Elena stepped out into the quiet hallway, her fingers still wrapped around the rose hairpin as though it was something fragile, something she feared might disappear if she loosened her grip.
The soft glow of the polished metal caught her attention again, and she lifted it slightly, turning it from side to side as admiration filled her eyes.
It was beautiful… more beautiful than anything she had ever owned.
A smile appeared on her face the moment she put the pin in her hair.
"It's beautiful…" someone said. She looked up and smiled at Jacob. "Really?"
Jacob looked at the pin and nodded. "I'm glad you are safe. I'm about to go, I came to inform your mom that you will take long," then he grabbed her arm. His brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes scanning her from head to toe with clear worry, his grip firm but not rough as he checked for any injuries she might be hiding.
Elena blinked at him for a second… then she giggled softly. "Jacob, I'm fine."
Jacob sighed in relief. "…You're really fine," he muttered. "My girlfriend and Sabestian will blame me if anything happens to you," he added.
As if what he said reminded her of something, Elena's smile slowly faded. Her eyes drifted to his face… then to the faint redness still visible on his cheek.
She reached up and gently held his face. "Mom..." She clenched her free hand and gritted her teeth.
Then, gently, he took her hand and brushed it away from his face. "Ahhh, this… it's nothing… I'm fine."
Tears filled her eyes, then she turned. "Don't follow me."
This wasn't her mother's first time hitting him. Jacob was like a brother to her, and he cared a lot about her since they were kids. She didn't like the way her mother used to treat him.
Before Jacob could say anything, she had left. Her steps were quick, almost unsteady as she rushed down the hallway. She didn't stop until she reached her mother's door.
She held the doorknob and was about to open the door when she heard:
"You mean we will have to kill his father after Elena marries him?"
Elena's hand stiffened on the doorknob, and she frowned. 'Which Elena are they talking about?'
"After we successfully kill his father," her mother's voice came again, calm and cold in a way Elena had never heard before, "Liam will be extremely rich. Then we will make it quick and kill him too. It's either we make it look like Elena did it… or make people believe one of the monsters killed him."
'Wait… what?' Elena's eyes widened in shock. Her fingers trembled on the doorknob. Her mind refused to process what she was hearing.
"No," Norah's voice cut in, so sharp and calculating as always. "We make Sebastian's family blame her. After all, we aren't even family with her. Once we take the money, we cut ties with her completely."
Elena's body went cold. Her grip on the doorknob loosened as her hand slowly dropped to her side.
Her heart pounded violently in her chest, she found it difficult to believe it.
This wasn't real.
It couldn't be....
If this greedy woman wasn't her mother, then who was?
"I want her mother to watch how her daughter pays for what she did," the woman spat bitterly, her voice filled with deep hatred. "I hope the scar I put on her shoulder never heals."
Elena scoffed. For that moment, she was glad the woman wasn't her mother, even if she was still surprised she wasn't her mother. But if she was paying for what her mother did…
Then what about Sebastian? He was innocent, so was his father… why them? Why her?
Tears slowly slipped down her cheeks. She didn't want to believe it. She wanted to go in and confront them, but "Forget it," she said.
She turned and left the door slowly, as if the ground beneath her feet no longer felt solid. Her hand lifted weakly to wipe her tears, but more kept falling, refusing to stop.
The hallway felt colder and smaller. What she used to think of as home was now a den to her.
Elena didn't know how long she had been walking.
The tears had stopped at some point, but the heaviness in her chest remained.
Kill his father and kill him too, and blame her just to get back at her biological mother? The woman she didn't even know!
Before her thoughts could sink any deeper, a loud voice suddenly echoed from the living room. "Breaking news! Several children are currently trapped inside St. Mary's Orphanage as a massive swarm of zombies has surrounded the building—"
Elena ran to the living room and walked slowly toward the TV with a frown on her face. On the TV was a scene of three helicopters surrounding the huge orphanage building.
The camera zoomed in, showing the three little kids who were peeking through the broken window, their small hands gripping the edge tightly.
Her eyes widened. "Be… Betty?" She wasn't crying, but the other girl was, and it looked like she was waiting for… someone?!!!
"What is she doing here..." Then she remembered what she said the last time she saved her at the hospital!!!
<<>>
"Shit!!!" she yelled. Due to the situation… the soldiers knew what to do to kill the zombies, but it would hurt the kids!!!
"Elena?!"
Jacob rushed in and grabbed her wrist immediately. "I've seen the news, that's why I came back," he said, holding her tighter. "Don't go! It's too dangerous. I've already called Sebastian and…"
"Tell him not to find me anymore," Elena said immediately and pulled her hand away from his grip.
Jacob blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"I'm breaking up with him."
"Wait, what?" Jacob asked, his voice filled with disbelief. Even the ants and worms knew how much she loved Sabestian!!
But Elena didn't want to talk about it. Not when those children were still on that screen. Not when Betty was still crying.
Not even when she knew that no one else could save them.
At that moment, the sound of engines came from outside. Elena sighed and went out of the house.
The government vehicles had already arrived, their presence overwhelming. They didn't even need to ask. She was their only hope.
Elena smiled and nodded at Jacob. There was no hesitation in her movement as she walked toward the car, and the door was opened for her immediately.
She stepped in and shut the door. Her eyes met Jacob's through the window. Tears had filled them again, but she smiled at him.
Jacob frowned at the kind of look that felt like a goodbye… even if no words were spoken.
"Elena…" he called softly, taking a step forward.
But the car engine started, and it drove off immediately, leaving him standing there with a feeling he couldn't explain.