Chapter 444
Aria said expressionlessly, “What am I supposed to know?”
Seeing her complete lack of curiosity, Orlando curled his lips in a mocking smile. “Indeed, it’s not something you need to know.”
Aria was never related to Rachel by blood in the first place. The one truly connected was Silvia, the Saxon family’s heiress.
Aria shot Orlando a cold glare. “Useless.”
Aria thought coldly, ‘Should’ve known he’d be so clueless. What a waste of time!
Frustrated, Orlando snapped his phone shut.
In a way, Aria wasn’t wrong in calling him useless.
He’d always seen Rachel as timid and cowardly. He never would have expected her to do something like kidnapping.
Maybe he didn’t really know Rachel either.
He couldn’t contact Olivia or Russell.
The Wolfshade Syndicate would never let Rachel off the hook.
And if anything happened to Lily, Aria wouldn’t let them off the hook either.
Things were getting messy.
Orlando rubbed his temples, his face tense with frustration.
Her phone rang, and Aria snatched it up.
The surveillance feed cut out at Trebode Road.
Trebode Road led to Larkridge High School.
Aria barked at the phone, “Head to Larkridge High School.”
Immediately after, she called Valerie.
Aria, Valerie, and Owen arrived at Larkridge High School.
Valerie rushed toward Aria, slightly out of breath. “I’ve got security pulling the surveillance footage. They’re headed to that abandoned classroom building behind the school.”
Aria barked, “Move!”
Aria and Owen drove straight into campus, while Liam was stopped at the gate.
“What’s your business here?” the security guard demanded.
Liam rushed to explain, “I’m with them.”
Seeing the guard still blocking his way, Liam hastily added, “The ones who just went in one’s my ex–wife, the other’s my brother. I’m here to help with
the search.”
Just then, Diego leaned out of the passenger seat and pleaded, “It’s an emergency! Please let us in!”
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Chapter 444
After a brief hesitation, the security guard finally waved them through.
On the rooftop of the abandoned classroom building behind the school, Lily stood motionless, her vacant gaze fixed on the distance.
Rachel leaned precariously against the railing, her face mostly hidden behind a mask, revealing only her tear filled eyes.
She tilted her head slightly toward Lily and asked in a whisper, “Lily, are you afraid of death?”
Lily spoke mechanically, “I used to be afraid, but not anymore.”
Rachel asked with trembling lips, “Why?”
“Because I have Aria around now,” Lily said softly.
Rachel looked at her enviously and said, “Aria isn’t even your biological sister, yet she treats you so well. I wasn’t that lucky–instead, I met Olivia
Her mind drifted. She couldn’t even remember when she’d become associated with Olivia.
Rachel sighed. “Did you know Olivia calls me “little vixen“? It’s a name she gave me on purpose–just to humiliate me.”
Olivia was temperamental–whenever she was in a bad mood, Rachel always bore the brunt of it.
Every word she said had to be carefully weighed, terrified of offending Olivia and being crushed underfoot like an ant.
After all this time, she finally made a real friend, but Olivia was forcing her to hurt her friend.
Maybe death was the only way out.
But the thought of being alone terrified Rachel.
Rachel slowly moved closer and wrapped her arms around the unresponsive Lily, her voice trembling. “Lily, if I hurt you, would you hate me for it?”
Lily was silent for a moment before replying mechanically, “No, as long as you don’t hurt Aria.”
Rachel looked at her, voice trembling. “Who’s more important to you–me or Aria?”
“Aria,” Lily answered without hesitation.
Rachel looked up at her, eyes brimming with sorrow. “But to me, you’re more important than anyone, Lily. You’re all I have left… Would you–would you stay with me, even if it means dying together?”
“No,” Lily replied. “I’ve struggled so hard for so long. I don’t want to give up now.”
Rachel said with trembling lips, “So you’re just going to let me die alone?”
“Neither of us will die,” Lily said.
Rachel clung to the railing, her body wracked with sobs. “I want to live, but I just can’t go on like this.”
After what felt like an eternity of weeping, Rachel finally straightened up and, gripping the railing for support, hauled herself
The sun beat down, its warmth soaking into her skin.
Rachel reached a hand up toward the sky, wondering silently, ‘When I die, will I go to heaven, or hell?‘
‘I’ll probably end up in hell,‘ Rachel mused, ‘seeing as I wanted to take Lily down with me.‘
‘Lily’s so good–she deserves to go to heaven.
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Chapter 444
‘If that’s the case, even in death, Lily and I still can’t be together.
‘No, I shouldn’t drag her into this after all.‘
Rachel looked down at Lily, whose eyes were vacant and lost. Gently, she stroked Lily’s hair and said softly, “Lily, I’m so glad I met you?
This period of time in Huthailia was the most peaceful and joyful period of her life.
That was it.
Rachel let her hand fall back to her side and closed her eyes, as if finally ready to let go.
At that critical moment, several people burst onto the rooftop through the access door from the stairwell.
At the sight, Orlando’s heart stopped in terror. “Rachel!” he shouted desperately. “Don’t do anything rash!”
Rachel turned at the familiar voice. “Orlando, you’re here,” she said softly, her voice tinged with weary relief,
At least she got to see someone who was decent to her before dying, and Rachel felt a faint, bitter comfort.
Seeing Lily unharmed, Aria felt the tension in her chest ease. Her gaze then fell on Rachel, who was still standing precariously on the rooftop ledge.
“Rachel, please come down first,” Valerie urged gently but firmly. “Whatever’s troubling you, we can talk it through.”
“Orlando, don’t come any closer, or I’ll jump!” Rachel warned.
Orlando had no choice but to stop, clenching his fists tightly. “Rachel, is someone hurting you? Tell me who it was. I’ll make them pay, okay?”
“You can’t help me!” Rachel stared at him, her vision swimming with tears. “Would any of you really dare kill Olivia?”
“You wouldn’t dare! Not even Russell would!” Rachel said with a broken voice, “No one can save me now.”
“Rachel, we found your family!” Orlando cried out desperately.
Rachel froze, eyes wide. “What? What did you just say?”
Orlando managed a reassuring smile. “Rachel, you do have a family. Russell and I secretly ran a DNA test for you. We really found your parents, and you even have a sister.”
Rachel’s voice trembled with sudden fury. “Liar!” she shouted. “If you really found them, why did you wait so long to tell me? Why keep it from me all this
time?”
“We had no idea Olivia was treating you so badly!” Orlando’s eyes welled up. “Rachel, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault for not protecting you.”
“Is Lily still under hypnosis?” Aria asked Owen.
Owen nodded. “Most likely.”
Aria turned to Owen, her voice tense. “Is there any way to snap Lily out of it?”
Owen replied, “A shock might work, but we can’t get close.”
Rachel covered her face and forced a bitter smile. “Yeah, you can’t protect me. This so–called ‘family‘? It’s all a lie.”
“It’s true!” Orlando shouted urgently, “Your real name is Pearl!”
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