Chapter 5

My hand wasn't even touching her anymore. And I could only watch as she rolled down the marble stairs.

People gasped and someone screamed.

Within seconds, the entire Black Dragon men rushed toward the staircase.

Connan was the first one there.

The powerful Don shoved through the crowd without hesitation and dropped to his knees beside Kathleen. He carefully lifted her into his arms.

Then he looked up at me.

His eyes were filled with fury.

“Giselle!!!” His voice echoed through the silent ballroom. “What the hell did you do to her? Have you lost your fucking mind?! She came here because she was worried about you, and this is how you repay her?!”

I stood there frozen.

My hand was still hanging in the air where Kathleen had grabbed my wrist. I slowly lowered it.

“It wasn't me!” My voice came out shaky. “I didn't push her. S-she threw herself down the stairs.”

Connan held Kathleen tightly in his arms. For just a second, I thought I saw doubt in his eyes.

Then Kathleen let out a weak cry. “Connan...” she whispered through her tears. “Please, don't blame Giselle. She just got out of prison after ten years. She probably saw and went through terrible things in there. Maybe she's still hurting inside, and maybe I said something that upset her. It's my fault... not hers.”

The crowd immediately exploded with whispers.

“Kathleen is too kind.”

“She's still defending the woman who pushed her.”

“Ten years in prison? People don't come out normal after that.”

“I heard prison changes people. She's probably violent now.”

“Makes sense.”

Every word stabbed into me.

The ballroom slowly disappeared. All I could see were prison walls, cold floors, dirty cells, and women laughing while they kicked me.

“Murderer.”

“Dog.”

“Worthless.”

My breathing became uneven.

“No...” I whispered as I looked around desperately. “That's not true. I didn't touch her.”

Connan's expression completely changed. The tiny bit of doubt he'd shown vanished, and he looked at me with disappointment.

“Giselle.” His voice was cold. “After you went to prison, Kathy stayed by my side. She helped me run Hawksley Empire, helped with Black Dragon affairs, and took care of everything without asking for anything in return. And now you push her down the stairs because you're jealous of her? Maybe bringing you here was a mistake.”

My lips parted, but nothing came out.

The room was full of eyes judging me.

No one believed me.

Then someone from the crowd spoke up.

“If Kathleen really threw herself down the stairs, prove it.”

More people nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Anyone can say they're innocent.”

Kathleen slowly lifted her head from Connan's chest. She looked straight at me, and only I could see the smile hiding behind her tears.

“So that's easy, Gissi.” Her voice was soft and gentle. “If you really didn't push me, then fall down the stairs the same way I did. Once everyone sees you do it, they'll believe you.”

My heart stopped.

I stared at her and then I looked at Connan.

Surely...

Surely he wouldn't agree.

He looked between us before his eyes settled on me.

“Kathy's right.” His voice remained calm. “If you're telling the truth, then prove it. Otherwise, stop making excuses.”

Something inside me finally died.

I looked at the man I'd loved with everything I had. The man I'd spent ten years praying for. The man I'd almost died for.

He wanted me to throw myself down a flight of stairs just to earn his trust.

I laughed but it sounded broken.

“Okay.” I nodded slowly and smiled through my tears. “You want proof? Then watch carefully, Connan.”

Without another word, I leaned backward.

People screamed.

The first step slammed into my back so hard I couldn't breathe. Then another. And another. My body rolled helplessly down the long marble staircase. Pain exploded through every bone until the final step smashed into my forehead, and warm blood instantly poured down my face.

Everything became blurry.

Somewhere above me, I heard people gasping.

Connan frowned. For a brief second, he took one step toward me, almost like he wanted to help.

Then Kathleen grabbed his sleeve. “Connan...” Her voice trembled weakly. “I feel dizzy. I think I'm going to faint.”

Immediately, his attention returned to her.

He looked down at me. Blood covered my face. I couldn't even move.

But instead of concern, his face showed nothing except annoyance.

“Giselle.” He sounded tired. “Why are you doing this? If you didn't want to prove it, you could've just said no. Did you really have to make such a scene in front of everyone?”

A scene.

That's what he called it.

Not once did he ask if I was hurt.

He simply lifted Kathleen into his arms.

As he turned away, he looked back at me one last time. “If you're still alive, go home. And stop embarrassing yourself.”

He walked away and never looked back.

I stayed on the cold marble floor while blood kept running down my forehead. I stared up at the massive crystal chandelier hanging above the ballroom. It sparkled so beautifully, just like the life I'd believed in.

A life that had never been real.

I started laughing quietly.

Everyone around me stared. Some laughed. Some whispered. Some looked away but no one came to help.

Blood and tears slid down my face together.

When they reached my lips, they tasted exactly the same.

Salty and painfully bitter.

…

I dragged my battered body all the way back to the villa.

Every step hurt. My head was still bleeding beneath the bandage, my ribs ached every time I breathed, and my legs felt like they might give out at any second.

When I pushed open the front door, the bright lights in the foyer almost blinded me and saw them.

A pair of black high heels lay carelessly on the carpet by the door.

My heart sank.

I already knew who they belonged to.

Slowly, I walked into the living room.

Kathleen was lounging comfortably on the sofa. Her long blonde hair spilled over her shoulders, and one strap of her dress had slipped down, exposing far more than it should have.

I looked at Connan. He was kneeling in front of her.

His large hands gently held Kathleen's foot as he carefully massaged her ankle.

He looked so patient, so attentive.

The sight made my stomach twist.

What am I looking at?

Connan looked up when he heard me. Instead of concern, he frowned. “Gissi, why'd you get home so late? You should've come back earlier instead of wandering around by yourself. Kathy's ankle is hurting badly, and she needs someone to look after her.”

Kathleen quickly pulled her dress strap back up.

“Oh... this isn't what it looks like,” she said with an embarrassed smile. “Connan was only helping because my ankle started swelling again. Don't misunderstand us, okay? You know, I'm still in pain.”

Connan slowly let go of her foot and stood up.

“Kathy's ankle is worse than we thought,” he explained as though everything was perfectly normal. “I didn't want her going home alone tonight, so she's staying here until she's fully recovered. While she's here, you'll take care of her. Think of it as making up for pushing her down the stairs.”

Making up for it?

I almost laughed.

I looked at his face.

The face I'd loved for so many years.

Now it only made me feel sick but I couldn't lose control yet. I still needed that death certificate.

I lowered my eyes.

“...Okay.”

Kathleen smiled sweetly.

“Giselle?” Her voice was as soft as honey. “Everything that's happened tonight has left me freezing. Could you make me a cup of hot chocolate? Connan always says yours tastes the best, and I'd really love some right now.”

I didn't answer.

I simply walked into the kitchen, prepared a mug of hot chocolate, and returned to the living room.

Kathleen took one sip.

She immediately wrinkled her nose.

“Too sweet.” She set the mug on the coffee table with a sigh. “Make another one. Use less chocolate this time, and don't make me wait too long.”

Without a word, I turned and walked back into the kitchen.

When I returned with a fresh mug, Kathleen smiled again.

“Oh, one more thing.” She casually pointed toward the mug in my hands. “Hold it for me while it cools down. I don't want to burn my fingers.”

I looked at her quietly.

“No.” My voice was calm. “I'm not your servant, Kathleen. If you want someone to wait on you, ask the man standing beside you.”

Her smile slowly disappeared.