Page 176 of Symphony for Lies

“Watson loved his first daughter. But not his twins. Rita was torn between wanting her father’s approval and his recognition. She thought I had taken it from her. That I stole something that should’ve been hers because I reminded Mr. Watson of his first daughter… In Rita’s mind, she had to prove that she was better than me.

“The loss of so many people… so many innocent animals… all of it, for something pointless. For worthless recognition.”

Layla pressed a hand over her face.“What? She did all of it just for attention? And why didn’t she target Ella, too?”

“Well… yeah… she thought she could impress him. He had trained some of the killers in Steel Valley, so she wanted to prove she was just as artistic as them. As for Tristan and Ella, Rita wanted to paint them as the killers. She hates wealthy people… And death was too easy…”

“That’s fucking… intense…” Tiana muttered.

“It wasn’t about Ella and Tristan personally. It was about what they represented. Plus, both had a connection to Mr. Watson.”

Stacy shook her head. “And this whole time, I thought Ella was behind it.”

“Mr. Watson hesitated to kill me,” Amelia stated after a while. “He murmured an apology, but I still don’t understand it. I never thought he would do something so cruel to me. He said he wanted to test me. The labyrinth was his final composition. A farewell performance for him and Rita, and a twisted, silent performance to see if I deserved to live. But when he attacked me in the labyrinth, he suddenly apologized after seeing my blood. It was really creepy.”

I squeezed her hand in comfort.

“I’m sorry, guys. I never meant to put myself in danger.”

The girls broke.Tears streamed down their faces as they bent down and gently hugged her.

“You’re never doing this again!”

Their voices were sharp and scolding but brimming with love.

I allowed myself a small smile. They wouldn’t have to worry; I would never let her do something so reckless again.

Her friends left reluctantly when visiting hours ended.

And finally, we were alone.

I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my arms, to hold her so tight that she could never be taken from me again. But for the moment, I simply held her hand.

And that was enough.

“Thank you, Zane. I heard you play,” Her lips curved into a faint smile. “It guided me, and it gave me comfort and strength.”

The heart monitor beeped a little faster. My own heart fell into rhythm with it.

“I only made it out because of you.”

She lifted my hand and kissed my skin softly.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

I moved to slide into bed beside her, wrapping my arms around her body and pulling her close.

She inhaled sharply.

“A simple thank you isn’t enough. You know that.”

Her fingers clenched weakly around my shirt, and she nodded.

“Then say what I want to hear.”

Her eyes sparkled in the dim light. “I love you.”

I smirked slightly. “Not that.”