Chapter 824:

“Why are you here?” Theo’s sorrow evaporated, replaced by a storm of hatred and suspicion.

Kaelyn’s smile widened, a twisted amusement flickering in her eyes as she watched the emotions play across his face.

“You and Elyse have been pouring your hearts out for a while now,” she mused, her tone mocking. “Did she agree to get back with you? I guess not, or you wouldn’t be out here, crying like a lost child.”

She sighed, a feigned sadness dripping from her words. “You know, Theo, when you were with me, you were so perfect. The perfect boyfriend. Everyone envied me. But then you left me for Elyse. Do you have any idea how unreasonable you were with her?”

Kaelyn’s voice was like a dagger, each word cutting deep into Theo’s already wounded heart. “You probably don’t know, so let me enlighten you. With Elyse, you became someone else entirely. A spoiled child, selfish and self-centered. But at the same time, you were so effortlessly genuine, so brutally honest.”

Kaelyn paused, her smile widening as she tilted her head playfully. “So, here’s the real question. Did you enjoy being with me more, or was it Elyse you truly craved?”

Theo’s chest heaved, his breath ragged, eyes red with deep-seated loathing as he glared at her, his silence a refusal to play her twisted game.

“You don’t know?” she continued, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. “Then let me spell it out for you.” Her eyes gleamed with a mix of pity and satisfaction as she leaned in, speaking softly but cuttingly. “You liked being with Elyse more. It was painfully obvious how real you were with her, how you shamelessly basked in her love, and took everything she offered without a second thought.”

Theo’s breathing grew erratic, his hatred for Kaelyn intensifying as she exposed the truth he’d kept buried deep.

Kaelyn’s smile stretched wider, a glint of cruel amusement in her eyes. “But the moment I crooked my finger, you came running back, didn’t you? That’s when I realized that no matter how much you liked Elyse, you and I are cut from the same cloth. We’re the same, you and I.”

“Nonsense!” Theo’s voice was raw with fury. “I’m nothing like you. You’re the one who twisted everything, who ruined everything!” He refused to admit that he and Kaelyn were cut from the same cloth.

Kaelyn laughed, a cold, mocking sound. “How long are you going to keep lying to yourself? Do you really think you’re some noble hero just because you ran away from your responsibilities, abandoning the Ward family in the name of love?”

She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper that felt like nails on his skin. “You’re your mother’s only son. If you don’t take over the family business, who will? You ran because you wanted to control her, to force her hand. It was all just another way for you to get what you wanted. Did I hit the spot? I know you so well, don’t I? Of course, I’ve been watching you all along, darling. You and I are a match made in heaven.”

“No! No! You shut up!” Theo screamed, the sound echoing in the night as blood pooled at his feet, seeping into the snow.

Kaelyn merely twisted the knife, delighting in the agony on his face.

Then, with a swift jerk, she pulled it free, casually flicking the blood from the blade as if discarding an insignificant piece of trash. A car pulled up, its headlights slicing through the darkness. She spared Theo one final glance, a look of utter contempt, before turning on her heel and stepping into the waiting vehicle.