"Does it still hurt anywhere, Stella?" someone asked.

As soon as Stella had woken up, everyone rushed to her side with their eyes full of concern.

Alaric was the first to speak. "Don't ever do something so dangerous again. You'll always be our little sister."

Stella teared up right on cue when she heard this. She looked aggrieved as she clutched Malcolm, who was closest to her.

"I was just so scared that all of you didn't want me around anymore. What happened back then truly was my fault, but…"

She lowered her head as she trailed off, letting out two soft sobs. Her performance had everyone feeling heartbroken for her.

"Don't be afraid, Stella. That incident is already in the past. We'll stay by your side," Malcolm replied.

The Sinclair brothers echoed his words in an affectionate and indulgent tone.

An uneasy feeling grew in his chest as Malcolm looked at Stella. It was as though

The out-of-context statement left everyone confused.

In the end, it was Malcom who asked, "What rope snapped?"

"The rope that was tied to the cliff, sir! Ms. Selene is missing!" the guard answered.

His shocking revelation stunned everyone, and their faces filled with disbelief.

Alaric lunged at the guard and grabbed him by the collar.

"Is that true?" Alaric questioned.

The look in his bloodshot eyes was tense, and his knuckles had also turned white from how hard they were clenching the guard's shirt collar. He seemed terrified of the answer that might follow.

The guard stammered, "It's t-true. W-When we went searching for Ms. Selene, t-the rope by the cliff was already snapped. All w-we found at the edge of the cliff was her jacket."

Malcolm rushed over and snatched the jacket from the guard's hands. He appeared unsteady on his feet.

The jacket was indeed Selene's. Everyone was 

The wind was howling fiercely.

Stella, dressed in a white gown, stood at the edge of the cliff. She teetered on the brink as her skirt billowed in the sea breeze, making her look very fragile.

"Stella! Come back!" the Sinclair brothers yelled.

Stella turned her head. Her face was streaked with tears. "My brothers, Malcolm… I don't want to leave you, but Selene won't tolerate my presence… Since my life is coming to an end soon, I may as well end it right now. At least I won't be an eyesore to Selene anymore…"

All four men instantly turned and glared at Selene.

Malcolm shoved her forward and demanded, "Selene, say something! Talk to her!"

However, Selene said nothing. She just silently watched the drama unfold.

"Do you really have to drive Stella to her death before you're satisfied?" Alaric roared.

When she saw Selene remain silent, Stella cried even harder. Then, without warning, she turned and threw herself off the cliff without hesitation.

"Stella!" all four men cried at once.

They lunged in unison, catching her by her wrist just in the nick of time. Once they had pulled her back up, she collapsed into their arms and sobbed uncontrollably.

Malcolm held Stella tightly. His voice was unbelievably gentle as he comforted her. "It's alright now. You're fine. We're here."

Meanwhile, the Sinclair brothers patted her back gently. "There's nothing to be afraid of. We won't let anything happen to you."

Still crying in Malcolm's arms, Stella abruptly began to struggle again.

"No! Let me go! Let me die! Selene won't—She's never going to accept me…" she cried.

Then, she tried to rush toward the cliff again. However, the four men quickly stopped her.

"Enough!" Alexander barked.

He turned to glare furiously at Selene and continued, "Look what you've driven her to!"

Alistair gently held Stella's trembling shoulders, speaking softly. "Don't be afraid. No one can make you leave while we're around."

Selene smirked sardonically as she quietly observed the scene before her. She knew Stella too well.

It was always the same. Stella would threaten to end her life to gain sympathy, and they always fell for it.

"Guards! Hang Selene off the cliff to reflect on her actions! Let her think carefully about what's done wrong!" Alaric ordered coldly.

Out of everyone else's sight, Stella flashed Selene a triumphant smile. Her gaze was blatant, as though saying, "You'll never win against me, Selene."

The bodyguards stepped forward at once and bound Selene with coarse hemp rope. Then, they dangled her over the edge of the cliff. The rope bit deeply into her skin, yet she didn't even grimace.

Malcolm glanced back at Selene as he was walking away. Her unusually calm gaze unsettled him.

But just then, Stella conveniently "fainted", causing him to panic instantly. After scooping her into his arms, he rushed off without another glance.

Selene was left hanging alone off the cliff. The rope rubbed against her already bloodied wrists as she swayed in the strong wind. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she was too tightly bound to check it.

Selene began twisting her wrists with all her strength, slowly loosening the rope. Fresh blood dripped down the fibers, but she seemed to feel no pain.

Finally, once the rope had loosened enough, Selene flipped her body upward with all her strength. Summoning every last ounce of her strength, she grabbed onto a jutting rock. Then, inch by inch, she climbed her way back up.

By the time Selene reached the top, her hands were a torn, bloodied mess. She trembled as she pulled out her phone.

A message lit up the screen.

"Ms. Selene, the ownership transfer for the uninhabited island is complete. You may move in at any time."

Selene gazed out at the rope fluttering in the wind over the cliff's edge. Suddenly, she smiled as an idea came to mind. Since she was going to leave, she might as well let her brothers and Malcolm think she was dead.

Stella was right about Selene being unable to outmatch her. However, there was one thing she hadn't thought of—she couldn't compete with a ghost.

With this in mind, Selene hung her jacket on a tree branch at the cliff's edge. Then, she cut the rope and tossed it into the abyss. The jacket flapped in the wind, resembling the last trace of someone who had fallen off the cliff.

"Farewell," Selene whispered.

She wasn't saying it to anyone in particular, just to the version of herself who had once foolishly loved her brothers and Malcolm.

After flagging down a taxi, Selene left without looking back. This time, she would spend her love on herself.

"Does it still hurt anywhere, Stella?" someone asked.

As soon as Stella had woken up, everyone rushed to her side with their eyes full of concern.

Alaric was the first to speak. "Don't ever do something so dangerous again. You'll always be our little sister."

Stella teared up right on cue when she heard this. She looked aggrieved as she clutched Malcolm, who was closest to her.

"I was just so scared that all of you didn't want me around anymore. What happened back then truly was my fault, but…"

She lowered her head as she trailed off, letting out two soft sobs. Her performance had everyone feeling heartbroken for her.

"Don't be afraid, Stella. That incident is already in the past. We'll stay by your side," Malcolm replied.

The Sinclair brothers echoed his words in an affectionate and indulgent tone.

An uneasy feeling grew in his chest as Malcolm looked at Stella. It was as though he had lost something he could never get back.

Stella met his gaze. In a pitiful tone, she asked, 

Chapter 9