Chapter 3
He looked at me like I’d just said something ridiculous. “Katherine, since when did you start pulling this dramatic crap?
“You’re slipping. And I’m done entertaining it.”
I lowered my gaze, a mocking smile playing on my lips.
I thought bitterly, “Raymond, do you honestly think I can’t live without you?”
When I stayed silent, his patience snapped. “Just cool off. Mari needs someone with her. Her fever isn’t breaking, so I have to go watch her.”
The door slammed shut with a heavy thud.
When I woke the next morning, my eyes fell upon the dagger on the nightstand.
In the dim light, the inscription was clear, “R.C. & M.L.”
M.L. for Marina Lowell.
This wasn’t my dagger.
I opened the hidden compartment in the headboard. My dagger lay there, quiet and still, inscribed with R.C. & K.M.
So that was it.
He had duplicated our sacred token for Marina.
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Without hesitation, I contacted the Organization’s Security Department and wiped my access permissions for the safe house.
Then I grabbed my bag and checked into a cash–only micro hotel downtown.
The surroundings were unfamiliar and noisy. Even though I had to stay on guard, I felt a sense of freedom I’d never known before.
However, the next day, I received an urgent order from Raymond to report to the Organization’s infirmary immediately.
I didn’t want to go, but my fund transfer wasn’t complete yet. I couldn’t risk raising red flags, so I had no choice.
The moment I stepped into the familiar hallway, someone lunged at me.
Raymond slammed me against the metal wall. He pressed his forearm against my throat, his eyes wild. “Speak. What did you do to Mari?”
His voice was tight with suppressed rage, his words cruel. “You know what Mari went through as a child. She has severe PTSD. Are you trying to drive her insane over some petty jealousy?”
“It wasn’t me.” The pressure on my throat made my voice rasp. “I haven’t set foot here in two days.”
Elizabeth and a few other core members walked out, but no one intervened. They just watched with cold suspicion.
“Katherine, there’s no point denying it,” Elizabeth said. “Who else could do all that–get around the surveillance, get in close enough to scare Mari, and still slip past Ray?”
Just then, the sound of Marina crying drifted from the hospital room.
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I shoved Raymond off and walked inside. Marina was curled up in the corner of the bed. “Look closely,” I said. “Was I the person you saw last night?”
She recoiled sharply, her eyes widening as she looked up, and let out a piercing scream. “Don’t touch me! I’ll give Ray back to you, just please let me go!”
She grabbed the metal cup from the bedside table and hurled it at me.
I tilted my head to dodge, but the rim grazed my brow. Blood trickled down the corner of my eye.
Raymond shielded Marina with his body. “Get out! Stay away from her!” he barked at me.
The others crowded around her, murmuring comfort, casting looks of blame in my direction.
I wiped the blood from my face and walked out.
Raymond found me after I’d cleaned the wound. His expression was still dark.
“Mari is unstable. You need to be more understanding.”
I met his gaze. “It’s fine. I won’t hold it against her. You’re the one juggling the mission and a patient. That must be exhausting.”
He paused, clearly surprised by my reaction.
“I’m glad you understand.”
He reached out to check the cut on my brow, but I took a step back.
Hi hand froze in mid–air, then slowly lowered into a clenched fist.
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Chapter 3
I looked at him calmly. “I have to say this, though. I had nothing to do with it.”
He gave a cynical, arrogant smile. “In all of Lycoris, who else could have pulled it off? Did Mari frame herself? She’s not capable of something like that.”
Seeing his certainty, I realized there was no point in defending myself.
I took a deep breath. “Raymond, I’m breaking…”
“Ray, it’s bad!” Elizabeth ran over.
“Mari is having another episode. She’s cowering in the corner, crying, and won’t let anyone near her.”
Raymond’s face fell, and he immediately turned to run back to the
room.
Watching him walk away, I finished the sentence in my mind, “I’m breaking up with you.”
Tomorrow was the second memory overwrite.
After that, he, Lycoris, and this whole rotten mess would be out of my life for good.
I turned to leave this suffocating place.
I had just reached the bottom of the stairs when I heard faint footsteps behind me.
Defore I could react, a sharp blow struck the back of my neck, and ever thing went black.
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Chapter 4
