Chapter 10 A Grave of Regrets
740 Words
Leon's steps halted in front of a beautifully decorated grave, surrounded by clusters of lily-of-the-valley flowers—fresh, likely changed daily.
Seeing the name "Serena Sinclair" engraved on the tombstone, a wave of pain surged through Katherine's heart. This was no dream but a harsh reality—her sister had truly left this world.
Gone forever.
She fell heavily to her knees, wrapping her arms tightly around the tombstone. As she stared blankly at the photo on the stone, her sobs came in broken gasps. "Sister… do you hate me? Sister…"
Leon stood motionless like a statue, his piercing blue eyes filled with sorrow as he watched Katherine's every move.
He had once hoped to give the woman he cherished the happiest life imaginable. But before he could, she had already vanished from his grasp. Now separated by life and death, his already cold and unsociable nature had turned to ice.
And yet…
Seeing the familiar face of the very woman who had caused all of this shattered his composure. He wanted to inflict upon her every ounce of the pain Serena had endured. He wanted her to suffer—to pay for her careless actions at a price she would never forget.
Even though deep down, he knew Serena would never have wanted that.
Katherine cried until her vision blurred, and her body felt weak. Still, her tears didn’t stop. In the swirling haze, she thought she could see Serena's warm smile, her gentle and angelic nature.
If she could trade her own life for her sister's, she would.
But she couldn't.
She wasn't worthy.
Her sister had been extraordinary, while she was ordinary. Serena was a graceful swan, while she was nothing more than an ugly duckling. Her sister was kind, gentle, and admired, while she was rebellious and unwanted. Her sister was the beloved daughter of the Sinclair family's lady of the house, while she was the child of a maid.
A child who wasn't even supposed to exist.
No matter how privileged her upbringing had seemed, she had never escaped the whispers and scorn. She was just the maid's daughter.
Stolen, even.
They said her mother had drugged her father, seduced him, and conceived her out of deception. That was why her father despised her, and the entire Sinclair family rejected her.
Her brother felt the same. He called her mother a disgrace and her little seductress.
But Serena had never turned her away.
Serena had protected her, given her everything. She had begged their father to let Katherine go to school, had given her beautiful dresses, and treated her as family when no one else did.
And now, Katherine had indirectly caused her death.
She could never forgive herself.
And neither could Leon, the man who had loved her sister so deeply.
Leon stood there, watching her cry, confess, and crumble under the weight of her guilt.
His voice was cold when he finally spoke. “Crying? Do you think that will bring her back?”
Katherine's sobs quieted as she turned to face him. His eyes burned with hatred. She took a shaky breath, then slowly stood.
“I know it's useless,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But whatever I need to do from now on, I will do it.”
She turned back to the tombstone, her gaze lingering. The small, bitter smile on her lips barely held as she forced herself to step away.
She descended the steps slowly, as though every step carried the weight of her sins.
But as she reached the foot of the hill, she spotted a red sports car parked nearby.
The driver's side door opened, and a tall man stepped out—Julian Sinclair.
Her brother.
Katherine barely had time to react before his face twisted in fury, his bloodshot eyes burning with rage.
"Who allowed you to come here?!" he shouted, his voice like a whip. "You have no right to be here! Get lost!"
Katherine didn't argue. She simply wiped her tears away and said calmly, "I know I should keep my distance. You don’t need to remind me."
Julian let out a bitter laugh, his handsome face dark with resentment. He stepped forward, gripping her chin between his fingers as he leaned in close.
"You?" he spat. "You think you have the right to act dignified? You're nothing but a filthy little seductress. You don't even deserve self-respect!"
- Writer
