Chapter 1
In the dead of night, the mental hospital in
Ravin Ci
City, Viresland, loomed like a haunted fortress.
e a damned soul.
From Room 1103 came the familiar sound of a woman’s anguished screams, her tortured cries echoing through the halls like a trapped between worlds.
The sickly glow of fluorescent lights cast harsh shadows across a woman chained to the wall, her white dress in tatters. The aftermath of electric shock therapy left her barely breathing. Track marks dotted her bony arms, visible through the ragged sleeves
She was barely recognizable as Aurora Sage, once the toast of high society, her radiant beauty now extinguished.
“Stay back,” she whimpered cowering against the wall, her vacant eyes darting around the room in terror. “Don’t hurt me again
A nurse sauntered over, her lips curled in a cruel smile as she crouched down, patting Aurora’s pallid cheek. “Look at you now, Aurora. Remember when you had every man in the city eating out of your hand? Now they can’t even stomach the sight of you”
She slowly peeled off her surgical mask, revealing a face that made Aurora’s blood run cold.
“Naomi, Aurora rasped, her eyes widening in recognition of her cousin beneath the nurse’s uniform.
nd hate me–you should” Her elegant appearance belied the
Naomi Price’s perfectly painted lips twisted into a sneer. “Yeah, it’s me. Go ahead and venom in her voice, her eyes sharp as knives
She continued. “What made you so special! I’ve kept you locked away for a decade, yet Maverick still tears the country apart looking for you. He’s become obsessed, you know, He’s pushing me to the edge, all because he can’t let you go
At the mention of Maverick’s name, Aurora’s clouded mind briefly cleared. She doubted Naomi’s words. A decade ago, he had been Yuresland’s mosi noble and wealthy bachelor, the man her grandfather had chosen as her future husband and the one person she’d sworn never to marry
“Don’t believe me?” Naomi’s laugh held an edge of madness. “Oh, you still don’t know who saved you, do you? It was Maverick. And Scott, your supposed precious savior? He’s alive because of Maverick’s kidney. The very man you despised most gave his kidney to Scott, all for your sake!
“And how did you repay him? You humiliated him and nearly destroyed his family. You thought he was responsible for your grandfather’s death Wrong. It was me and Scott all along”
Naomi’s words hit Aurora like physical blows. The weight of this revelation sent waves of guilt crashing through her. “You’re lying” she whispered. even in her confused state.
Naomi’s laughter rang out with unhinged malice. She gripped Aurora’s chin, her voice dripping with dark mockery. “You brought this all upon yourself! Everything that belonged to the Sage family should have been mine. You were just in my way?
The brutal truth shattered what remained of Aurora’s composure. A decade of misplaced hatred and blame crashed down around her.
Back then, driven by a misguided sense of gratitude for Scott Watson’s supposed life–saving act, she had impulsively broken off her engagement to Maverick Parker. But marrying Scott had only marked the beginning of her nighinture.
Her family’s fortune was stolen, her reputation destroyed, her ability to bear children taken from her–all because she had trusted the wrong people and blamed the wrong man. The realization of her terrible mistake consumed her with guilt and regret that threatened to drive her truly mad
“Do you have any idea how happy I’ve been these last ten years?” Naomi’s voice rose with manic energy. “Scott, the Sage fortune, the social status=it was all mine. I was the woman everyone envied. But Maverick ruined it all!”
Naomi’s cold fingers traced down Aurora’s check, her sinister intent bursting to the surface. “Want to see him? Don’t worry. He’ll be joining you very
“What do you want? Aurora thrashed, desperate to break free, but there was no escape.
Naomi’s face twisted into a cruel smile as she doused the entire room with gasoline, Her eyes glowed with murderous intent. “Your devoted hero is on his way right now, running straight into our little trap. He’s so desperate to save you, he’s willing to die for it!”
in heil
She let out a dark laugh as she recklessly set the curtains ablaze. “Go join your loved ones in hell You drove me to this?
“You’re insane!” Aurora yelled in terror.
With a triumphant gleam in her eyes, Naomi turned to leave without another word – she wasn’t foolish enough to die here too. But Aurora managed to snag her legs with the chain.
“I’ll kill you?” Aurora screamed with all her remaining strength, even as the flames began to lick at her dress. The pain didn’t matter as long as she could drag Nacimi down with her.
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Chapter 1
They grappled in the growing interno, Naomi’s face contorting with terror as she realized she couldn’t escape. “Let go, you crazy bitch! Let go!” She grabbed a nearby scalpel and slashed wildly at the crazed woman who refused to let her go.
Aurora watched as the flames engulfed Naomi, transforming her into a human torch. Death held no fear for Aurora now. Her only regret was that it would take another lifetime to repay her debts to her family and to Maverick.
Suddenly, the window exploded inward in a shower of glass. A powerful kick sent the burning form of Naomi flying deeper into the flames.
Through the smoke and fire stepped a figure in a black coat, his presence commanding even in the chaos. Maverick’s eyes locked onto Aurora, deep and fathomless, blazing red with barely contained fury.
“Get out of here,” Aurora begged, her voice breaking. “Don’t throw y
your life away for me. I’m not worth it
A terrible crack split the air as a burning beam broke free above them. Maverick moved without hesitation, crying out “Watch out!” as her body with his own.
covered
The impact drove them both to the floor. The beam had struck him viciously, slamming into the back of his head and crushing down on his shoulders. Blood from his head wound dripped onto her checks.
He fought to keep his eyes open, drinking in the sight of her. In all his dreams of finding her again, he had never imagined this b
bitter reunion
The vibrant woman
man he had loved for twenty years had been reduced to this broken shell, chained and bleeding, still trying to save him even as the flames closed in.
“You idiot,” Aurora sobbed, feeling his strength failing. “Why… why would you….”
His handsome features blurred as smoke filled her lungs. Her consciousness fading the sound of his labored breathing grew distant as the fire claimed them both, united at last in their final moments.
