Rage burned low in my chest. I forced myself to stay calm and focused on arranging a proper funeral.
But the morning of the service, an uninvited guest arrived.
Cassidy swaggered into the hall with two lackeys in tow, barking orders while pointing around the room.
"Smash everything that belonged to that bitch!"
"Without my permission, Leila's funeral isn't happening!"
Then she noticed me, feigning surprise, lips curling into a sweet apology.
"Oh, it's Vienna. My apologies. Hendrix said murderers like your sister don't deserve funerals. You wouldn't want to make him angry, would you?"
Her men stormed the hall, knocking over flowers and urns.
I stood still, eyes cold as stone. She leaned close and whispered in my ear, voice dripping venom. "I know you liked Hendrix too. Watching the man you gave up for your sister fell in love with me—it must burn, doesn't it?"
"But too bad. I'm pregnant again. Hendrix and I are getting married soon. Your little circus act ends here."
Then her expression darkened, voice sharp as glass.
"Vienna, if you dare touch me, you'll die for it."
She suddenly slapped herself several times, tore her own dress, and collapsed to the ground sobbing.
"Miss Wilson, I never offended you! Why are you doing this to me?"
"Leila tried to kill me five years ago—I forgave her! What more do you want from me?"
"Please, just let me live. I don't want anything anymore... I just want to live!"
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.