The Sins We Inherit

ian'

hispering in the corridor. I stopped and strained to

nued, his voice taut with shame. "But it did. "Everythin

as quiet and almost calming in its answer. "You can't handle it

hat I heard in his voice? I wanted to get up and

." "But... I should have st

broke the silence of the night like a knife. As the door opened, my heart raced.

dn't put my finger on. He said, "Seraphina,

already had his confession stamped in my mi

at each other. We were both tense, but we didn't say anything about it. I

r. I expected the silence would swallow us up, but instead it fe

ng at me. "Are you okay?" I inquired, attempting to ease the tension, but t

've been better," he said under his breath. "

was something in his eyes that made him look vulnerable, even though he usually looked in

eep?" I asked, my v

glimpsed something-maybe guilt or regret-before

assian went out first without waiting for me, and I followed

ing of my keyboard. I tried to pay attention to the reports in

oon. I couldn't just sit there anymore. I walked in

sped in front of him like he was deep in contemplation. The polished wood wa

as he questioned,

my voice shook a little. "About my dad."

y, he put the papers down and looked

die by accident, Seraphina." "I knew he was in trouble. I knew i

g came out. Instead, I stood there, paralyzed, looking at the man who had hurt me so deeply. He

nd the words were hard to h

though it hurt, there was a peculiar sense of clarity

no idea what t

I asked, trying not to let th

out an old envelope that was yellowed with age. The seal was broken, but it seemed like it had been ta

side, and the words were very different from the peacefulness

something much bigger than I thought I would." Evander Wrenford is not the person

hing. As I read the rest of the letter, the ink seemed t

"I couldn't stop it, Seraphina." I

is icy appearance, but the anguish and regret were all there, hidden within.

y father's ties to the Wrenford family and the darkness I had been warned against. It seemed lik

like the walls were closing in on us. Cassian, who was standing a few feet away, looked exactly like the guy

oner." "Your dad was involved in something muc

My voice was barely above a whisper, but the inquiry

me with a look of sorrow. "I knew your dad was in trouble.

"You knew?" I said it again, this time

uldn't, Seraphina." I wa

s we didn't say. I tried to put together the broken

ready to ask another question. I turned around, but t

an eye on you. And