Chapter 101: Chapter 101
Kyra’s POV
A month without my daughter. The thought alone made my heart ache as Sylvia paced restlessly within me. What should I do? Kieran wouldn’t let Phoebe go home unless I agreed to his terms.
I bit my bottom lip hard, unable to sleep as I thought about Phoebe and Snow. Of course, I would always choose my daughter over anything, but innocent people shouldn’t be dragged into the mess that was my life.
After hours of internal struggle, I reached a decision that I might regret, but I needed to protect everyone I cared about. My revenge didn’t matter anymore. I just wanted peace for the people I loved.
Walking to the glass wall of my luxurious prison, I lifted the blinds. The beautiful ocean blessed my eyes with its fascinating beauty, but I couldn’t bring myself to appreciate it. This was one of the pictures I imagined in my head, but not the feeling I dreamed of. I felt so lonely and empty.
The door behind me opened, and without looking, I knew it was Kieran. His cedar and musk scent filled the room as he entered carrying a breakfast tray.
"Good morning," he said, his voice bright as he placed the tray on the bedside table. "I cooked you breakfast."
I turned and stared at him blankly. The audacity of acting like a caring host when he’d forced his way into my life again.
"I want to make sure Phoebe isn’t hurt before you send her back home," I said, ignoring his attempt to take care of me.
His eyes lit up with genuine happiness at my words, which only fueled my anger. His joy was built on my misery.
"Alright! I’ll bring her here this instant." He left quickly, completely forgetting about the food he’d brought.
Though I’d been starving since last night, food was the last thing on my mind. Still, I needed strength. If I let myself waste away, I’d never see Snow again.
Walking slowly toward the bed, I took a deep breath. First, get Phoebe out safely. Then figure out how to escape.
The door swung open again just as I started eating. Phoebe’s eyes widened when she saw me.
"Kyra!" She ran to me and threw herself into my arms. I smiled despite everything and caressed her hair. She’d grown into a beautiful young woman at twenty-one.
She sobbed against my shoulder. "Y-You’re alive... You’re alive... Nathan was right. That devil is hiding you."
I shook my head and gently pushed her back enough to meet her eyes. "Listen, Phoebe. You’ll leave this place today."
Her eyes widened further. "What do you mean me? We, Kyra. We’ll leave together. My brother would be so happy to see you—"
"I can’t," I cut her off firmly.
Tears pooled in her eyes again. "You’ll sacrifice yourself for me?"
I caressed her cheeks, looking into eyes so similar to her brother’s. "I don’t want to stay here either, Phoebe. I have someone I need to take care of. Someone I couldn’t live without, but I have to stay here for everyone’s peace."
"No! No! We’ll leave together. I won’t leave you here..." She sobbed. "If that asshole hadn’t threatened to hurt my mother, I would never have gone with him..."
"You sacrificed yourself for your mother, and I understand you because I’m going to sacrifice myself for my daughter."
Her face froze in shock, staring at me like she couldn’t process my words.
"Listen, Phoebe," I paused, quickly scanning the room though I’d checked for cameras the night before. "I need you to go home and look for Luke. Tell him I sent you, and he’ll bring you to my apartment. My daughter is there, and she needs someone to look after her while I’m gone."
"K-Kyra..."
I smiled sadly. "Please take good care of my angel. She’s why I kept fighting all these years. She was my hope when I was drowning. Please don’t let her drown too."
"Kyra, don’t do this, please..."
I squeezed my eyes shut against my own tears. "Please, Phoebe."
"But what if he hurts you?" Her voice trembled.
I met her gaze steadily. "He won’t hurt me." I wished I believed that as much as I wanted her to.
Her lips trembled. Still the crybaby I remembered. "B-but..."
I cupped her cheeks again, steadying her. "I promise you I will not die here. I still have a daughter to raise. I won’t give up on my life that easily."
She sobbed and nodded slowly before hugging me tightly again. I stroked her hair, finding comfort in knowing my daughter would have someone trustworthy watching over her.
Even as the guards came to escort her out, Phoebe hesitated, clearly torn about leaving me behind. I gave her a reassuring nod, though my own fear threatened to choke me.
From the window, I watched as she was led to the helicopter. Kieran appeared beside me, and I gritted my teeth as his men blindfolded her before helping her aboard.
"Is that blindfold necessary?" I hissed.
"I’m just making sure she won’t come back here with her stupid brother," Kieran replied coldly. "Unless you want my men, scattered around the island, to shower them with bullets until their blood taints the beautiful ocean."
I faced him with empty eyes. "You know, I was wrong when I thought, long ago, that you still had a chance at redemption. You are obviously a hopeless case."
I turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm, stopping me.
"We can settle this by giving me a chance, Kyra." His voice softened desperately. "Say, do you want me to kneel and beg for your forgiveness? I will do it."
I stared at him blankly. "Then beg."
To my surprise, he immediately dropped to his knees before me. His eyes pleaded, but instead of seeing sincerity, all I felt was anger burning through me. Did he truly think it would be that easy? That if he begged, I would forgive him and forget everything? My father was dead because of him. I’d spent years running, hiding, building a life, only to have it threatened again.
"Please forgive me, Kyra. Give me another chance. I will be good."
I looked down at him, letting all my hatred show in my eyes. Without a word, I turned my back and walked away, leaving him kneeling there alone.
If only my conscience would allow me to end him with my bare hands, to let Sylvia tear into his throat... but even in my darkest moments, I knew I couldn’t become the monster he was.
