6
“No…”
Jada’s eyes widened as she watched the urn arc through the air like a falling star. Instinct made her reach out to catch it, but her weak and powerless legs refused to obey.
She could only watch in horror as Jodie’s ashes scattered across the ground, spilling like sand. A stabbing pain tore through Jada’s chest, as if knives had been driven straight into her heart.
“Oh dear, my hand slipped.”
Daisybelle gave an exaggerated shrug, her tone light, almost mocking. Her gaze swept over Jada, who was crawling helplessly on the ground, her movements frantic and pitiful.
“Daisybelle! You did that on purpose! I’ll kill you! I swear, I’ll kill you!”
Jada’s voice cracked as her eyes turned bloodshot, fixed on the ashes littering the floor.
She clawed desperately at the ground, trying to drag herself forward.
But no matter how hard she struggled, her body remained pinned beneath Daisybelle’s foot, the crushing weight locking her in place.
“Kill me?” Daisybelle laughed, the sound sharp and cold. “With what? With you?”
Then she lifted her foot and kicked, the heel striking Jada squarely in the face.
“Jada, it was with this face that you seduced Kenton, wasn’t it?” Her eyes gleamed with cruel amusement. “I wonder… if your face were ruined, would he still look at you the same way?”
Another kick landed, then another. Blow after blow crashed against Jada’s face.
Jada curled into herself, arms wrapped around her head, lips pressed tight against the pain.
Still, she dragged her body inch by inch, crawling toward the scattered ashes of Jodie.
“Pathetic. Even now, you’re still thinking of your dead sister.”
Watching her, Daisybelle sneered. She pulled a bottle of water from her bag, uncapped it, and tilted it slowly forward. Clear liquid poured out, spilling over the ashes.
“No!”
Jada’s scream ripped from her throat as water soaked into the ashes, mixing them into dark clumps of mud. Her voice trembled with despair, breaking apart.
Daisybelle threw back her head and laughed, a wild and unrestrained sound. “You brought all of this on yourself, bitch!”
Satisfied, she glanced once more at Jada—her face swollen beyond recognition, her body covered in dust and blood.
Then Daisybelle tossed aside the empty bottle, clapped her hands clean, and walked away arm-in-arm with Dapper.
Jada’s vision blurred as she stared after their retreating figures.
Summoning the last shred of her strength, she crawled forward, dragging her body to where the ashes lay.
She scooped the sodden mixture of mud and bone into her arms, clutching it tightly against her chest. Blood from her broken face mingled with the ashes, streaking her trembling hands.
She sobbed until her body gave out, her tears mixing with the dirt. She remembered nothing after that.
When her eyes fluttered open again, she was lying on a hospital bed.
“You’re awake at last.”
A nurse bustled over, relief softening her features. After a quick examination, she finally exhaled.
“Thank goodness the funeral staff found you in time. A few minutes later, and you might not have survived.”
She tucked Jada’s blanket carefully before leaving the ward.
Not long after, the door burst open. Kenton appeared, his expression tight with panic.
“Jada! Are you all right?”
He strode quickly to her bedside, his brow furrowing as he took in her battered face and fragile state.
“How did you let yourself end up like this?”
His hand lifted, as if to touch her cheek, but before his fingers could make contact, Daisybelle rushed forward and seized his wrist.
“It’s all my fault!” Daisybelle’s voice trembled, her eyes red-rimmed with unshed tears.
“If Jada wanted to hit me, I should’ve let her. If I had just stood there and taken it, she would’ve vented her anger, and none of this would’ve happened. But why did I have to resist? It’s my fault… If I hadn’t fought back, she wouldn’t have fallen down the stairs, she wouldn’t be in the hospital. I’m the one to blame. Kenton, hit me, please! Hit me to vent for her!”
She grabbed his hand and pressed it against her own face.
Kenton immediately pulled back, alarm flickering across his features. “No, Daisybelle, how could this be your fault? You’re a victim, too. You only defended yourself. How could you have known it would push Jada down the stairs? Don’t torment yourself. This isn’t on you.”
He gently brushed the tears from the corners of her eyes, his touch tender. Then, without hesitation, he drew her into his arms.
“But—”
“No buts,” he murmured, patting her back comfortingly. “You have me here. That’s all that matters.”
He glanced at Jada, his eyes narrowing. “Jada, this has gone on long enough. Daisybelle has already apologized. You should stop making trouble over this.”
His gaze swept the ward before settling back on her. “Stay here and rest. Daisybelle is shaken, too. I need to comfort her.”
Without sparing Jada another look, he wrapped an arm around Daisybelle and guided her toward the door.
At the threshold, he suddenly halted. His voice came low and cold, without turning back.
“Jada, I was the one who forged the testimony. It had nothing to do with Daisybelle. If you still have anger left, direct it at me. Stop targeting her.
“And another thing—your sister never came back. She’s gone. You’d do well to remind her not to cling to every little grievance. Going forward, you’ll need to get along with Daisybelle and Dapper.”
With that, he walked out, his arm still holding Daisybelle close.
Jada stared after them, but no tears came. Her eyes were dry, hollow.
‘Jodie’s never coming back. She’s truly gone…’ she wanted to tell him.
At that moment, her phone vibrated weakly in her hand. With effort, she lifted it.
On the screen was a video.
The footage from the night of her sister’s assault. Every second of Jodie’s futile struggle had been recorded. Along with it came the very evidence Dapper had sworn to have destroyed—now restored, intact, and in Jada’s possession.
And attached to it was a plane ticket. Departure: the next day. Destination: Italy.
Her hand trembled violently as she watched her sister’s suffering unfold on screen.
‘This time,’ she swore to herself, ‘Dapper—that son of a bitch—will pay and never get away with it for all eternity!’
