Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

Ethan and Jake both died in accidents. I wasn't there when it happened. Aside from sorrow for their lives lost too soon and hatred for the person behind it all, I didn't feel much.

The only effect it had on me was that I couldn't sleep well that night.

I thought I had long since severed ties with the identity of being the Sander family's fourth daughter. But when Greg's warm blood splattered all over me, I realized something I'd tried to deny for years. Blood ties-no matter how broken, even if the bodies were torn to pieces-could never truly be cut.

Josh and Kate stumbled toward us, their movements unsteady. Kate, in her panic and worry, tripped and fell heavily to the ground.

Penelope tried to stand up, but her frail body wouldn't let her. She could only crawl across the floor, inch by inch, toward Greg.

Whitney took a step back, like she had been scared stiff. Tears slid slowly from her eyes.

Yet again, her loved ones were bleeding out right in front of her. She had to be the one hurting the most.

My vision was completely filled with the piercing red of blood. Before I could even think clearly, I had already crouched down and was pressing hard on his wound.

But the gash was too big. Blood kept pouring out, covering my hands.

"Coco."

He reached up weakly and touched my face. "It's been a long time since I called you that."

"I-I'm sorry..."

He let out a soft, resigned laugh. "So it turns out... saying sorry isn't as hard as I thought."

I held back my tears, forcing my voice to remain cold as I told him, "I won't accept your apology. Don't think that dying will make everything go away."

"Heh... cough... You're still so kind. How could I ever have doubted that you might've joined the Carlyns to hurt us? Actually... under the plum tree, I buried a jar of Ruby Toast. I'd planned to open it for your wedding night, but... but fate played its tricks. I'm sorry. That night, I thought you'd just run off in a tantrum. I never imagined... Coco, ending up like this-it's what I deserve."

He gave a bitter smile. "Dad, Mom... I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill my duty as your son, to care for you until the end."

uncontrollably. She shook her head frantically, crying, "No, no! Don't say stupid

in tears now, his face streaked

of her shock-didn't rush to Greg. Instead, she

the hem of Dominic's coat, she pleaded, "Mr. Carlyn, I'm a Sanders. Please, let me atone for the Sanders. Save my brother! He doesn't know anything-he's innocent! You can do whatever you want to me, torture me however you like, but please ... save him!" Tears rolled down her sharp chin,

here. No one would pity

"Anna, I've already shown you

Carlyn, the Sanders are at fault for everything every last mistake is ours. Ethan and Jake are already dead. Greg is the last Sanders alive. I'm begging you ... please

kept bowing her head, hitting it against the ground with so much force that blood had started to show on her forehead. Seeing it made

but I couldn't move. My hands were pressed firmly against

Axes were weapons designed for heavy strikes and chopping, far less precise than

force of

attention in time, there was still a

logic,

in any given situation, instead

seen, which made it obvious that Dominic had planned this carefully. He didn't

actually leave us

Whitney kept bowing, begging for mercy. She was trying to stir even the

up, and no one

the axe I

price for her sins. I've already lost two sons, and my two daughters have suffered endlessly because of this. Now Greg's life hangs by a thread. If revenge has a target, let

Josh had always been selfish, timid, and cowardly. Yet, in this

smile, making it clear that he

had truly wanted to kill us, we'd already be

As long as you cut off your own leg with your own hands, I'll

so distraught that her face was covered in tears. She was too overwhelmed to even string

doesn't it? But let me ask you this did you feel anything back then when my father lost his leg

pay for

halfway in the grave anyway? You've lived a life of luxury and indulgence, and now you think you can die to