Chapter 15
Kerian stood by the floor–to–ceiling windows, frowning as he ended another call.
His phone lit up again showing “Sophia Lavirins“-this was the seventh time tonight he’d declined her calls.[]
When the eighth call came through, he finally hit accept
“Kerian…” Sophia’s voice came through shaky and tear–soaked. “You’re really gonna ice me out like this?”
Kerian slammed his bourbon glass down on the windowsill, his face stone cold
“I told you to stop fucking calling me.“]
“But I love you!” Her voice suddenly spiked, going full hysteria. “T’ve been crazy about you since I was fifteen! Everything I did was for you 1
“Cut the bullshit.” Kerian’s voice was ice. “Your idea of love is destroying other people to get what you want?”
All that psycho shit you pulled on Vic–did you seriously want her dead?
The line went quiet except for Sophia’s ragged breathing, then came this unhinged laugh]
“Yeah, I fucking hate her! Why does she get all your love? I’m the one who loves you most
“You owe my brother! You should be paying me back! Why can’t you just love me
back?
Kerian’s knuckles went white as his phone creaked under the pressure:
“I paid back your brother’s debt with six months of my life. We’re even
“It’s not enough“” Sophia screamed. I want you to marry me! That’s what you owe the Lavirins family!”
Rain was coming down harder outside, water streaming down the glass like tears.
Kerian suddenly flashed back to that day in the hospital when Victoria had said “just go” with those dead, empty eyes
That kind of resigned calm was more heartbreaking than any screaming fit.]
“Sophia,” his voice dropped to something dangerous.]]
“Victoria is the only woman I’ll ever love. After the sick shit you pulled…”
“There will never be anything between us. Ever.”
The only reason you’re not in prison right now is because of what I owed your brother. Don’t push your fucking luck. []
Hysterical shrieking came through the phone before Kerian hang up in disgust
He immediately dialed another number.
“Tell me you found something.”
“Mr. Howard, about Ms. Wenmir’s case–we uncovered some things, but it’s not safe to discuss over the phone. I’m heading to your place now.”
Soon, his assistant Marcus burst through the door carrying a thick stack of files.
His suit was still dripping–clearly he’d rushed through the storm.]
Kerian turned around, setting his glass down hard on the marble counter: “What’s this about?”]
Sir… you’re gonna want to brace yourself. Sophia Lavirins isn’t actually a Lavirins.”
Marcus placed the files on the desk and pulled out a stack of yellowed documents.
These are from when the real Lavirins daughter got kidnapped. After she disappeared, both parents basically had nervous breakdowns.“]]
They found Sophia a few years ago, but by then both parents were too sick to recover. They died shortly after.”
Kerian’s fingers flipped through the documents detailing the kidnapping case that had made headlines twenty years ago.
A black and white photo fell out–a little girl sabbing in a police officer’s arms]
He vaguely remembered hearing about this case as a kid.
‘Our sources say Mrs. Lavirins spent her final years desperately searching for something. She died before she could find it
When we kept digging, we found out the hair sample Sophia submitted for DNA testing wasn’t even hers–it belonged to another girl rom the orphanage. That girl was the real Lavirins daughter.”
Tragically, the real daughter died not long after. When Mrs. Lavirins learned the truth, she passed away from the grief.”
‘Askhan was overseas for business during all of this–he had no idea.“]
Lightning split the night sky outside, illuminating Kerian’s grim profile.
As a kid, he’d almost drowned before Askhan saved his life.
That
it debt was the whole reason he’d taken care of Sophia]
Even… neglected Victoria for her.
But now he realized he’d been repaying the wrong person this entire time.
So what did that make everything he’d sacrificed?]
“Should we call the police, t
e, sir?” Marcus asked.
Kerian stared at the evidence, seeing Victoria’s final look of defeat in his mind
That quiet devastation hurt worse than if she’d screamed at him.]
“Make copies of everything and send them anonymously to Askhan.”
Marcus looked confused: “To her brother?”
SINT
“He has more right to handle this than we do.” Kerian turned away, looking exhausted but resolved.[]
“After all, we’re talking about his real sister.”
Through the rain, the city lights blurred into streaks
Kerian remembered a stormy night years ago when Victoria had curled up in his arms, scared of the thunder
He’d promised to always protect her, but ended up being the one who hurt her most
Marcus nodded and headed out to handle the delivery.[
The office fell silent except for the endless rain outside.
Kerian picked up his phone, staring at his wallpaper–Victoria’s radiant smile from her eighteenth birthday.
The girl who used to look at him like he was her whole world would probably never forgive him
What the hell had he done?
Om
