Chapter 6
Annabelle’s grin turned feral as she advanced. “You’ve guessed it, haven’t you? I’d never let them bring you back. The moment they considered it, I’d fling myself into their arms and shed a few terrified tears, reminding them how vicious you were to me.”
“Elena Bennett, understand this: if I wish it, you can rot in there forever.”
Elena’s face turned ashen. “I never wanted to steal anything from you. Which of us is truly vicious-you and I both know.”
Annabelle laughed arrogantly. “So what? Mom and Dad will shield me no matter what. Beg all you like; one word from me, and you’re back in hell.”
Every sentence she uttered drove a precise, icy dagger into Elena’s heart,
Elena drew a long breath. “Annabelle, I never wanted to fight you before, and I won’t after today. I’ll leave this house. From now on, enjoy being the Bennett heiress.”
Annabelle hooked a hand around Elena’s arm just as Elena turned to leave and sang out, “Don’t rush off, sis! I still have a bit of good news to share.
Listen first, then go-no harm done.”
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She leaned closer, her voice syrupy. “Remember that soulmate you made at the prison, the girl who guarded you while you guarded her? So touching.”
Elena’s pupils contracted.
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She was talking about Ava Green-unlike the others, Ava had been tricked into that place.
Once she uncovered the rot inside the prison, she planned escape again and again-yet in the end she fell from a balcony and died.
Elena’s head jerked up, disbelief flooding her face. “Ava’s death…?”
Annabelle threw back her head and laughed. “Sis, how slow can you be? It was never an accident. I plotted every step because I wanted you utterly
alone, with no one to turn to.
“And your friend-what loyalty! She knew that if she lived, you would die, so she didn’t even struggle. She took the blow for you without a word.”
Elena’s eyes flew wide. The memory of Ava’s broken body flashed before her, and a stabbing pain pierced her chest-Ava had died for her; she had dragged Ava into the grave!
Annabelle watched the grief contort Elena’s face and smiled even wider. “Elena, did you really think all I wanted was Mom and Dad’s affection? Wrong. I want you to suffer for stealing my life for twenty years.
“I am the Bennett heiress; everything the Bennetts own belongs to me. You’re fit to be nothing more than the family dog.”
Elena pressed a hand to her aching chest. “Annabelle, it wasn’t my fault you grew up outside! Hate me if you must, but why hurt innocent people?”
Annabelle burst into manic laughter. “Exactly! I’ll drive away everyone you care about and everyone who cares about you. You’ll learn how betrayal tastes, one lonely bite at a time!”
Elena’s fists clenched so hard her knuckles whitened, her frail body trembling with rage. Thoughts whirled: her parents pushing her out as a scapegoat to protect Annabelle, Julian-once tender-beating her until she lost her hearing.
A year of daily torment, Ava’s savage death-each memory tore at her soul.
Her eyes burned blood-red, hatred threatening to burst from her chest. She owed the Bennetts nothing, yet Annabelle owed her a blood-debt, and Elena would collect it-piece by piece.
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