Reborn in Red

The very next moment, Teague came running over in a panic.

"Mr. Thornwell, Corbin tried to kill himself!"

Dad had only recently filed charges against Corbin. The case was still in the evidence review stage, so for the time being, Corbin was being held in the basement of our family villa.

In this life, perhaps because I had not stopped Senna from pleading on his behalf, his suicide attempt came earlier than before.

By the time I arrived, the scene was in chaos.

Senna cradled Corbin in her arms. He had gauze wrapped around his thin wrists, and his face was white as paper. The moment he saw me, he shrank further into her embrace like a frightened rabbit.

"Senna... I really don't want to live anymore..." His voice cracked with sobs, and it was barely above a whisper. "If I'm going to be framed like this, I'd rather be dead."

Senna stroked his hair with a tenderness that vanished the instant she turned to look at me. Her eyes were as cold as ice. It was the same look she had worn in my previous life when she killed me to avenge him.

"Gage, are you and your father really set on pushing him over the edge? He's already tried to prove his innocence with his own life. What more do you want?"

The guard on watch stood off to the side and explained in a low voice, "He sharpened a toothbrush handle and tried to cut his wrists. We caught it just in time."

Senna looked down at Corbin who was trembling in her arms, and her voice went soft again. "Don't be scared. I'm here."

He leaned weakly against her. However, he looked straight at me over her shoulder and let out a small, triumphant smile.

I clenched my fists. In my previous life, I had fallen for this exact performance, and it had cost me everything. Senna ate it up every single time.

I turned on her. "If he didn't have a guilty conscience, why would he pull something like this? And you, Senna. Do you even remember your place? What gives you the right to talk to me like that?"

Corbin's tears spilled over. "Sir, I'm sorry... Please don't take it out on Senna..."

He clutched at her sleeve with trembling hands. "Senna, just go. Forget about me. I don't want to drag you down with me."

Senna's head snapped up, her eyes blazing. She pulled Corbin tighter against her and lifted him into her arms. "Corbin, I'm not leaving you. Ignore this lunatic. We're going to the hospital. Now."

She carried him past me, and as she did, she dropped her voice low enough so that only I could hear. "Gage, if anything happens to Corbin, I'll bury your entire family."

I watched them disappear and slowly uncurled my fingers. My knuckles had gone white. I took out my phone and dialed a number I had not used in a very long time.

"Ms. Kay, I'm accepting the marriage arrangement. But before that... could you do something for me?"

…

That night, I had barely stepped into my apartment when Senna threw the door open so hard that it cracked against the wall. That face of hers, always so poised, so untouchable, was now twisted beyond recognition. Her eyes burned with pure hatred.

"Gage, you almost got Corbin killed!"

I froze where I stood, and a flash of my previous life tore through my mind. I had been bound hand and foot, forced to watch helplessly as Senna pulled on rubber gloves and cut me open.

Blood poured out of me. I screamed until my throat gave out, but she just smiled, looking soft and tender the entire time.

"Don't be scared. It'll be over soon."

"Something happened to Corbin?"