Chapter 341: Chapter 340

412 words

<html><head></head><body>The phone rang abruptly, its shrill tone cutting through the silence. Luna White stared at the flashing name on the screen—Shawn Johnson—her fingers trembling slightly. She took a deep breath and pressed the answer button. "Kevin Shaw is dead." Those four words froze Luna where she stood. Slowly, she lowered the phone and gazed at her palms. These hands, once meant only for healing, were now stained with blood. "I don't regret it," she whispered. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a pale glow on her face. Kevin Shaw deserved to die—the thought coiled in her mind like a serpent. Memories of humiliation from her past life surged forward: the man's greedy eyes, his filthy touch... Luna clenched her fists, nails digging into her flesh. Medical school would begin in three months. She should have been preparing for a new life, full of hope. Instead, she felt hollow. Her phone vibrated again. A text from Andrew Smith: "Meet me at our usual spot at 8 tonight." Reading it, the tension in her shoulders eased slightly. Andrew had been her anchor these past months, a safe harbor in the storm. But how long would this peace last? Luna frowned. Clara Clark and her daughter had been unusually quiet lately. Knowing Clara, this wasn't surrender—it was the calm before a greater storm. Ding-dong. The doorbell interrupted her thoughts. Peering through the peephole, she saw a familiar face—Andrew's older brother, Adrian Smith, standing outside with two bottles of wine. "Luna, open up!" His cheerful voice carried through the door. "I brought these back from France. Tonight, we drink until we drop!" She sighed in amusement. Ever since their last meeting, Adrian had taken to dropping by unannounced, claiming he was "vetting his little brother's choice." The moment the door opened, Adrian barged in. "Listen, Andrew's been acting shady lately. He's definitely planning some kind of surprise—" He stopped mid-sentence, studying her face. "What's wrong? You look terrible." Luna shook her head. "Just tired." Adrian narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice. "Did Clara cause trouble again?" Her pulse jumped. It seemed both Smith brothers were wary of their stepmother. "No, she's been... quiet." "Quiet?" Adrian scoffed. "A hibernating viper is the most dangerous kind." He patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. With Andrew and me around, she won't get far." Luna forced a smile, but unease prickled at her. The stillness before a storm was always the most suffocating. Outside, dark clouds gathered on the horizon. </body></html>