Marked By the Pureblood Alpha (Deanna and Luis) novel Chapter 156

**The Heart I Buried for You by Serene Lockwood**

**Deanna’s POV:**

As I made my way across the bustling hospital corridor, my heart raced with a mix of curiosity and dread. I approached one of the doctors, my voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile atmosphere around us.

“Excuse me, could you help me? That woman I just saw—is she a prisoner? What’s she doing here in the hospital?”

The doctor nodded solemnly, his expression grave. “Yes, that’s Dorothy. She’s an inmate diagnosed with early-stage colon cancer. She comes in regularly for her checkups.”

His words struck me like a sudden chill, sending a shiver down my spine. “I heard she’s been behaving well in prison. They say she might be released soon.”

The realization hit me hard, like a bucket of ice water poured over my head. The very woman who had stolen two decades of my life and had tried to end it was on the verge of freedom. My mind raced, grappling with the implications of her potential release. How could this be happening?

When I returned to the waiting area, I noticed Maggie stealing glances at my empty hands, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“Deanna, didn’t you go out to get dinner? Where’s the food?” she asked, her tone light yet probing.

I was still in a daze, the weight of the doctor’s words pressing heavily on my mind. It was only then that I remembered I had dropped the takeout during my hurried exit.

“Sorry, I completely forgot,” I mumbled, the embarrassment creeping into my cheeks. “I’ll just go grab something again.”

Just as I turned to leave, Zelena gently grasped my wrist, her grip firm yet comforting.

“Don’t worry about it. We can just order delivery instead. Deanna, you look really pale. Are you feeling okay? You and Maggie should head back and rest; you both need it.”

Maggie, ever the optimist, chirped that she had plans and quickly made her exit, leaving me feeling a bit more isolated.

Zelena walked me to the door, her concern evident. Before she stepped out, I held her hand tightly, squeezing it as I spoke. “Just take care of your dad for now. Maggie and I can manage things at Bluewave. Please don’t worry about us.”

**Back at Crestwood Park.**

The silence enveloped me as I entered the house, the darkness wrapping around me like a heavy blanket. The only illumination came from the moonlight filtering through the window—soft, cold, and hauntingly beautiful.

I chose not to turn on the lights, opting instead to kick off my heels and pad barefoot across the cool floor toward the wine rack.

The rack dominated an entire wall of the living room, filled with rows upon rows of expensive whiskey and deep red wine, each bottle glinting like a treasure waiting to be uncovered.

Settling down on the floor in front of the sofa, I unscrewed a bottle, watching as the liquid inside swayed like shattered moonlight, glistening in the dim light.

With each sip, warmth spread through my body, a gentle heat that began to melt away the day’s tension. My fingers danced over the two bracelets encircling my wrist—one a moonstone, the other a delicate crystal bracelet gifted to me by Helena.

“Grandma, I miss you,” I whispered, my voice trembling with unspoken grief.

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