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THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU do something you might regret, people say when you're all you're grown up. But nobody thinks to tell that to a 7-year-old. No. Nobody warns her that Karma's a real bitch and when it comes back to bite your ass, it doesn't come playing games.

I have the crushing ache vibrating through my body as the perfect evidence.

You designed the situation, forged the story and started the game. It was all you, mother.

How can you say you like me and then want to destroy my life like that?!

Sound familiar?

Kalisha! You said you like me, don't destroy my life like this!

Don't do this. You'll regret this, Kali, you'll pay for this. You'll pay for ruining my life.

... Anything for my enchanting, lucky charm.

I release a sharp breath as my eyes fly open, the world around me twirling with those snippets of memories playing on repeat in my head. My breathing is quick and shallow just as footsteps rush in my direction. I take a moment before all the people surrounding me come into focus.

Reagan's sienna brown eyes are the first thing I notice. The pained look ruffles up her porcelain skin as she stares at me. I search past her and sit right up once my eyes land on my father. My glacial blue eyes reflect right in his slightly darker ones.

My sister and mom shift backwards at my sudden move, but I don't spare them a glance. The muscles in my body tighten as my jaw sets in place.

"Where is he?"

Of course, the question is so out of it, but with the pressure building in me, I really have no time to explain.

If he's really back, then this can't be good.

"Lee?" My mother's normally bubbly voice is choked. I turn to her briefly just as a hand wraps around mine, pulling my attention away from her. Reagan's hands wrap around mine, and her eyes soften as they look at me.

"They've got him already, Lee. He's in prison. Haveal..."

I immediately withdraw my hands from hers, halting the rest of her words, and turn from her back to my father. The entire room suddenly seems to have heated in the last second. I can feel trickles of sweat run down my back despite the blasting air conditioner in the room.

"Not Haveal," I seethe. "Aiden."

And the temperature in the room actually drops as three of the four others in the room freeze, eyes widening as they stare at me. Mom opens her mouth and closes it, staring at me with matching wide eyes as Kalasiah covers her mouth with her palm like she can't believe I'd just said that name.

Dad is the first to recover. "Aiden Bryant?" he asks, his voice just a bit shaky.

"Yes. Where is he?"

"Aiden is in prison, dear. Why are you bringing him up now after all these years?" my mom says, the sadness in her voice taking a totally different turn as angry jabs slip into her words.

I turn back to him. The one person who can confirm whether I'm just reaching and what I think is happening is just a result of Haveal wanting to mess with my mind and nothing else. "How sure are you, dad? That he's still in there. How sure?" I emphasize, my words appearing forced, but I don't care. Not right now, not with the possibility of what's going on.

If Uncle Aiden is really out... If he planned...

My dad presses his lips together, his eyes dropping, and my stomach flips.

He's not sure.

Oh no.

He probably sees the desperation in my eyes because the next minute he's out of the room, his phone in his hands.

Kalasiah wastes no time moving closer to my bed. "What's going on Lee? It's been 22 years, why now?"

"You can't possibly think he's behind all this, do you?" my mom asks.

Reagan's brows crease at all this, but until dad comes back in with that information I need, I can't even explain to her who he is and what his coming back could mean for me and for every member of this family.

My body fidgets on the bed I'm in. Everything is out of place. I can't seem to think straight. My chest heaves up and down in tune with my shallow breaths.

"Lee? What's going on?" Agitation revolves around my mother's words but thankfully I don't have to answer that as my father walks back in, his face downcast and my stomach plummets.

No.

My eyes turn and my head pounds like someone has crushed it with a hammer. This can't be happening. He opens his mouth to talk, but I can't take in any of his words. I need no more of those words.

He's out. He's out, and now he's after me. And if that's the first thing he set out to do immediately after he got out, it just means he's been planning this for all those years. All the years that I've lived with that one memory flushed down the drain, he's relived it and made plans to get back at me.

Don't do this. You'll regret this, Kali, you'll pay for this. You'll pay for ruining my life.

Oh shit!

"Kalisha..."

"Can everyone just leave?"

"Lee?"

"Now!"

There's so much ringing in my head even as they cast me worried glances, but I can't even focus on them.

Even as I hear the click of the room door after they all leave, I can't stop my mind from roaming.

What does all of this even mean? Was all he made me go through at the office all that was left to his revenge? Did I just survive? Is that it? Did...

The door clicks open again and I glare at the nurse that walks in, holding a bouquet, a bright smile on her face. My jaw tightens.

"What are you..."

But she's already speaking. Her tone is sweet and just a tidbit honeyed.

"Oh, aren't you cherished? Not only do you have your family members gathering around you with so much care. You have another sending you a bouquet, especially one with such a lovely symbol like this."

My brows crease as she comes closer, cradling the flowers like they're a treasure. What is she talking about with family members? The only family members are the ones I just sent out of this room.

"What are you talking about?" I ask with my forehead creasing and brows raised.

She halts in her steps just before handing the flowers to me, cocking her head slightly to the side like I'm messing with her. "Your favourite uncle. He sent those."

My heart races at that moment, nearly exploding as I slowly turn to the bouquet now shaking in my trembling hands.

It's a bouquet of tansy flowers. To the outside world, the one that thinks I'm receiving such flowers from a loving uncle, it means hope, hope for good health and considering the state I'm in, it makes so much sense. But that's not...

A note sticks out amid the flowers and I raise my trembling sweaty palms to take it. My heart thrashes against my ribs, ready to erupt from his safe space. My chest tightens, frozen panic twirling there, as I read the words on the card.

The note drops from my hands just as I spot a blinking red light in the bouquet.

What in the...

I scramble out of bed, pain slicing through my body at the sudden movement. I groan and pick myself up, rushing to the windows, swiftly opening it right before I fling the bouquet out of it.

The flowers explode, splitting into a million different sparks brighter than a thousand suns. The pieces of the flower rain down to the ground, leaving a smoky residue in their wake.

My legs give way and I collapse onto the floor. If the meaning of the flowers wasn't evidence enough, the bomb most definitely is.

I gulp hard, bile burns in my throat. Taunting laughter echoes in my head.

It's a declaration of war.

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