Chapter 10
Alaric pushed open the door.
Arianne, phone in hand mid–text, froze. The smile on her face died instantly. Her gaze dropped to the phone in Alaric’s hand–her brother’s phone.
Her face went white.
Later, she found herself tied to a chair in the cold, dark basement. Bruises covered her body. Blood trickled from the corner of her lips.
“Where’s my brother?” she hissed. “What did you do to him?”
Smack.
A harsh slap echoed through the room. Her head snapped to the side, tears mixing with blood.
Alaric stood over her, pressing his foot to her head like she was nothing.
“You told me my wife had someone rape you. That she caused your miscarriage,” he said coldly. “But I remember that day in the hospital. You weren’t bleeding nearly enough.”
Panic flashed in Arianne’s eyes.
“What… what are you planning?”
Alaric didn’t answer. He just smiled.
With a nod, the basement door opened. A dozen men stepped inside.
“If you’re going to put on a show,” he said softly, “you might as well finish it properly. A little fake blood can’t fool everyone. That private medical team? They already confessed.”
He crouched beside her, voice like ice. “Pretending to be sick? That’s easy. Let me help you make it real.”
Arianne’s eyes widened in horror. “Alaric! This is illegal! If anyone finds out, you’ll go to jail!”
He let out a low chuckle.
‘I’m not afraid of death anymore. So tell me–why would jail scare me?”
‘You… What do you mean?”
He didn’t answer.
He just smiled again.
That smile chilled her to the bone.
‘Mr. Langford… please… stop joking…”
The tip of a dagger pressed to her chin. Alaric leaned in.
‘Why would I lie to you?” he whispered. “Once I’m done with you, I’ll go to my wife’s grave… and die with her.”
She looked into his eyes–and realized he wasn’t bluffing.
Her scream echoed into silence. But the basement was soundproof. No one heard.
Alaric walked out, silent.
By the TimeLD
3:40 pm
He closed the door behind the dozen men.
A day later, Arianne was barely breathing. Her body was broken. He stood at the threshold and
knew-
It was time.
He left.
At Elysia’s grave, he knelt.
He cleaned her headstone again and again, searching for something–an answer, a reason, ar
excuse.
But none came.
Just because he wanted to avenge his sister, did that justify destroying his wife?
Was it right to manipulate her, to push her, provoke her at every turn?
And why–why, when she changed overnight, hadn’t he asked what she’d gone through?
Why didn’t he notice her pain?
Why didn’t he try to understand?
Why was his first instinct always to crush her pride, to force her to break?
From school uniforms to wedding vows, they had walked hand in hand through so much.
But this time… he pushed her off the edge–and jumped with her.
He collapsed beside her grave, sobbing, the soil soaking with tears.
And when he imagined facing his beloved wife and sister again… he couldn’t find the words.
So he decided to say just one thing first:
‘m sorry.
With that thought, Alaric closed his eyes-
And never opened them again.
