He is born never to be lost in the mortal world

“Now, Evan, don’t tease Sharon.”

Heather smiled, taking Sharon’s hand—but her brow furrowed the moment her fingers brushed the calluses on the girl’s palm.

“I’d love to taste your cooking too, dear. For my sake, just cook for us today, alright? And never talk about leaving this family again. You’re Evan’s fiancée. You belong with us.”

Without waiting for a refusal, she nudged Sharon toward the kitchen.

Sharon’s fingers trembled slightly as she picked up the knife, her breath catching in her throat.

An hour later, she finally brought the sprawling feast to the table.

“Not bad,” Evan said with a dismissive shrug, already reaching for a second helping. “Leah, have some more.”

“Thank you, Evan.”

Sharon kept her head down throughout the meal, never once glancing at Evan, as if none of it had anything to do with her.

A hot, irrational fury seized him. He slammed his fork down, voice sharp. “Sharon, why are you just eating? Have the dessert.”

Dessert… Sharon looked at the mango mousse. Evan had specifically asked her to make it, claiming it was Leah’s favorite.

But he knew perfectly well she was allergic to mangoes.

Her hands were already red and swollen from peeling them. If she swallowed any, it could kill her.

“Sharon, you’re being difficult again.” He made air quotes around the word. “I know you’re ‘allergic.’ You just need to build up a tolerance. Since when did you become so delicate? I’ve spoiled you all these years.”

He leaned closer, voice dropping to a threat. “Eat it, or I’m sending you straight back to the Institute.”

At his words, Sharon flinched as if struck, her whole body trembling. She grabbed the mango mousse and shoved it into her mouth. Tears and mucus streamed down her face from the discomfort, but she kept eating mechanically.

“Enough!” Evan knocked the spoon from her hand and stood up angrily. “I told you to eat it! Don’t you know when to stop?”

She didn’t need to be told twice. Bolting for the bathroom, she collapsed in front of the toilet and retched violently.

Just then, someone walked in. A hand landed on her shoulder.

“You gonna die in here? Need an ambulance?”

“Help me!”

“Please! Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me!”

The past slammed into her. With all her strength, Sharon swung her arm up and slapped Evan hard across the face.

“Sharon, have you lost your mind!” Evan clutched his cheek and shoved her away violently. “I came to check on you, and you dare hit me!”

He stood there breathing heavily for a moment. Then his lips stretched into a humorless smile.

“Is that it? You’re jealous because I was nice to Leah?”

“Relax. I owe you for saving my life, and you’ve finally learned your place. You’ll always be my fiancée. That position is secure.”

The light snapped off abruptly.

In the sudden darkness, Sharon couldn’t see a thing. She only felt a heavy weight on her chest, then her clothes were ripped open roughly.

Without any preamble, Evan’s hand slid beneath her skirt.

“Just relax. It’s your first time. I won’t hurt you.”

Sharon’s breathing hitched, the stabbing pain in her upper abdomen intensifying.

On her very first day at the Institute, she had been ordered to strip naked before all the instructors to “verify her virginity.”

They hadn’t taken her then, but they’d found other ways to torment her.

Cold sweat beaded and dripped from her forehead. She couldn’t bear it any longer. Her vision tunneled to black, and she finally passed out.