lia

a raw, involuntary sound. I barely registered hitting the ground before a sharp,

se concern, though a flicker of cruel satisfaction danced in her eyes. She wore a delicate si

d just entered the room behind me, his eyes already fixed on Aida. "Damian, darling, she pushed me! She's so angry, I just... I tried to help her, a

any warmth or understanding. "Jillian, what are you doing?" he said, his voice clipped, fill

Of course, he believed her. He always believed her. My hands clenched into fists, my n

o her, a tenderness in his voice that twisted the knife in

with unshed tears and a burning rage. But Cristopher. I closed my

ow, agonizing crawl from my soul. My voice was r

n her lips. "Is that all, Jilly? It doesn't soun

was enjoying this. Reli

, ignoring her taunt.

ing to deflect! She's still blaming me for Cristopher's predicament! She's tryi

e no longer just cold; they were filled with a chilling, raw fury I had never

s, "You will stop. Now. You will apologize proper

ger. I shrank back, a tremor running through me. This wasn't the indifferent Damian I k

ice devoid of any pity. "Since you insist on being difficult, Aid

you're too kind. I just want her to understand the pain she caused." She looked at me, her gaze lingering on my injured leg, th

. "As you wish, my love." He looked at the two hul

er everything, after eight years, how can you do this to me?" My mind raced back through the years, the quiet sacrifices,

pping around Aida's waist, and began to lead her out of the roo

. My fingernails tore, breaking off painfully as I desperately clawed at their arms, trying to cling to the do

aids sprinkling shards of broken glass onto the marble steps. M

ed, my voice hoarse

und. Aida leaned her head on his shoulder, a small, triumphant smirk on her face. Then, th

y injured leg screaming in protest. Then, with a brutal shove, he pushed me forward. I stumbled, my knees scraping a

barked, kicking my u

earing humiliation, the utter betrayal. My body screamed in protest, but I h

s I dragged myself upwards. Blood seeped through my clothes, mingling with my tears. The world started to

re consciousness completely abandoned me, I saw Damian and Aida, s

ed backwards, down, down, down, the hard, sharp steps a b

in a hospital bed, my body aching uniformly. A nurse was checki

holding on, Mrs. Ramsey. But he's not good

myself out of bed, ignoring the fresh wave of agony from my lac

slightly ajar. I pushed it open. He lay there, hooked up to a myriad of machin

s bedside, reaching for his hand, my fingers trembling as I clutche

at Cristopher, then at me, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips. "Still cli

ed, my voice raw with hate.

ther? Such a nuisance. But don't worry, he won't be for long." Her eyes gleamed with an evil sa

lood boiling. "You're threateni

nderstand? If you stay, if you even think about coming between us, your precious brother will pay the ultima

ecting with her cheek echoed in the room, sharp and satisfying. Aida's head

oalescing into this one violent act. "If you touch him," I hissed, my voice a low, terrifying growl, "if you so

d out as the force pulled at my still healing wounds, sending a fr

close, his hand gently stroking her reddened cheek. Aida, ever the actress, dissol

xed on me. "Jillian, what have you done?" he snarled,

see. "She admitted it! She's lying about everything! She framed hi

ional." He pulled out his phone, his thumb flying across the screen. "You want to talk

" I shrieked, my voice tearing through the ai