ack from Theodore's grasp

ice low, eyes dropping to conc

haos, she had no cho

ore Victoria could say a word, h

not once had he offered to drive her anywhere. Victo

the car windows was nonstop, and a chilly draft

w Theodore reach out,

Was he... actually

t was gone as

l, holding Isabella gently, comforting her, saying the di

a bitter smile as she turn

the sheets of rain-directionless, jus

top in front of the

got out, Theodo

as feeble, barely hanging on. It sou

have a fever?"

from the chill. "Maybe I caught a cold... I'm not su

glass on the table, letting it crash to

hh

owned sharply, but the

line. Without another thought,

and looked back at Victoria, his expression

a small nod an

because deep down,

only ever Isabella

the sound of the engine roared to life and faded

, unmoving. A storm of conflicted thoughts swirled behind his still exp

ad w

ria to stop him.

a word. She wanted h

was dead silent. You

then froze at the faint noise upstairs. She

r-slightly ajar-a hoarse

pted her. She murdered my daughter-Gina was just a kid! Call the cops! She has

voice rising with every word. The h

r own daughter. Never would she hav

th a face full of sorrow, his h

th, voice heavy with d

ld Victoria tur

he leaned weakly against the railing,

dad belie

ion-it was the heartbreak of watching the people s

posed to stay s

outside. The second he saw

t are you d

been her

back here felt l

her mouth, but n

and stumbled out of the hou

r! I'm going

h rage and heavy with tears that h

instinctively backed up several st

h's bloodshot eye

ou really don'

abbed Victoria in the c

ack, shooting Victori

.. don't

id ever

n't beli

e was alrea

'd painstakingly built aroun

was family. You know who I am! And now you wo

s, the pressure in her chest was suffocating,

oria,

ith guilt. He'd always t

t looked like solid evidence, how could he igno

nyone could react, Hannah broke free from his arms

nna

em took of

protective railing. Her dress flapped wildly in the wind, and she swayed

floor-if she jumped, t

om

nna

r, but neither dared rush forw

The wind bit through their we

rain. "Mom, please... just ca

spond to her-her eye

can't get justice for her, William, then wh

y down there. I've got no reason to stay her

saying that! Hannah, I'm here-we'll go throug

ctoria's heart hurt so b

used all t

sts tight, nails di

om

denly she dropped to her knees on