His thin lips twisted into a cruel smile as he said, “Erick, your precious son. Your love for him wasn't in vain. He swiftly hunted down Jimena. But alas, by the time he found her, she was already gone, silenced forever."

“Don't you dare harm him!" Casey grabbed Davey's collar, her eyes flashing with anger. "Don't touch him! I'll kill you if you try!"

But her bravery was short-lived, as Davey quickly subdued her, pinning her to the ground with ease.

Davey pressed on, his words dripping with cruelty, “Because he searched for Jimena to locate you, he took a bullet."

Casey's voice froze all of a sudden, her screams trapped by horror and despair.

Her world shattered, leaving her with nothing but ruins. Davey had brutally murdered her parents, exploiting their illness. Jimena was murdered for delivering messages for her, caught in the crossfire of a deadly game. Erick laid critically wounded on his search of her whereabouts, his life teetering on the edge of oblivion.

The innocent people she loved, who had selflessly tried to support her, had all been unjustly punished by Davey, their lives ravaged by the cruel consequences. Casey was consumed by desperation and grief.

Her heart was shattered into a million pieces.

“It's all my fault," she thought, consumed by guilt and self—blame.

“They suffered because of me."

She curled up into a tight ball, as if trying to physically contain the anguish that threatened to consume her. But it couldn't.

The pain came from deep within her, a constant reminder of her own self-hatred. Yes. She was consumed by self-loathing, feeling like a toxic presence that didn't deserve to exist. She felt utterly unworthy of life itself.

Davey stood up and said, "Casey, with time, you'll figure out what's right and wrong, and regret what you've done."

Casey's eyes went blank as she whispered, “It's all my fault, I."

She barely whispered, “I deserve to die."

But before Davey could react, a sickening "plop" sound echoed through the air, and blood began to pour from the corners of her mouth. It was like a faucet that was stuck open and couldn't be shut off.

Davey's eyes widened in terror as he dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around Casey in a desperate embrace, and screaming her name, "Casey!"

But Casey in his arms was still and silent. She bit down on her own tongue, choosing death over captivity.

After a deafening silence, Davey scooped Casey up and sprinted out of the room.

This was the second time his heart had been gripped by terror. The last time was when Casey had attempted to take her own life by jumping off the balcony.