Chapter 11%
Zareena’s POVI
“I already buried her. And the babies, Mom said, almost a whisper
“Don’t even think about seeing them, she warned. “You don’t deserve to. I won’t let you defile the only bit of peace they have left.“%
Sullivan froze. His eyes went wide, his whole body started to shake, and the color drained from his face as he staggered back, step by step #
Then suddenly, he crumpled. Hands clutching his face, he broke down completely–crying like a madman, gasping for breath between the
sobs.
He kept choking out the same words, again and again.
“Zareena. Our babies. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.“%
After that, he disappeared into his room and never came out.
No food. No water. Not a single word to anyone. For three full days, it was like he had died, too.%
But then–on the evening of the fourth day–something changed.
Shannah came back from the trip with her newborn.
Around the same time, Sullivan received a message.
To everyone’s disbelief, he left the villa.
Not only that he called a driver to pick her up from the airport.
The driver would later tell Mom Sullivan looked like nothing had happened. He was dressed to the nines–clean–cut, suit perfectly pressed, a polite smile on his face. He stood at the airport exit early, waiting with a bouquet of fresh flowers in his hands.%
Like the past few days had been a bad dream.
Like the woman who’d died in a pool of blood in that basement had never existed.%
Like he’d forgotten about the children who never got a chance to be born.
When Mom heard what the driver said, her face went pale.%
“Where did he take them?!” she demanded. “Call his men! Quick! Good lord, that boy! He’s lost his goddamn mind!“%
By the time she reached the villa with the men behind her–a deafening explosion rocked the ground. Flames burst from the windows, engulfing the house in seconds.%
Shannah’s screams rang out from inside. She cursed, hysterical, trying to run–but every door, every window, was locked tight. Fire roared around her, rising higher with every breath.%
She threw herself at a window, pounding, sobbing, begging for help.
But then, from the smoke behind her, Sullivan emerged.%
He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her back.%
Outside, Mom struggled against the guards holding her back.%
“Sullivan! My son, don’t do this! Open the door! Let them in! Let them put out the fire!” she shouted.%
But through the thick smoke, she caught a glimpse of him.%
His face wasn’t angry. It wasn’t vengeful.%
His face was twisted with pain–grief carved into every line. He looked like a man who had already died and simply hadn’t stopped breathing yet.
“I’m not coming out, Mom,” he said quietly. “Don’t stop them. Don’t save me.”%
He turned toward the fire, eyes dark and empty.
“I made a vow,” he murmured. “If I ever hurt Zareena… I’d pay for it with a thousand cuts in hell. And now–it’s time. I owe her and our children more than I can ever repay.“%
Tears slipped down his cheeks, disappearing into the rising heat.%
He took a shuddering breath and whispered, “Zareena…. if there’s even a sliver of a chance… once I’ve paid for all my sins in hell… Can I see you and the babies again?“%
Then he shut his eyes–and walked straight into the flames.%
That night, the villa burned to the ground.%
I didn’t hear about any of it unti! the day of his funeral.%
It arrived quietly–no thunder, no rain. Just a heavy, overcast sky that hung low over northern New Jersey. Somewhere in the distance, church bells tolled–their somber echo carried on the wind.%
That afternoon, Mom came to my door.
She was dressed in black from head to toe, her wool coat buttoned all the way up, a thin veil covering her swollen eyes.
She didn’t speak right away. Just stood there on my stoop, not flinching even when the cold nipped at her.%
Finally, she looked up at me and asked softly, “Will you come?“%
I said nothing at first I just held the only surviving child in my arms and gently shook my head.%
8:50 PM.
Her shoulders sagged under the weight of my silence.
After a long pause, she spoke again, her voice lower, almost pleading. “Now that Sullivan is gone… All he has left is this child. I want him to inherit the family fortune.”
I looked her in the eye and answered, calm and unwavering. “There’s no need. He carries my family name. Not his father’s.”
I hesitated, then added, “Mom_ I appreciate what you did for me. But Sullivan’s gone now. And I have no more ties to the Stryders. I think… it’s better if we don’t see each other again.”
She didn’t argue. She just stood there as I stepped back inside and gently closed the door.
Outside, the wind picked up. A black ribbon tied to the gate snapped in the breeze–and for a moment, it felt like I could smell smoke, like the fire had found its way to me after all.
The baby stirred in my arms and let out a soft coo. I looked away from the window, down at him.§
I pressed a kiss to his cheek, and warm tears slid down my face.
“This time..” I cried. “You finally have the chance to grow up, my son.”
20
