Chapter 806
The little girl wiped her tears, staring at the boy half a head shorter than her.
"How...how old are you?" she sniffled.
Theo lifted his face. "Four and a half."
The girl froze. At eight years old, she already felt miserable—yet this little brother had lost both parents before even turning five.
"Your mom and dad..." she asked cautiously.
Theo kicked a pebble on the ground. "Dad was gone before I was born. Mom...she always hit and yelled at me. Later Uncle told me she wasn't my real mom."
Fresh tears welled in the girl's eyes.
"But Uncle and Auntie are really nice to me." Theo suddenly grabbed her hand. "Don't cry, big sister. We have to live well."
The girl stared at him blankly.
"My mom said the stars are people who loved us." Theo pointed at the sky. "They're always watching over us."
The girl's tears turned into a smile as she nodded firmly.
Vivian stood nearby, her eyes burning. Her Theo always knew how to warm others' hearts.
......
Zoe's apartment was shrouded in darkness, curtains drawn tight.
She curled in the corner of the couch, knees hugged to her chest. Despite the heating, her body wouldn't stop trembling.
"Go away...all of you..." She swatted at the empty air.
The voices returned—patients moaning, families wailing, the metallic clang of surgical tools hitting the floor.
"Dr. Chamberlain, why did you kill me?"
"You murderer!"
She clawed at her ears, nails digging into her scalp. Three sleepless nights left her eyes bloodshot, lips cracked and peeling.
Her phone vibrated, startling a scream from her.
Madeline Delmonico's appointment reminder.
With shaking hands, Zoe dialed Annika's number.
"I...I can't do this anymore..." Her words tumbled out incoherently. "Please...let me go..."
A light chuckle came through the receiver. "Of course."
Zoe exhaled in relief, ready to thank her—
"Use your life to end it then." Annika's voice turned glacial. "You know too many secrets."
The phone slipped from Zoe's fingers.
At last, she understood—she'd already fallen into the abyss with no way back.