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expression. “Amanda, you have nothing to apologize for.”
I shook my head, tears pooling in my eyes. “No, I do. I didn’t want to ruin the family‘ s reputation or drag you into my mess. I was trying to protect myself—and all of you—but I just made things worse.”
Andres leaned forward, his brows furrowed. “Why didn’t you come to us for help, Amanda? We could‘ ve handled this together.”
I looked down at my hands, the shame in my chest making it hard to breathe. “I was embarrassed,” I admitted. “You’ve only known me as your daughter for such a short time, and now I’ve brought nothing but chaos into your lives. I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
Dorothea placed a hand on mine.
“Amanda, you‘ re our daughter. That means we stand by you no matter what. But you need to stop thinking of yourself as weak.”
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Andres nodded. “You come from a strong family, Amanda. It’s time you start acting like it. You survived everything Gabriel and Nadia threw at you. That takes strength.”
I swallowed hard, their words sinking in. They were right. I had let my fear control me, but I wasn’t that girl anymore. I couldn’t be.
“You‘ re right,” I said softly, lifting my gaze to meet theirs. “I’ve been scared, but I’ve realized something. Gabriel and Nadia may be in jail, but this isn’t over. They won’t stop. They’ll find a way to ruin us again. That’s who they are.
I turned to Bryant. “They have to die.”
Bryant studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he leaned back, his lips curling into a faint smile. “I know people,” he said simply. “From the underground. They’ll do it clean. No
traces.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked, his
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voice low but serious.
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “They made me like this. They deserve it. And I want it done in a way they’ll never expect -something subtle. Poison.”
Bryant nodded, his eyes locking with mine.
“Consider it done.”
A week later, the news broke.
“Breaking: Gabriel and Nadia found dead in their prison cells. Early reports suggest suicide, though investigations are ongoing.”
I stood in front of the television, watching as the reporter recounted the details. Gabriel and Nadia, gone. The world
believed it was suicide, but I knew better.
A satisfied smile spread across my lips as I
turned off the TV.
“They’re gone,” I said softly, more to myself than anyone else.
Bryant, who had been leaning against the
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doorway, watched me closely. “Do you feel better?”
I turned to him, meeting his gaze. “Yes,” I said firmly. “For the first time, I feel free.”
He stepped closer, his expression softening. “Good. Because I think it’s time we finally put all this behind us.‘
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I tilted my head, curious. “What do you mean?”
Bryant reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. My breath caught as he opened it, revealing a dazzling diamond ring.
“Look, the wedding has been postponed twice and I won’t let it happen, also I realized I haven’t formally done this. because we were arranged so,” he said, dropping to one knee. “Amanda, will you marry me?”
Tears filled my eyes as I stared at him, my heart swelling with love and relief. “Yes,”
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I whispered, my voice trembling. “Yes, Bryant, I’ll marry you, a thousand times.”
He slipped the ring onto my finger, and I pulled him to his feet, wrapping my arms
around him as our lips met in a kiss.
