Chapter 5

Sebastian stared at Felicia for a long time. The fury in his eyes slowly turned to confusion. Then his lips twisted into a cold, mocking smile. "The tough act didn't work, so now you're trying to play nice?" He stepped closer. "Let me save you the trouble, Felicia. No matter what you do, I'll never forgive you." Felicia said nothing. She simply looked at him, calm and unflinching. Something about the look in her eyes got under Sebastian's skin. He turned away and stormed out of the banquet hall. By the time Felicia made it home, the pain in her stomach had grown so fierce she could barely stand upright. She stumbled into the bathroom, gripped the edge of the sink, and vomited a mouthful of blood. The crimson streaked across the porcelain, stark and terrifying. Her hands trembled as she swallowed a painkiller. When the pain dulled a little, she took a hot shower. Afterward, as Felicia brushed her hair, she noticed a thick clump of hair caught in the bristles. She stared at her haggard reflection in the mirror and suddenly realized that she might not even make it through the next two weeks. The next morning, she walked into a small, old-fashioned photo studio. "You want a portrait?" The photographer adjusted his glasses and studied the young and striking woman before him. "Miss, may I know what the portrait is for?" he asked. "I'm sick and dying." Felicia smiled faintly. "I'd appreciate it if you could make it look nice." The photographer sighed and gently fixed her hair. "Don't worry. I'll make sure it turns out beautiful." In front of the camera, Felicia wore light makeup and her favorite red dress. She smiled brightly and boldly, like the young girl she used to be, fearless and full of life. When they were done, the photographer asked, "Do you want to pick up the prints today?" "No." She shook her head. "Please retouch them a little, then send them to this address." She then wrote down her home address, already imagining her photo placed beside Fiona's. After leaving the studio, Felicia went to the Fuller family's chapel. She stood before the framed portraits of Steven and Fiona, her fingertips brushing along the edges of the glass. Fiona's smile was as gentle as ever, and Steven looked like he was about to step out of the picture, warm and kind, just to ruffle her hair the way he used to. "Steven… Fiona…" Felicia's voice was barely a whisper. "I'll be with you soon." She paused. A single tear slid down her cheek and dripped onto the altar. "The feud between our families is finally ending." "Felicia! Who said you could come in here?" Sebastian's voice cut through the quiet like a whip. Felicia flinched, and her elbow knocked against one of the frames. The crash of shattering glass filled the chapel. Sebastian's expression turned murderous. He strode toward her and clamped a hand around her wrist. "You killed them! What more do you want? Why would you destroy their portraits?" "I didn't mean to!" Felicia cried out, struggling to pull free. "If you hadn't startled me, I wouldn't have—" "Shut up! You don't get to touch anything that belonged to them, you murderer!" "I just wanted to see them!" "See them?" Sebastian gave a cold laugh, his eyes dark with fury. "You think you deserve to?" He dragged her toward the door. She stumbled, her knee slamming into the doorway. "Let go of me!" Felicia shouted, clinging on to the frame until her nails bent backward. "Sebastian, are you insane?" "You're the insane one!" Sebastian threw her back into the center of the chapel. "Fine! Since you don't want to leave, kneel here and atone for what you've done!" The bodyguards moved in and forced her shoulders down. Felicia thrashed against them, her voice shaking with rage. "Get off me! I'll pay for what I did, but not like this!" Sebastian's eyes went cold, and he kicked her hard behind the knee. Felicia screamed as her legs gave out. She fell forward, her knees crashing onto the broken glass. Blood seeped through the fabric of her dress.