Chapter 444

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Aria said expressionlessly , “ What am I supposed to know ? ”
Seeing her complete lack of curiosity , Orlando curled his lips in a mocking smile . “ Indeed , it’s not something you need to know . ”
Aria was never related to Rachel by blood in the first place . The one truly connected was Silvia , the Saxon family’s heiress .
Aria shot Orlando a cold glare . “ Useless . ”
Aria thought coldly , ‘ Should’ve known he’d be so clueless . What a waste of time !
Frustrated , Orlando snapped his phone shut .
In a way , Aria wasn’t wrong in calling him useless .
He’d always seen Rachel as timid and cowardly . He never would have expected her to do something like kidnapping .
Maybe he didn’t really know Rachel either .
He couldn’t contact Olivia or Russell .
The Wolfshade Syndicate would never let Rachel off the hook .
And if anything happened to Lily , Aria wouldn’t let them off the hook either .
Things were getting messy .
Orlando rubbed his temples , his face tense with frustration .
Her phone rang , and Aria snatched it up .
The surveillance feed cut out at Trebode Road .
Trebode Road led to Larkridge High School .
Aria barked at the phone , “ Head to Larkridge High School . ”
Immediately after , she called Valerie .
Aria , Valerie , and Owen arrived at Larkridge High School .
Valerie rushed toward Aria , slightly out of breath . “ I’ve got security pulling the surveillance footage . They’re headed to that abandoned classroom building behind the school . ”
Aria barked , “ Move ! ”
Aria and Owen drove straight into campus , while Liam was stopped at the gate .
“ What’s your business here ? ” the security guard demanded .
Liam rushed to explain , “ I’m with them . ”
Seeing the guard still blocking his way , Liam hastily added , “ The ones who just went in one’s my ex – wife , the other’s my brother . I’m here to help with
the search . ”
Just then , Diego leaned out of the passenger seat and pleaded , “ It’s an emergency ! Please let us in ! ”
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After a brief hesitation , the security guard finally waved them through .
On the rooftop of the abandoned classroom building behind the school , Lily stood motionless , her vacant gaze fixed on the distance .
Rachel leaned precariously against the railing , her face mostly hidden behind a mask , revealing only her tear filled eyes .
She tilted her head slightly toward Lily and asked in a whisper , “ Lily , are you afraid of death ? ”
Lily spoke mechanically , “ I used to be afraid , but not anymore . ”
Rachel asked with trembling lips , “ Why ? ”
“ Because I have Aria around now ,” Lily said softly .
Rachel looked at her enviously and said , “ Aria isn’t even your biological sister , yet she treats you so well . I wasn’t that lucky – instead , I met Olivia
Her mind drifted . She couldn’t even remember when she’d become associated with Olivia .
Rachel sighed . “ Did you know Olivia calls me “ little vixen “ ? It’s a name she gave me on purpose – just to humiliate me . ”
Olivia was temperamental – whenever she was in a bad mood , Rachel always bore the brunt of it .
Every word she said had to be carefully weighed , terrified of offending Olivia and being crushed underfoot like an ant .
After all this time , she finally made a real friend , but Olivia was forcing her to hurt her friend .
Maybe death was the only way out .
But the thought of being alone terrified Rachel .
Rachel slowly moved closer and wrapped her arms around the unresponsive Lily , her voice trembling . “ Lily , if I hurt you , would you hate me for it? ”
Lily was silent for a moment before replying mechanically , “ No , as long as you don’t hurt Aria .”
Rachel looked at her , voice trembling . “ Who’s more important to you – me or Aria ? ”
“ Aria , ” Lily answered without hesitation .
Rachel looked up at her , eyes brimming with sorrow . “ But to me , you’re more important than anyone , Lily . You’re all I have left … Would you – would you stay with me , even if it means dying together ? ”
“ No , ” Lily replied . “ I’ve struggled so hard for so long . I don’t want to give up now . ”
Rachel said with trembling lips , “ So you’re just going to let me die alone ? ”
“ Neither of us will die , ” Lily said .
Rachel clung to the railing , her body wracked with sobs . “ I want to live , but I just can’t go on like this . ”
After what felt like an eternity of weeping , Rachel finally straightened up and , gripping the railing for support , hauled herself
The sun beat down , its warmth soaking into her skin .
Rachel reached a hand up toward the sky , wondering silently , ‘ When I die , will I go to heaven , or hell ? ‘
‘ I’ll probably end up in hell , ‘ Rachel mused , ‘ seeing as I wanted to take Lily down with me . ‘
‘ Lily’s so good – she deserves to go to heaven .
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‘ If that’s the case , even in death , Lily and I still can’t be together .
‘ No , I shouldn’t drag her into this after all . ‘
Rachel looked down at Lily , whose eyes were vacant and lost . Gently , she stroked Lily’s hair and said softly , “ Lily , I’m so glad I met you ?
This period of time in Huthailia was the most peaceful and joyful period of her life .
That was it .
Rachel let her hand fall back to her side and closed her eyes , as if finally ready to let go .
At that critical moment , several people burst onto the rooftop through the access door from the stairwell .
At the sight , Orlando’s heart stopped in terror . “ Rachel ! ” he shouted desperately . “ Don’t do anything rash ! ”
Rachel turned at the familiar voice . “ Orlando , you’re here,” she said softly , her voice tinged with weary relief ,
At least she got to see someone who was decent to her before dying , and Rachel felt a faint , bitter comfort .
Seeing Lily unharmed , Aria felt the tension in her chest ease . Her gaze then fell on Rachel , who was still standing precariously on the rooftop ledge .
“ Rachel , please come down first , ” Valerie urged gently but firmly . “ Whatever’s troubling you , we can talk it through . ”
“ Orlando , don’t come any closer , or I’ll jump ! ” Rachel warned .
Orlando had no choice but to stop , clenching his fists tightly . “ Rachel , is someone hurting you ? Tell me who it was . I’ll make them pay , okay ? ”
“ You can’t help me ! ” Rachel stared at him , her vision swimming with tears . “ Would any of you really dare kill Olivia ? ”
“ You wouldn’t dare ! Not even Russell would ! ” Rachel said with a broken voice , “ No one can save me now .”
“ Rachel , we found your family ! ” Orlando cried out desperately .
Rachel froze , eyes wide . “ What ? What did you just say ? ”
Orlando managed a reassuring smile . “ Rachel , you do have a family . Russell and I secretly ran a DNA test for you . We really found your parents, and you even have a sister . ”
Rachel’s voice trembled with sudden fury . “ Liar ! ” she shouted . “ If you really found them , why did you wait so long to tell me ? Why keep it from me all this
time ? ”
“ We had no idea Olivia was treating you so badly ! ” Orlando’s eyes welled up . “ Rachel , I’m so sorry . It’s my fault for not protecting you . ”
“ Is Lily still under hypnosis ? ” Aria asked Owen .
Owen nodded . “ Most likely . ”
Aria turned to Owen , her voice tense . “ Is there any way to snap Lily out of it ? ”
Owen replied , “ A shock might work , but we can’t get close . ”
Rachel covered her face and forced a bitter smile . “ Yeah , you can’t protect me . This so – called ‘ family ‘ ? It’s all a lie . ”
“ It’s true ! ” Orlando shouted urgently , “ Your real name is Pearl ! ”
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