shoot her! What are you waiting for? As long as she's alive, my child and I will never be safe!"

The room fell silent.

Hendrix's gaze locked on my sister's smiling face in the photo. For a long time, he didn't move. Then, with a heavy breath, he lowered the gun.

His voice was quiet but resolute. "Vienna don't make any more mistakes."