Stephen quickly walked over, cradling Summer's bruised and swollen face, not daring to touch it too firmly for fear of hurting her.
A wave of crushing guilt washed over Stephen as he gazed at her injured face. 'If I hadn't been so arrogant, she would never have endured this torment,' he thought, his jaw clenching with self-reproach.
"Summer, I'm here."
Summer struggled to move her lips, smiling as she whispered faintly, "Charles, I knew you would come to save me..."
Her raspy voice was almost inaudible.
Stephen leaned in closer with a furrowed brow.
'Charles?' The name stirred something in Stephen's memory, yet he couldn't place it. A past lover perhaps? But surely he would have known about someone so important to her.
Summer's spirit had already reached its limit. She clutched Step
