Your Regrets Mean Nothing To Me




Chapter 9

"Rowena's right. Fenwick broke his silence in the studio. "Why get involved? Self-

preservation comes first."

-The phrase "self-

preservation" drew a sharp look from Torin. A small, helpless child could pose no threat whatsoever. Carllan's rejection made sense- the blood ties were distant. But Fenwick was Elysia's own brother.

"Have you forgotten her kindness, Fenwick Torin's voice roughened with memory. "Every toy you demanded, every snack-

she gave them all When you shattered that vase, she took your punishment. Now you defend this?"

Fenwick glanced at Torin's freed hands, wards dying in his throat. That carlier slap had clearly left its mark.

Seeing Fenwick falter, Caellan leaped to the defense. "How could Rowena know she wasn't lying!

Her sketchy look probably raised red flags. She brought it on herself

[Sull making excuses? Now it's about looks? Has he even seen Elysia's face!]

[Back off Our Rowena needs no excuses! just look at Elysia's mugshot]

On the screen, the confrontation took a dark turn. Rowena suddenly lunged forward, gripping Elysia's arm. "Elysia! From the Drayton family! Rupert Drayton's daughter!" ysia's tears. "Yes! My dad's number is-"

Hope blazed through Elysia's i

"I'll never help you! Rowena shoved her toward the cave mouth once, twice, three times

A near-

vertical slope waited outside, slick with recent rain. Elysta dropped to her knees, clutching Rowena's skin. "Stop! The fall will kill me!" she pleaded

Kill That simple word sparked something dark in Rowena, malice spreading like ink in water

As Elysia inched from the edge, Rowena crouched slown. One finger pressed against Elysia's forehead as her lips curved. "Then die"

It was only a gentle push, but Rowena's twisted smile made Elysia's grip loosen. As she tried to turn. Rowena's kick sent her over. Elysia's small, frail body bounced down the steep, rocky slope, each thudding impact bringing fresh. agony Above, Rowena's triumphunt voice echoed "I'm no longer Rowena Scout from now on. I'm taking the Drayton name their only daughter."

As consciousness faded, Elysia's bloodied fingers trembled while she desperately struggled to grasp the branch. The sight of red coating her hand sent terror flooding through her. Her arm dropped as darkness claimed her.

The chair screeched across the studio floor as Turin suddenly stood. The revelation hit him like a physical blow

Until twelve. Rowena had kept her birth father's surname. Only after returning with Callan

and Stellan did she beg to change it, crying about feeling different from the family

But if this was why she wanted to change her family name. Torin couldn't reconcile this cruel child on the screen with the sister he'd cherished. His precious line sister had tried to murder the one he'd failed so completely. The livestream chat exploded.

[Karma's a bitch. No wonder Elysia pushed her down those stairs ]

[Where are all the 'our Rowena didn't know her defenders now? She even knew the father's

name!]

[Rowena's just a kid who loves to play-what's the big deal? Elysia's tough enough-

1-one fall wouldn't kill her]

Yes. That must be it, Fenwick thought desperately, trying to rationalize what he'd just witnessed. I filled Rowena's head with

too many violent stories. She grow kinder.

"Everyone makes mistakes, Fenwick

said to Torin. "Rowena made just one mistake. But Elysia! After everything she's done! She's

absolutely beyond our forgiven.net

I'll give her three million dollars when she's free. Thar cover her therapy." Content belongs to Novelxo.org

yes! And dresses, Everything Rowena has, Elysis should have too. I'll buy it all now... teach her slowly when she's home. Show her love so she'll stop hurting people."

Something sparked in Torin's eyes. "Money-

Torin left the studio, muttering to himself. Caellan started to object, wanting his brother to stay and see more of

Elysia's crimes, but one icy glance from Torin made him pause.

Forget it, Callan thought. Another slap wasn't worth it.

Stellan watched Torin leave with a mocking smile. 'Breaking already, Torin?

[What did Torin mean by that? Wait.. had they only been giving money and clothes to Rowena a

Poor Elysia. Makes you understand I all this time?

Let's be absolutely clear-pushing someone down the stairs is wrong, no matter what And I looked Elysia up: She cheated on her SATS, buffied other students, and had an abortion at sixteen! Can Torin really fix someone this morally corrupt?] Content belongs to Novelxo.org

et

As the heated debate continued in the chat, Fenwick and Caellon watched Torin's retreating figure with barely concealed envy. Their own bonds kept them trapped in their chair, forced to face whatever memories Stellan had yet to reveal Content belongs to Novelxo.org