Chapter 140

Agnes

I burst onto the runway, my chest heaving as I screamed her name.

“Thea!!”

The music cut off abruptly, leaving a hollow silence that swallowed the venue. The crowd stared at first, but then their murmurs began to ripple through the air, glancing at each other in confusion. The models up ahead froze mid-stride, turning to face me, the little girls by their sides staring in shock.

But I didn’t care about them, or the fucking show, or any of it. I only cared about her.

“Thea!” I shouted again, rushing forward. My heels skidded on the polished wood surface of the runway, and I nearly stumbled, but I didn’t stop or slow down. I had to find her. My eyes darted to the front row, searching for Elijah—his seat was empty.

The sight twisted my stomach, a cold dread settling in my stomach. Where was he? Where was she?

“Theaaa!!”

Elijah. I heard his voice echoing outside the main room.

Without thinking, I leapt off the runway, landing hard on the carpeted aisle. My legs carried me forward, and I slammed into something solid—Elijah’s body. He’d burst through the doors of the auditorium, causing everyone to turn and look.

I stumbled back, breathless. “O-Olivia—she—”

“I know,” he said, grabbing my hand and yanking me out of the room, into the empty lobby. “I knew something was wrong when I saw her come out with Thea.”

My lungs burned from how fast my heart was pumping, but his confirmation lit a fresh fire under me. Thea might be in danger. Olivia had taken her—snatched her right out from under our noses—and every second we wasted could mean she was farther away.

No hesitation, I grabbed Elijah’s arm, my fingers digging into his sleeve. “We have to find her. Now.”

He nodded, and we bolted toward the exit. I shoved through them and into the morning air, where rain poured down. It immediately soaked through my emerald gown in seconds. The fabric clung to my legs. Water streaked my face, blurring my vision as we ran across the parking lot. One of my heels broke as I skidded across the parking lot, and I didn’t even think before I was suddenly kicking them off, choosing to go barefoot.

“Where would she go?” I gasped, my voice nearly lost amongst the rain.

Elijah scanned the street, his dark hair already plastered to his forehead. “Somewhere close. She wouldn’t risk taking her far.”

We turned down the block, my heart pounding in my ears. The rain battered my skin, stinging my cheeks, but I kept moving. Then, through the haze, I spotted a neon sign—a nail salon. My stomach lurched as I saw them through the window: Olivia and Thea, sitting at a manicure station.

I pushed through the door, Elijah right behind me. The bell jingled, and the chatter inside died as heads turned. Thea sat on a cushioned chair, her small hands splayed on the table, a nail tech brushing polish onto her fingers. Her eyes were red, tears streaking her cheeks, and the sight made my chest clench. Olivia lounged beside her, a smug smile curling her lips, her own nails freshly painted a garish red.

“What the hell is this?” Elijah demanded, storming forward.

Olivia glanced up at him, unfazed. “I picked Thea up for Mother’s Day. We’re having a little mother-daughter time—nails and all.”

I stared at Thea, her lower lip trembling. Her eyes were wide and filled with tears. She looked fucking terrified, and it broke my heart.

But it broke something else in me, too. The restraint I’d been barely hanging onto for months now suddenly snapped like a thin thread, and I surged forward, storming up to Olivia. “How dare you take my daughter without my permission?” I growled, my hands curling into fists at my sides.

Olivia’s smile sharpened, her gaze flicking over me like I was nothing. “Thea isn’t your missing daughter, who’s likely dead. Or are you really as crazy as they say, believing she’s not only still out there, but Thea no less?”

Her words hit me like a knife twisting in my belly. How dare she? How dare she use my daughter’s disappearance to justify tormenting Thea?

“Take that back,” I snarled.

She lifted her chin. “Why should I? It’s the truth, you know. You lost your mind seven years ago because you can’t cope with the fact that—”

I lost control before she could finish. Like lightning, my hands shot out, shoving Olivia hard in the chest. She stumbled back, her chair scraping against the floor, and the salon erupted into gasps.

“You don’t get to say that!” I shouted, lunging at her again.

Olivia recovered fast, far faster than I could since she had a wolf and I didn’t. She grabbed my arms, her nails lengthening into claws, and shoved me back. I tripped over a stool, crashing to the floor, and she was on me in an instant.

Her claws raked down my gown, the emerald fabric tearing with a sickening rip. Shreds fell around me, the vines I’d stitched so carefully now ruined, and pain flared across my shoulder where her claws grazed my skin. Somewhere in the distance, I heard the low rumble of Elijah’s voice, and Thea’s small cries.

But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t stop.

Gathering myself, I swung at Olivia, my fist connecting with her cheek, but she snarled and pinned me down again with ease. Her claws hovered above my face, ready to strike, and fear spiked through me—not for myself, but for Thea watching this unfold.

Just as I braced for the blow, Elijah’s arms wrapped around Olivia from behind, yanking her off me with ease.

“Enough!” he barked, holding her back as she thrashed.

I scrambled to my feet, my dress hanging in tatters and my chest heaving. Thea sobbed in the corner, her hands covering her face, and my heart shattered at the sound. Around us, people whipped out their phones, flashes popping through the air as they snapped photos and recorded the mess. Olivia’s face bore a deep scratch from my nails, blood trickling down her cheek.

The damage had been done.

“Look at you,” she said, brushing off Elijah’s grip. “Proving everyone right about your insanity over that dead kid.”

My throat closed up, tears burning my eyes. I glanced at Elijah, hoping for support, but his jaw was tight and his eyes were hard. “Agnes, what were you thinking?” he said, approaching me. “You stooped to her level. This isn’t you.”

His words stung worse than Olivia’s claws. I was the bad guy now—painted as the unhinged one, just like she wanted. Just like they all wanted. My dress was destroyed, my pride shredded, and… I couldn’t bear it any longer.

Wordlessly, I turned and ran, pushing past the gawking onlookers and back into the rain. Water soaked me through, mixing with the tears streaming down my face. My chest ached, sobs tearing out of me as I stumbled down the street. I couldn’t face Elijah’s disappointment, Thea’s fear, or Olivia’s victory. I just needed to get away.

Without a second thought, I ducked into an alleyway, the cold brick wall rough against my back as I slid down to the ground. Rain pelted my skin, making me shiver. I pressed my hands to my face, my shoulders shaking as I cried.

Thea wasn’t mine—not by blood—and Olivia had ripped that truth open for everyone to see. My real daughter was gone, lost to me forever, and I’d failed the one I’d claimed as my own.

I’d only ever wanted to protect Thea, to be her mother in every way that mattered, to be the mother I couldn’t be for my biological daughter… but I’d only made things worse.

With another sob quaking my body, I hugged my knees to my chest.

Just then, headlights cut through the air. I looked up through bleary eyes, expecting it to be Elijah pulling up, likely to scold me for stooping to Olivia’s level again and for running off. But it wasn’t.

The man who stepped out of the car and strode toward me was Mason.