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."

frantically, crying, "No, no! Don't say stupid things

usually the quieter one, was also in tears now, his face streaked

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

Please, let me atone for the Sanders. Save my brother! He doesn't know anything-he's innocent! You can do whatever you

Taylor here. No one would pity

fingers. "Anna, I've already shown

head to the ground in desperation. "Mr. 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

the ground with so much force that blood had started to show on her

move. My hands were pressed firmly against Greg's

strikes and chopping, far less precise than a dagger that could take a life

back, loosening the force of my grip. The wound wasn't deep enough to be

time, there

and logic, both in the car earlier

knew what needed to be done in any given situation,

brothers and Amber were nowhere to be seen, which made it obvious that

to Wisteria, Dominic might actually leave us with a sliver of

begging for mercy. She was trying to stir even the tiniest shred of

stood up, and no one noticed him at

up the axe I

as her son, pay the 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 it fall on me. Spare his life, and I'll trade one of

in shock. In my eyes, Josh had always been selfish, timid, and cowardly.

amused smile, making it clear that he and Wisteria wanted to drag the

kill us, we'd already be dead

as you

her face was covered in tears. She was too overwhelmed to even string together

Watch how your son loses his leg. Hurts, doesn't it? But let me ask you

pay for it with my

You've lived a life of