CHAPTER 3 — THE GIRL WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER
CHAPTER 3 — THE GIRL WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER
The academy was empty within minutes.
Not evacuated.
Erased.
Outside, students were pulled into black vehicles. Parents arrived to chaos they couldn’t control. Security systems shut down one by one like they were being suffocated.
Inside the ballroom, silence returned—but not peace.
Damien lifted Maren carefully into his arms.
She flinched. “Don’t—please—my baby—”
“I’ve got you,” he whispered immediately. “I’ve got both of you.”
For a moment, he just held her.
Like he was afraid if he let go, the world would take her again.
Medical teams arrived with his men. A private trauma doctor checked her vitals on the floor.
“She needs a hospital immediately,” the doctor said.
Damien didn’t hesitate.
“Private transport. Now.”
As they lifted her onto a stretcher, Chloe was dragged past them, mascara streaked, finally silent.
But Maren turned her head weakly.
“Don’t… hurt her too much,” she whispered.
Damien froze.
“That girl almost killed our child,” he said softly.
Maren closed her eyes. “I know.”
A pause.
Then—barely audible—
May you like
“But I’m still me.”
That stopped him more than any bullet ever could.
