The housemaid rushed in, eyes wide at the sight of me on the floor, smeared with cake and clutching my burnt arm.
“What have you done, boys?” she gasped.
“They deserved it,” Ian said with a shrug. “She’s a witch. She killed our mother.”
The twins stomped off, leaving me trembling. The maid knelt beside me, gently helping me to my feet.
“I don’t know why you put up with them, Raven,” she murmured.
I managed a faint, weary smile as she guided me to my room.
“This salve will ease the burns. Thankfully, it’s not too deep. Apply it daily, and the scars will fade,” she explained, handing me a small jar.
“Thank you,” I muttered.
After she left, I washed the cake from my face, staring at my reddened eyes and split lips in the mirror. I dabbed the ointment over my arm, wincing.
“What a fool I’ve been,” I whispered.
Eleven years ago, I was meant to marry Alaric Caldwin, but a tragic accident on our wedding day changed everything.
While I fought for my life, my best friend Ariel stepped in to marry him, protecting his family and their honor.