I couldn’t move.
The floor was cold against my cheek, and all I could see was white light above me spinning out of focus. Pain burned through my stomach, spreading to my back until I couldn’t even tell where it started. Then I heard shouting.
Footsteps.
Someone yelled my name.
Dane.
My heart lifted, weak but alive. He came. He was coming for me... But then I saw him. He ran right past me. Straight to Naira.
She was lying a few steps away, crying softly, holding her arm like it was broken. He scooped her up without hesitation, panic in his eyes.
“Call the doctor! Hurry!” Dane shouted.
A maid’s voice trembled, “Sir, Miss Candy is bleeding too—”
“Take care of her later!” His voice was sharp, loud enough to cut through me. “Naira’s more important!”
Important?
Something inside me cracked. The sound of their voices faded. The light dimmed.
Everything went black.
---
When I opened my eyes, the ceiling was white. The smell of medicine stung my nose. My throat was so dry I could barely swallow. There was a bandage across my stomach.
I tried to sit up, but pain shot through me, forcing me still.
The door opened.
Dane stepped in. His face was hard, his eyes colder than I’d ever seen them.
“Is this how you repay me?” His voice was calm at first, but it carried anger under every word. “I took you away from that house. I gave you everything. And this is what you do?”
I blinked at him, confused. “W-what are you talking about?”
He moved closer, arms crossed. “Don’t play dumb. You tried to harm my fiancée. Don’t you know she saved my life once? She took a bullet for me! And you… you pushed her down the stairs.”
My stomach turned. “No, Dane, please. It wasn’t me—”
“Enough! You always have excuses. You always cry and make yourself look like the victim.”
I shook my head, tears spilling before I could stop them. “Please, listen to me—”
A knock on the door broke through my words.
A nurse peeked inside, eyes downcast. “Sir… Miss Naira just woke up. She’s crying. Still in shock and looking for you.”
Dane’s jaw tightened. His eyes flicked back to me for a second—cold, empty, like I was no one.
“Save your lies,” he said quietly. “I’ll deal with you later.”
Then he walked out.
The door closed behind him with a soft click. But to me, it sounded like something breaking for good.
“Don’t worry, baby. We’ll leave. I’ll protect you. I promise.”
I slowly reached for the IV needle. I just wanted to go. Anywhere. Away from all of this.
But the door burst open before I could move.
Jason and Calen stormed in like a storm had ripped through the hallway.
Jason’s eyes burned with rage. Calen looked at me like I was something filthy.
Calen moved first. His hand came down hard across my face. The sound echoed in the room.
“How dare you, Candy! How dare you try to kill our sister?”
My head snapped to the side. My cheek stung. “I didn’t,” I whispered.
Jason’s voice was louder. “Don’t you dare lie to us. You killed our parents. Wasn’t that enough? Now you go after Naira too?”
Tears filled my eyes again. “She’s the one who—”
Jason stepped closer, his finger pointing right at my forehead. “She's the one, what? You said that last time too. Every time you say that, someone ends up dead. Mom. Dad. Now Naira?”
“No,” I cried, shaking my head. “You don’t understand. She lied. She set me up. Please, Jason, you have to believe me.”
Calen grabbed the metal tray beside my bed and shoved it to the floor. Everything crashed—glass, water, the cup, everything. “Shut up!” he yelled. “You think anyone will believe you over her? You’re nothing. Just a stain in this family. A curse that won’t go away.”
I pressed my hand over my mouth, sobbing.
Calen leaned closer, his voice low and trembling with hate. “Why won’t you die already? Just die and save us all the trouble.”
Jason grabbed my chin roughly, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were cold, almost empty. “You’ll pay for this, Candy. Even if Dane forgives you, we won’t.”
They turned and left, the door slamming behind them.
