CHAPTER 80
KILLIAN’S POV
By the time we pulled up to Liana’s father’s house, everyone was already outside waiting. The second my car came to a stop, they all rushed toward it, their faces tight with worry and panic.
“Oh my baby…” my mom breathed out, her voice cracking as she yanked open the passenger door and helped Liana out gently. Liana was quiet, barely holding herself together, but she nodded and let my mom support her. Her father looked completely wrecked, it was as if his face was pale, guilt written all over it, and even though he tried to stay strong, I could see the streaks of tears sliding down his face.
“Mommy!” Ryan’s voice broke through the silence as he ran straight to her.
Liana bent a little and hugged him, her hands shaking as she pulled him close. She didn’t say a word to anyone else. When she looked at her father, her face didn’t show anger, just… hurt. Deep hurt and disappointment. I could feel it from her, even without the bond.
She turned to me quietly. “Please, just take me to my room.”
I didn’t say a word. I simply scooped her into my arms and carried her inside. She felt so light. Too light. Like the pain had drained everything from her.
When we got to her room, I set her down on the bed, but she broke almost instantly. Her arms wrapped around herself, and she started crying. I pulled her into my chest, holding her tightly, trying to steady her shaking body while whispering, “It’s okay. I’m here now. You’re safe.”
But in my head? In my chest? I was losing it. I was boiling with so much rage I could hardly breathe. Cynthia. That witch. The things I was going to do to her… she would beg for death before I was through.
Liana pulled back slowly. “I feel dirty,” she whispered, her voice almost gone. “Please… I need a bath.”
I nodded. “Okay, baby. I got you.”
I went into the bathroom and ran the water, adjusting the temperature just right. I added her favorite bath oils, anything to soothe her, even just a little. When I turned back, she had already started undressing.
And then I saw it.
My whole body froze.
There were marks on her back. Whip marks. Still fresh but already beginning to heal.
“What the hell…?” I breathed, walking toward her slowly. I couldn’t stop staring. “Liana… what’s this?”
She turned her head to look down at her skin, as if just noticing them. “They were worse before,” she murmured. “I don’t know how, but… they’re healing on their own…”
I clenched my fists so tight my nails dug into my palms. “Who did this to you?”
She hesitated.
“Liana,” I said again, my voice cold.
She finally looked up, and her lips trembled as she said the name I’d been dreading. “Cynthia.”
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I snapped.
My fist slammed into the tiled wall, cracking it from the impact. My chest was heaving. I could feel the beast in me rising, violent, wild, furious.
“She whipped you?” I asked through gritted teeth.
She nodded slowly, wrapping her arms around her chest. “Please… don’t do anything rash.”
I looked at her, really looked at her, this woman I loved more than anything, standing there with bruises and whip marks on her skin, still trying to protect me from doing something crazy.
But it was already too late for that.
“I’m sorry, baby,” I said quietly. “Take your bath. I’ll send my mom in to help you.‘
She grabbed my wrist gently. “Killian, where are you going?”
“I’ll be back. Just stay here. Don’t leave this house. Don’t even step outside, you hear me?”
“Please don’t do anything reckless,” she begged, but I was already moving.
I picked up my jacket, my keys, my phone, my mind completely focused on one thing.
Cynthia.
She was done. This time, she wouldn’t walk away. This time, I was going to find her. And when I did, she was going to regret ever laying a hand on Liana.
I slammed the door so hard the entire hallway shook. My mom and Liana’s dad were standing outside the room with Ryan. All three of them looked startled.
“Killian?” my mom called. “What’s going on? What happened to Liana?”
But I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My blood was boiling. All I could think about was Cynthia’s face and all the pain she had caused.
She was going to pay. She was going to beg for death.
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