They were seated in a grand dining hall, conversing with someone just outside the frame.
“…it’s been almost a year now. If she doesn’t leave willingly, we’ll have to force her hand,” Raphael’s father said.
“The Delaunay girl is reckless. One little accident and she’ll be out of Raphael’s life for good. That’s all we need.”
The blood in my veins turned to ice.
I barely noticed the message that followed until it flashed across my screen.
[That’s why, as your best friend, I warned you to leave. Or you’ll be in danger forever.]
Another message came in.
[Besides, Raphael has been using you all along. If you don't believe me, check the notes on his phone. You'll find every plan he's made to slowly destroy you and your family.]
Suddenly, memories of the accident flashed through my mind.
The blinding light that had engulfed us. The deafening screech of tires. The brutal impact that sent me crashing into darkness.
So, with Colette’s message seared into my brain, I realized the truth.
That was not just an accident. It was orchestrated.
How cruel could the Moreau family be, that they were willing to kill their own son in the process?
Suddenly, the door creaked open, pulling me from my thoughts. Raphael stepped in, his face etched with worry. His eyes softened the moment they landed on me, but I no longer saw him the same way.
Wordlessly, I reached for my phone, my fingers still trembling as I handed it to him.
His brows furrowed as he played the video. The color drained from his face.
"This…" His voice wavered. His grip on my phone tightened. "I… I had no idea."
I scoffed, turning my gaze away.
Raphael inhaled sharply. "Nadine, before the accident… I swear, I managed to swerve left to avoid the truck. But because of that, we hit the road divider. If I hadn’t turned in time, who knows what would've happened."
His words echoed in my ears, and the realization struck me like a bolt of lightning.
The truck never intended to hit Raphael.
If he had swerved right instead of left, the truck would have struck—ensuring my complete destruction.
But because he turned left… the truck deliberately avoided him.
It was never about us both dying. It was about me.
My breath hitched as the weight of the betrayal pressed against my chest.
"Raphael, I can't do this anymore," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. My hand reached for the IV in my arm, ready to rip it out.
His eyes widened in alarm. "No, no, clear your mind first, Nadine. Please." He grabbed my wrist, his touch desperate. "I had no idea at all. You have to believe me."
"Believe you?" I let out a bitter laugh. "Even if you didn't know, this is your family, Raphael. And I will never be safe with you."
His grip tightened. "Don’t do this, okay? If you pull that out, it’ll hurt. You can’t stand pain, right?"
I flinched.
He was right. Even the smallest cut made me cry. My pain tolerance was embarrassingly low.
But no physical pain could compare to what I felt inside.
Raphael exhaled, softening his tone. "I'll call the nurse. Let’s have them remove it properly, and then I’ll take you home, alright? I’ll talk to my parents again. You don’t have to worry about anything."
I said nothing.
Once I was discharged, we sat in the backseat of the car as his driver took us away from the hospital. Silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.
And then, Raphael casually asked, breaking the silence, "Would you accompany me to the Moreau Group Anniversary banquet next week?"
I remained silent, my gaze fixed outside the window, seething at how effortlessly he had orchestrated everything—down to inviting me to witness my own ruin without a shred of shame.
Mistaking my silence for lingering resentment over the ‘accident,’ he reached for my hand, his voice laced with sincerity. "I want to introduce you properly. Besides, that night marks my official announcement as the heir.
"I promise, they won’t lay a finger on you again. Not even a touch. This is our moment, Nadine. We’ll show everyone how serious we are, okay?"
With slow precision, I pulled away.
My voice was void of emotion as I finally replied, "Fine. But can I borrow your phone for a moment? I need to call my roommate that I’m heading back to the apartment."
Relief flickered across Raphael’s face at my seemingly placated demeanor. Without a hint of suspicion, he handed me his phone.
"Sure," he said easily. "Get some rest at your apartment. I’ll come pick you up in a week."
But what he did not know, I had no intention of staying by his side.
If this was to be the last time we were seen as a couple, a week later I would be gone.
I would make sure he suffered when I left. Before that, I needed to uncover the truth for myself—prove whether Colette’s words held any weight.
I would dig into the secrets Raphael tried to bury and let him see just how deep the betrayal ran.
I clenched my jaw and demanded, "Password."
He did not hesitate. "Our anniversary," he said softly.
Something in my chest trembled. How could he still dare to use that number!
Right, the man who sat beside me, pretending to be sweet and romantic.
But he was the same man who had secretly recorded our intimate moments. The same man who had intended to use those videos to destroy my family.
He was not someone who loved me. This was just another one of his tricks.
True to Colette’s words, I could find the video and the notes.
[How to Bring Down the Delaunay Family:
1. Make Nadine fall for me.
2. Uncover her weaknesses and exploit her.
3. Record an intimate video and leak it. (Damn, she’s still a virgin!)
4. Have thugs violate her, then discard her after that.
5. Farewell, Delaunay family. The Moreau dynasty begins.]
I clenched the phone in a vice grip, my hatred simmering beneath the surface. Every word on that screen confirmed the depth of his deception.
The carefully orchestrated betrayal, the next steps in his twisted plan—it all pointed to one conclusion. Once the intimate video was taken, the violation by thugs would come for me next.
No wonder he was so pleased to see me return to my apartment.
As soon as our car pulled up, I flung the phone back into his hand without a word. No gratitude, no parting glance—just cold indifference as I stepped out and strode toward the apartment building.
Behind me, Raphael's voice rang out, smug and victorious. "I can't wait to see you in a week, my love!"
I did not stop walking, but a smirk tugged at my lips.
"Yes, just wait for your downfall, Raphael."
