My soul followed Olivia to the Blood Infirmary.

Not long after, my Consort, Julian, rushed in.

He went straight to Olivia, grabbed her hand, and anxiously examined the burn mark on her palm. His eyes were filled with concern.

“What happened?”

“What did the Blood Healer say?”

“Julian, don’t be like this,” Olivia said through sobs, her voice trembling, though she still forced a weak smile.

“This isn’t Bella’s fault. She probably just wanted to surprise me and forgot that vampires can’t touch silver…”

The more “understanding” she appeared,the darker Julian’s expression became.

He looked up, his voice heavy with anger.

“Bella? Where is she hiding now?”

“Olivia, don’t be upset. I’ll make sure she’s properly punished for this.”

We had not yet completed the Blood Bond,so he couldn’t sense my death—

nor did he know that I was standing right beside him, silently watching.

After leaving the Infirmary, Julian called me.

When no one answered, he left a voice message.

“Bella, how could you be so vicious?”

“Using silver to hurt your own sister?”

“I always thought you were kind. I never imagined you’d do something like this out of jealousy!”

Julian’s voice was burning with fury.

“I was planning to give you your reward gift.”

“It’s a family heirloom—a necklace meant to congratulate you.”

“But now, you don’t deserve it.”

“Consider this your punishment.”

“You’d better pray Olivia is fine.”

“Otherwise, the Blood Bond ceremony is canceled.”

Listening to his accusations,I was so exhausted that I couldn’t feel anything anymore.

I should have understood long ago.

We had argued countless times because of Olivia.

During a night-hunt training session, his attention was entirely on Olivia’s agile movements;

when I tripped over a tree root, he only said I was clumsy.

When we ate together,he never remembered that I couldn’t tolerate spicy blood infusions,

yet he could personally prepare more than twenty kinds of blood desserts just to make Olivia smile.

I fought with him over these things again and again,but his answer was always the same:

“You’re overthinking it.”

“I only see Olivia as a little sister.”

His indifference made me feel like a madwoman driven by possessiveness.

But I loved him so deeply.

I once believed his appearance in my life was a gift from the Night Mother,

that he would belong to me—to me alone.

I was wrong.

Completely wrong.

My parents loved Leo and Olivia because of their bloodlines.

But why did Julian love her?

I didn’t know.

And now,I would never have the chance to know.

Because at this moment,whether I fell or was struck,I could no longer feel pain.

After midnight, Father, Mother, and Leo finally returned home, exhausted.

I drifted in a corner of the living room and heard Mother sigh.

“It’s a pity Julian’s bloodline isn’t noble enough for Olivia.”

“They were practically made for each other.”

“Did you see how attentive he was to Olivia at the Infirmary?”

My soul froze.

Then I heard Father speak.

“Yes, Julian is very capable.”

“And I think Olivia likes him too.”

“If they could become Consorts, it would be perfect.”

“Don’t think too much about it,” Mother said.

“Julian’s bloodline isn’t worthy of our Olivia.”

“It’s better for him to be with Bella instead. Their bloodlines are a better match.”

“Even if he completes the Blood Bond with Bella,”she added carelessly,“he can still dote on Olivia.”

She lifted her head and noticed that the house was completely dark.

“Looks like the Night Candles…”

“They’ve burned out,” Father said irritably.

“Leo, go to the basement and get a new one.”

Leo muttered his agreement and strode toward the basement.

The closer he got,the stronger the scent of cold iron became.

His instincts made him frown,but he assumed there was a dead rat somewhere in the house and didn’t think much of it.

“What’s that smell?”

Father and Mother followed him to the basement door.

Leo pushed it open.

A rush of frigid metallic air mixed with the stench of blood scorched by silver hit them.

In the darkness,an unnaturally pale body lay in a pool of dried, blackened blood,its eyes not fully closed.

Leo stopped short.

“Bella…?”