Chapter 6

“So you've still got some pride left.” She laughed coldly. “Giselle, you still think you're Donna Hawksley? Connan got tired of you a long time ago. If I were you, I'd leave before he throws you out.”

I laughed bitterly.

“You want my place?” I met her eyes without blinking. “Keep dreaming. We may be sisters but no matter how badly you want to replace me, you'll never erase what you've done.”

The next second...

Kathleen suddenly snatched the mug from my hands.

Before I could react, she deliberately poured the scalding hot cocoa over her own hands and chest.

“Ahhhh!”

Her scream echoed through the entire villa.

The steaming drink soaked the front of her dress, and angry red burns immediately spread across her skin.

Connan came rushing into the living room.

“What happened?”

The moment he saw Kathleen clutching her hand with hot chocolate spilled across the floor, his face went completely dark.

“Kathy!”

He dropped to one knee beside her.

“Let me see.”

His hands carefully lifted her foot while she winced dramatically.

“It hurts!”Kathleen whispered, tears streaming down her face. “It burns so much…”

Connan slowly turned to me. His eyes were colder than I'd ever seen them.

“Giselle…” His voice was dangerously calm. “Tell me you didn't do this. Don't even think about lying to me, because if I find out you're lying, I swear you'll regret it.”

I shook my head so hard it made me dizzy. “I didn't! She grabbed the mug herself and poured it over herself. Connan, please believe me just this once. There are security cameras all over this villa, so check the footage. It'll only take a minute, and you'll see exactly what happened.”

He didn't even glance toward the cameras.

Instead, he looked back at Kathleen.

“Kathy?” His voice softened immediately. “You don't have to be afraid. Just tell me the truth because I'm here, and nobody's going to hurt you while I'm around.”

Kathleen bit her lip and lowered her eyes. “No...” she sniffled as more tears rolled down her cheeks. “Please don't ask me. I don't want to make things worse, and I don't want you two fighting because of me.”

Connan gently brushed a strand of blonde hair away from her face.

“You don't have to protect anyone,” he said quietly. “No matter who it is, I'll stand up for you."

Kathleen looked at him with watery eyes before turning toward me with fake heartbreak written all over her face. “But she's my sister. I know she's been through so much these last ten years, and I know prison changed her. I know she's carrying pain that none of us can understand, but... even if she's my own sister, I can't pretend she didn't hurt me. I love her, but what she did today was wrong, and if I keep making excuses for her, she'll only become more vicious.”

Connan's jaw clenched so tightly the muscles twitched.

“You hear that?” He glared at me with naked disappointment. “She's still trying to defend your ass after everything you just did. She keeps making excuses for you, and you still have the nerve to stand here and lie to my face!”

I stared at Kathleen in disbelief.

She was crying.

Playing the victim.

While slowly burying me alive.

“I didn't touch you!” I shouted. “Stop lying, Kathleen! You did this to yourself, and you know it. Why are you doing this to me?”

Kathleen flinched as though my voice had terrified her.

Connan immediately stepped in front of her.

“Enough!” His furious roar echoed through the entire villa. “I've had enough of your goddamn lies. Stop screaming at her and stop acting like you're the victim because I'm not buying your bullshit anymore.”

I felt my heart breaking all over again.

“Connan...” My voice cracked as tears blurred my vision. “I didn't do anything. Please... just check the cameras—”

He cut me off without hesitation.

“Shut up.” His eyes were filled with disgust. “Ten years in prison didn't teach you a damn thing. I thought losing everything would've changed you, and I thought you'd come back a better person. Instead, all you've learned is how to manipulate people, dodge responsibility, and blame everyone except yourself.”

He turned toward his bodyguards.

“Bring the restraint chair,” he ordered coldly. “Set the voltage low because I don't want permanent damage. I just want her to remember that every damn action has consequences.”

Fear shot through my body.

“No...” I stumbled backward, shaking uncontrollably. “Connan, please don't do this. I swear on everything I have, I didn't hurt her!”

He didn't even blink.

“I don't need the cameras,” he said flatly. “I trust Kathy, and that's more than enough for me. As for you, you've already wasted enough of my time.”

Those four words destroyed me.

The bodyguards grabbed both my arms and dragged me toward Black Dragon's punishment room while I struggled with everything I had.

“Let me go!” I screamed until my voice turned hoarse. “I swear I didn't do it! Connan, please! Just watch the footage before it's too late!”

Nobody listened.

The heavy steel restraint chair waited in the center of the room.

Leather straps locked around my wrists, my ankles, and my waist until I couldn't move at all.

Kathleen slowly walked in behind Connan with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.

She looked at me with red, swollen eyes before gently reaching for his arm.

“Connan...” Her voice trembled with fake concern. “Maybe we should stop. I know she hurt me, and I know she tried to burn me, but she's still my sister. I don't want her suffering anymore, and if she apologizes and admits what she did, I'll forgive her.”

She looked at me sadly.

“Giselle, you've already lost ten years. Don't lose yourself too. Just admit what you did, and I'll ask Connan to let you go. I don't want to see you like this.”

Every word sounded gentle.

Every word sounded forgiving.

Anyone watching would've believed she was an angel.

Connan looked at her with admiration.

“You're too good for this damn world,” he said as he squeezed her hand. “Even after everything she's done to you, you're still worried about her. And you...” He turned toward me, his face hardening once more. “You should be ashamed of yourself because you'll never deserve a sister like Kathy.”

He gave a single nod to the bodyguard.

“Start.”

A sharp buzz filled the room.

The next second, electricity ripped through my body.

“Ahhh!” My back arched violently against the restraint chair as every muscle locked at once. Pain exploded through my arms, legs, and chest until I couldn't even breathe.