I almost laughed when she said it. Three days. That was plenty of time. Living even one more felt unbearable. I didn’t bother replying — I simply turned and walked away, leaving her warning echoing uselessly behind me.
The moment I stepped outside the hospital, I phoned the funeral service. My tone was calm, disturbingly steady.
“Please arrange everything for three days from now.”
Three days. Maybe then I’d finally be reunited with my parents and my grandfather. Maybe I could meet them looking the way I chose, not as Stephen’s wife, not as anyone’s burden — just me.
I stopped by the cemetery one final time, murmured my farewells, then took a cab to the mall. I drifted through one luxury boutique after another without interest.
For years I’d been trained to behave like Mrs. Holt — to dress according to Stephen’s image, to wear jewels that screamed wealth, to appear flawless and distant. Somewhere along the way, I’d forgotten what I personally liked. Stephen never asked. He just bought the latest collections every season and stuffed my wardrobe full, promising that besides the stars in the sky, I could have anything.
All I ever wanted was something real.
That was when I saw it — a simple white dress. Clean lines, no excess, just a slender silver trim at the waist catching the light. I pictured myself wearing it, walking into the waves, holding my parents’ and Grandpa’s hands. My lips curved into a faint smile.
“This one,” I said. “I’ll take it.”
Before my card even reached the counter, the dress was ripped from my fingers. I grabbed the edge of the display table to steady myself.
“I’ve already decided to buy that,” I said, my voice unsteady.
I looked up — and there she was.
Seraphina.
She stood tall in front of me, gripping the fabric, her posture arrogant, her eyes blazing. The timid girl I once knew was gone.
The sales assistant leaned toward her nervously.
“This is the last piece we have. The lady here selected it first. I can check with another branch—”
Seraphina laughed scornfully. “You must be joking.” Then she turned her glare on me. “You honestly think you’re still in my league? Who gave you the right?”
I didn’t answer right away. I’d known this moment would come. She hated me. She wanted me crushed.
“Seraphina,” I said carefully, “I don’t recall ever mistreating you. My mother paid for your education and hired you into the company. What exactly did we do wrong — hurt your pride?”
She burst out laughing, harsh and bitter.
“Your mother threw money at me like leftovers for a beggar and expected gratitude. But why should I be grateful? Why are you always the princess while I crawl in your shadow? You were born with everything, and I was born to suffer. You owe me your whole life.”
My chest tightened.
“So you destroyed my parents… just to bring me down?”
Her smile sharpened into something vicious. She leaned close enough for me to feel her breath.
“The fraud scandal? I designed it myself. Your parents trusted me and handed over the company seal. Your husband, your wealth, your reputation — they’ll all belong to me soon. And you? You’ll be remembered as the bully, the criminal’s daughter. Welcome to my world.”
I felt my body stiffen, rage and disbelief crashing through me, but I refused to look away. This was the truth behind five years of betrayal. I would not let her see me break.
“You will pay for this,” I said, my voice low and steady.
She hesitated — only for a heartbeat — then suddenly flung herself to the floor, screaming.
“Stop! I don’t want this! Amelia, please don’t hit me!”
Before I could react, Stephen appeared at the shop entrance. Seraphina immediately curled into a trembling heap, tears streaking her face.
“Stephen, I just slipped, okay? It wasn’t her fault. She didn’t push me. She even brought me here to buy clothes. But people keep saying I hurt her and that her parents died because of me. I didn’t do any of that. Please explain for me.”
His eyes locked onto me — frozen, merciless.
“What did you do to her this time?” he asked coldly.
I already knew he wouldn’t believe me. He never had. I turned away, trying to hide the tears sliding down my face.
A crowd began to gather. Phones were raised. Whispers turned into accusations.
“Isn’t she the one who forced a pregnant woman to kneel?”
“She bullied people at school too — vicious!”
“If something happens, that’s three lives gone!”
Seraphina clutched Stephen and spoke hurriedly, pretending concern.
“She’s just having a bad day. When she’s calm, Amelia is really kind to me.”
A woman suddenly lunged forward from the crowd, pointing at me.
“My daughter died because of people like you! Bullies deserve—”
A drink flew at my face before she could finish. Milk tea splattered across my cheeks, dripping down my chin. I tried to speak, to defend myself, but my voice vanished beneath the shouting.
Objects began to rain down on me. I tensed instinctively, bracing for the blows. Seraphina, of course, was sheltered in Stephen’s arms.
“Come,” he said, pulling her away without once looking back at me.
I was left behind.
Hands shoved me down. Feet struck me again and again. Pain exploded through every inch of my body.
“Kill her!”
“Make her pay for bullying!”
I curled into myself, covering my head, whispering over and over through broken sobs,
“I didn’t… I didn’t…”
