“My child! My baby, what happened?”
“Honey, she pushed me and the kids down the stairs!”
“Our daughter’s head—she’s bleeding... she’s barely breathing... ahhh!”
Louise rushed over, panic flashing in his eyes as he bent to check the children.
“Quick! Call a doctor!”
Then he turned on me, his hand striking across my face with all his strength.
The sharp crack echoed and my cheek burned, swelling instantly.
“You’d better pray my daughter is safe,” he snarled, eyes blazing. “Or I’ll make you pay with your life.”
The way he looked at me—like a predator about to devour its prey—froze my blood. This version of Louise felt utterly unfamiliar. Terrifying.
I stood in shock, unable to comprehend how things had spiraled this far.
“No... it wasn’t me...” My voice shook.
I had only taken the jade pendant. I hadn’t laid a single finger on her. Unless—unless Karen had done it deliberately. She had taken the child with her as she fell down the stairs, just to frame me.
If that were true, I was as good as dead.
The doctor arrived swiftly and began resuscitating the children.
“Mr. Darren,” he reported solemnly, “the boy has been revived. His life is no longer in danger, but he’s unconscious and must be rushed to the hospital immediately.”
“As for the girl... her injuries were too severe. She’s passed away.”
The words hit like a thunderclap.
“No!” Karen collapsed over her daughter’s body, howling in grief until she nearly fainted.
I stood rooted to the spot, my mind reeling.
How could this be? Had Karen truly sacrificed her own child—Louise’s biological daughter—just to trap me?
The price was too high. Unthinkable.
Before I could process it, she lunged at me, her nails digging into my throat.
“It was you! You venomous witch!” she shrieked. “Impersonating me wasn’t enough—you had to kill my daughter too!”
“Everyone, look at this vicious woman! Give me and my child justice!”
The crowd erupted in fury.
“Murderer! Heartless snake!”
“She wouldn’t even spare a newborn—may she rot in hell!”
“Film her! Expose her! Let the world see her true face!”
Phones were raised, flashlights glaring as they recorded me like a criminal.
“It wasn’t me,” I cried, desperate. “She fell on her own! I didn’t push her!”
But no one listened. They only believed what they wanted.
Then—splat.
A cake smashed against my forehead, sticky cream dripping down my face.
Pop—Champagne sprayed, soaking me from head to toe.
The hall filled with twisted laughter.
“Teach her a lesson!”
“Shameless vixen!”
My brother tried to push through to protect me, but the mob blocked his way.
I couldn’t let him get dragged into this. He had greater responsibilities than to be trapped here with me. Catching his eye, I gave him a look. He froze, then nodded grimly, slipping away with a heavy heart.
Meanwhile, I remained trapped in the center. Cake and cream plastered my hair to my face, my clothes drenched, clinging cold against my skin.
Flashbulbs went off endlessly, capturing me as if I weren’t a human being, but a monster on public trial.
In that moment, I became the rat everyone wanted to beat.
Louise shoved through the crowd and stopped in front of me.
Clinging to a sliver of hope, I whispered, “If I say I didn’t push her—that she rolled down herself—would you believe me?”
He didn’t answer. His boot crashed into my side instead.
I hit the ground hard, agony shooting through my abdomen as I spat blood.
“I really didn’t push her...” I forced the words out, teeth clenched.
For a flicker of a moment, doubt crossed his face. But rage swallowed it whole.
“My daughter died because of you. And you still dare to lie?”
He turned to the guards. “Drag her away. Make her kneel outside!”
Then, without another glance, he rushed off with Karen—who clung to her son, wailing dramatically for the cameras—as they headed for the hospital.
Before leaving, Karen jabbed her finger at me, eyes wild.
“I’ll never let you go! I’ll make you pay with your blood!”
A bitter laugh slipped from my lips.
“You know exactly how the child died.”
“The humiliation I suffer today—I’ll return to you a thousandfold.”
