Alaric kicked me in the knee and pinned me down. “I’ll find the thugs you hired and make them pay. But you—I’ll give you one last chance.”

He gripped my chin tightly. “If you’re willing to testify in court for Seraphine, I’ll have my legal team defend you. I can save you a few years in prison.”

Pain shot through my jaw, and cold sweat trickled down my back. “I… I’m afraid I can’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m dying.”

He let out a sharp laugh, disbelieving and furious. “You’re still protecting Caleb? Even now?”

He stood and shouted, “I won’t give you another chance. Whether you want to or not—you will testify!”

After those words, he seized my hand—and without hesitation, snapped my ring finger.

The wedding band was still on it.

A guttural scream tore from my throat.

“Will you tell me now?” he growled.

His fingers clamped around my chin, forcing my gaze up to meet his. “What did Caleb do to my sister that night?”

Sweat poured down my back. My breath came in shallow gasps.

“Wait until I’m dead,” I whispered, “and you’ll find out.”

His eyes turned a violent shade of red.

To him, I must’ve sounded defiant. Insulting.

“You think I’m afraid to watch you die?” he spat.

Then my index finger cracked under his grip.

“Will you talk?”

“Kill me,” I hissed through my tears. “Kill me—and you’ll finally know.”

His whole body trembled with fury. And then, he nodded. “Fine. I’ll grant your wish.”

He pulled out a wrench.

Held it up—aimed straight at my other fingers.

“No—Alaric, wait—AAAH!”

The pain was unbearable, but worse was the searing agony in my chest.

I collapsed onto the floor, trembling, lips turning purple.

The wrench shook slightly in his hand.

“If I destroy you,” he muttered, almost to himself, “then I’ll go to prison with you.”

Blood pooled in my mouth. I coughed, then reached up with what little strength I had, fingers trembling as I tore open the buttons on my shirt.

“You want the truth?” I choked out. “Then I’ll show you.”

The moment he saw the scar carved over my heart, the wrench slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground.