My chest tightened.
Then a cold liquid poured over my head. Strong alcohol soaked through my clothes, running down my face, my neck, my entire body.
…
The music cut off so suddenly it felt like everything snapped. One second it was loud and messy, the next… dead silent. Everyone turned to look at me, not shocked, not confused, just watching like they were waiting for something entertaining.
“You really think you can walk away after what you did?” someone laughed. “Dahlia, I didn’t know you were this vicious.”
“First Grandpa, then Celine,” another voice added. “What’s next, huh? You gonna poison Argus too and keep him locked by your side forever?”
I didn’t answer. I just looked at him. Argus stood there, his face pale from exhaustion, but his eyes were sharp, cold, like knives. “I already said it,” I muttered, my voice tired. “I didn’t hurt Grandpa. And I didn’t touch Celine.” I even knew how weak it sounded. What proof did I even have? Cameras broken, witnesses bought, and him… already decided I was guilty.
“I swear,” I said, forcing it out, “I didn’t stab you. If I’m lying, then let me die a horrible death.” I paused, then looked straight at her. “But Celine… can you say the same? Can you swear you didn’t plan all of this yourself?”
“Enough!” Argus cut me off sharply, stepping in front of her like I was something dirty. “Dahlia, even now you still won’t admit it? You still think you’re innocent?” His voice dropped colder. “Fine. Don’t blame me for what happens next. You brought this on yourself.”
Hands grabbed me before I could react. My knees slammed hard onto the floor and pain shot up my legs. I struggled, panic rising fast. “Let me go… what are you doing…” but no one listened. Argus took the whip and walked toward me slowly, like this was something he had already decided.
“Scared?” he asked quietly. “Did you ever think about how desperate Grandpa was when he fell? Or how terrified Celine was when you attacked her?”
“I didn’t—”
The whip struck.
Pain exploded across my back and I couldn’t even breathe. My body jerked, a broken sound escaping my throat.
“Speak,” he said, his voice rising. “Admit your mistake.”
“I… don’t…” My voice was shaking. “I don’t admit it…”
He laughed, angry now. “Still denying it? You think if you say nothing, it didn’t happen? Dahlia, you’re a sinner. You deserve this.”
Another strike. And another. The sound echoed, mixing with quiet laughter around me. It hurt so much I couldn’t think, but something inside me refused to bend. I started laughing, I didn’t even know why, tears falling at the same time.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said, my voice hoarse but stubborn. “Why should I admit to something I didn’t do?” I looked at him, my chest tight. “The biggest mistake I ever made was meeting you. Argus… you’re the most disgusting person I’ve ever known.”
His expression darkened instantly.
“And you,” I turned to Celine, my voice colder, “what are you pretending for? Who do you think you are? Without him, you’re nothing.”
“Dahlia,” she frowned, her voice trembling, “don’t talk about him like that. You don’t have the right—”
“Shut up,” I snapped. “You think you’re better than me? You’re just as pathetic.”
The whip came down harder this time.
“Shut up!” Argus shouted, completely losing control.
“This one is for Grandpa,” he said coldly as the whip struck again.
“This one is for what you did to Celine.”
“This one is to remind you who you are. Don’t ever think you can stand next to me.”
The strikes kept coming, one after another, until I lost count. Every hit felt like it tore through my skin and deeper into something I couldn’t protect. My throat filled with a metallic taste and I coughed, blood spilling out. My vision blurred, everything spinning.
So this was it?
Was this how it ended?
My body gave out, and everything went dark.
…
When I woke up, I was in a hospital room. The TV was on, looping the footage of me being whipped. Every grunt, every groan I’d made in pain was turned into entertainment for them.
My back was raw, blood mixed with spilled liquor, and I felt like a lump of mud left in a corner. The bar owner had found me, barely alive, and dragged me out. I couldn’t even cry. Nothing came out.
The door opened slowly and Celine walked in. She looked fine, rosy cheeks, like nothing had happened. “Those two weeks in the hospital,” I said, bitter, “you faked it, didn’t you?”
“So what?” she said, tossing a plastic bag at me. “As long as I look pitiful, Argus will do everything for me. Soon I’ll stand by his side like I’m supposed to.” I caught the bag and froze. Inside was my father’s urn. My hands shook as I opened it. Empty. Completely empty.
“What… what did you do? Where’s my father?” I yelled.
Celine just smiled, enjoying the look on my face. “Ashes are useless. Why waste land burying them? Better the wild dogs have them.” She shrugged. “Oh, and I might’ve suggested stopping your father’s treatment at the hospital. Waste of time, really.”
My heart stopped. “You… you let him die?”
She waved her hand like it was nothing. “Look, I can make Argus do whatever I want. You think you’re in the same league as me?” Then she lifted her left hand. The ring glinted. My blood ran cold. It was the one Argus had bought at an auction for 500 million six months ago. Everyone had thought they were getting married that day, but Argus had said I wasn’t worthy.
Celine laughed. “Argus said I deserve everything rare in this world. Including him. Including her. Only I’m worthy.”
I snapped. I lunged at her and grabbed her by the neck. “You killed my father! You deserve to die!” My voice shook with rage, pure hatred boiling up. Celine’s smug smile didn’t even falter.
Bang. A vase smashed across my head. Hot blood ran down my face. Argus shoved me away and slapped me hard. “You crazy?!” he yelled. My chest ached, but I was beyond that. I grabbed a shard from the broken vase, ready to strike Celine in a blind fury.
“You killed my father! You deserve to die!” I screamed.
Argus grabbed my wrist before I could do anything. Then he noticed the urn in my other hand. His eyes widened, shocked. “What’s this? Your father…”
