The sound echoed.

I stumbled, clutching my cheek, feeling the sting crawl under my skin.

“Of all people, it had to be you?” she shouted.

I wanted to say something. Anything. But no words came. Just tears.

Naira raised her hand again, but Dane caught her wrist. “Enough,” he said sharply. Then he looked at me, expression blank. “Candy, go to your room. Don’t come down unless I tell you.”

My voice was gone.

All I could do was nod and walk away, holding my face.

Each step upstairs felt like walking through water.

When I reached my room, I sat on the edge of the bed, shaking. The folded paper slipped from my pocket. The sonogram.

I stared at it for a long time, my vision blurring.

“Our baby,” I whispered.

Then I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

I cried until I couldn’t breathe, until the world outside faded, and all I could hear was the sound of my own heart breaking while downstairs, I knew Naira was throwing herself into his arms again, pretending to cry.

And he was letting her.

....

I woke up with my eyes swollen and my chest aching like I had cried myself empty.

The sunlight slipped through the curtains, soft and cruel at the same time. It made everything look too normal, like last night never happened.

I pushed myself up, head throbbing, when I saw her.

Naira.

Sitting on the couch like she belonged there, legs crossed, calm and smug, holding something between her fingers.

It took me a second to realize what it was.

The folded paper.

My sonogram.

“So,” she said lightly, twirling it between her fingers, “you’re pregnant, hmm?”

I froze. My heart stopped.

“Give that back,” I whispered.

She smiled like a cat that caught something small and helpless. “Not yet. I want you to hear a story first. It’s a good one. You’ll like it.”

“I said give it back.”

Naira ignored me. She just leaned back, eyes glinting with something sharp and ugly.

“You always thought you were so good, didn’t you, Candy? Always so loved. So lucky. You want to know how I became his fiancée?”

I didn’t answer. I didn’t want to hear. But she went on anyway, her voice syrupy and cruel.

“Two weeks ago, my brothers told me Dane took you. Jason and Calen. Remember them? They said you were living in his house. That he was protecting you.” She laughed, but it didn’t sound human. “Can you imagine how that felt? You, the little Langford nobody, suddenly in his arms.”

She stood and began pacing, like she was telling a bedtime story. “You were always the favorite. Even when we were kids. So I decided to take what’s yours. All of it.”

She paused and looked at me with that painted smile. “Jason told me Dane was going to Paris for business. I begged him to introduce me. I made sure to look perfect that night. You should’ve seen me. All white silk and tears, like a wounded angel. Men fall faster when they think they’re saving someone.”

I stared at the floor, trying not to cry, but my chest felt tight again.

She laughed softly. “You know what sealed it? The shooting. Oh, Candy, it was brilliant. Jason hired men to stage it. I made sure Dane saw everything. The guns, the panic. I pretended to shield him, even fell on the ground. There was fake blood everywhere. I looked like a hero. He carried me all the way to the hospital, you know? Stayed all night by my side.”

Her eyes gleamed as she remembered it. “When I woke up, he told me I saved his life. He swore he owed me everything. So I told him what I wanted.”

She walked closer, slow and deliberate, crouched down in front of me. “I told him I wanted him. I wanted to be his woman.”

I stared at her. The words didn’t even sound real anymore.

Naira smiled wider, showing teeth. “He gave me this ring. Promised me the world. All because he thought I took a bullet for him. Guilt is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?”

Something in me cracked then.

I started laughing. Quietly at first, then louder. It came out wrong, broken, like I had forgotten how to breathe.

Naira’s smile faded. “What’s so funny?”

I wiped my face, still laughing through the tears. “That’s all it took? Fake blood? A few hired men? That’s how you got him?”

Her jaw tightened. “Don’t laugh at me.”

But I couldn’t stop. It hurt to laugh, but I did anyway. “You can have him,” I said quietly. “I don’t care anymore.”

Her face changed. The anger flickered away, replaced by something colder. She tilted her head, smiling again, softer this time. Almost sweet. But her eyes didn’t match.

I knew that look.

I stood, backing away. “What are you doing?”

She stepped closer. “You’re pregnant. I’m his fiancée and his savior.” Her smile deepened. “Let’s see who he saves first.”

Before I could move, she grabbed my arm. Her nails dug into my skin. I tried to pull free, but she held on tight.

“Let go of me, Naira!”

Her voice suddenly turned loud, trembling like a victim. “Candy! Stop! You’re hurting me! Why do you always hurt me?”

“I said let go—”

Before I could finish, she stumbled backward, still clutching my wrist. My foot slipped on the edge of the stair.

Everything happened too fast.

Her scream tore through the house. “Candy! Please, don’t hurt me!”

Then there was nothing but motion.

We fell.

I couldn’t move.

The floor was cold against my cheek, and all I could see was white light above me spinning out of focus. Pain burned through my stomach, spreading to my back until I couldn’t even tell where it started. Then I heard shouting.

Footsteps.

Someone yelled my name.

Dane.

My heart lifted, weak but alive. He came. He was coming for me... But then I saw him. He ran right past me. Straight to Naira.

She was lying a few steps away, crying softly, holding her arm like it was broken. He scooped her up without hesitation, panic in his eyes.

“Call the doctor! Hurry!” Dane shouted.

A maid’s voice trembled, “Sir, Miss Candy is bleeding too—”

“Take care of her later!” His voice was sharp, loud enough to cut through me. “Naira’s more important!”

Important?

Something inside me cracked. The sound of their voices faded. The light dimmed.

Everything went black.

---

When I opened my eyes, the ceiling was white. The smell of medicine stung my nose. My throat was so dry I could barely swallow. There was a bandage across my stomach.

I tried to sit up, but pain shot through me, forcing me still.

The door opened.

Dane stepped in. His face was hard, his eyes colder than I’d ever seen them.

“Is this how you repay me?” His voice was calm at first, but it carried anger under every word. “I took you away from that house. I gave you everything. And this is what you do?”

I blinked at him, confused. “W-what are you talking about?”

He moved closer, arms crossed. “Don’t play dumb. You tried to harm my fiancée. Don’t you know she saved my life once? She took a bullet for me! And you… you pushed her down the stairs.”

My stomach turned. “No, Dane, please. It wasn’t me—”

“Enough! You always have excuses. You always cry and make yourself look like the victim.”

I shook my head, tears spilling before I could stop them. “Please, listen to me—”

A knock on the door broke through my words.

A nurse peeked inside, eyes downcast. “Sir… Miss Naira just woke up. She’s crying. Still in shock and looking for you.”

Dane’s jaw tightened. His eyes flicked back to me for a second—cold, empty, like I was no one.

“Save your lies,” he said quietly. “I’ll deal with you later.”

Then he walked out.

The door closed behind him with a soft click. But to me, it sounded like something breaking for good.

“Don’t worry, baby. We’ll leave. I’ll protect you. I promise.”

I slowly reached for the IV needle. I just wanted to go. Anywhere. Away from all of this.

But the door burst open before I could move.

Jason and Calen stormed in like a storm had ripped through the hallway.

Jason’s eyes burned with rage. Calen looked at me like I was something filthy.

Calen moved first. His hand came down hard across my face. The sound echoed in the room.

“How dare you, Candy! How dare you try to kill our sister?”

My head snapped to the side. My cheek stung. “I didn’t,” I whispered.

Jason’s voice was louder. “Don’t you dare lie to us. You killed our parents. Wasn’t that enough? Now you go after Naira too?”

Tears filled my eyes again. “She’s the one who—”

Jason stepped closer, his finger pointing right at my forehead. “She's the one, what? You said that last time too. Every time you say that, someone ends up dead. Mom. Dad. Now Naira?”

“No,” I cried, shaking my head. “You don’t understand. She lied. She set me up. Please, Jason, you have to believe me.”

Calen grabbed the metal tray beside my bed and shoved it to the floor. Everything crashed—glass, water, the cup, everything. “Shut up!” he yelled. “You think anyone will believe you over her? You’re nothing. Just a stain in this family. A curse that won’t go away.”

I pressed my hand over my mouth, sobbing.

Calen leaned closer, his voice low and trembling with hate. “Why won’t you die already? Just die and save us all the trouble.”

Jason grabbed my chin roughly, forcing me to look at him. His eyes were cold, almost empty. “You’ll pay for this, Candy. Even if Dane forgives you, we won’t.”

They turned and left, the door slamming behind them.

That night… I pulled the tape off my skin with a soft tearing sound. I bit my lip to stop from crying out when the needle slid free. My arm burned, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to leave.

I swung my legs off the bed, my body weak and cold. The floor felt far away. Every step hurt, but I still moved toward the door.

Just when I reached for the handle, it slammed open.

Dane stood there. His face was red, eyes sharp with rage.

“So now you plan to escape?” His voice thundered through the room. “After everything you’ve done, you still think you can walk away?”

I froze. My throat went dry. “Dane, please, I just—”

He cut me off, shouting louder. “Do you even know what you’ve done? Naira’s losing blood because of you. She might die!”

Before I could speak, his hand clamped around my arm. His grip was tight, painful.

“You’ll give her your blood,” he said coldly. “You’re both RH-negative. She needs it, and you owe her your life.”

I tried to pull away, shaking my head. “No… I can’t. Please, let me go. I can’t.”

His eyes darkened, voice dropping lower. “Why not? After all I’ve done for you? I bought you from your brothers. I knew what you were, Candy—a murderer—but I still took you in. I gave you a home, clothes, everything. I let you touch me. I let you sleep beside me. And now you act like you’re better than me?”

“Dane…” My voice cracked. “Please stop.”

He sneered. “You should be grateful. Do you know how many women would kill to be in your place? To warm my bed? But I chose you. And all I feel now is disgust.”

The words hit harder than his grip. My eyes blurred with tears. “I can’t, Dane,” I whispered. “I can’t give blood. I’m pregnant.”

For a moment, he froze. His eyes flickered, unsure. Then he laughed. Cold, sharp, cruel.

“Pregnant? You think I’ll fall for that?” He let out another laugh, shaking his head. “You’ll say anything to get out of this, won’t you? You lie like it’s your nature.”

“It’s true!” I begged. “Please, I’m telling you the truth. It’s your child. Please don’t make me do this.”

He yanked my arm hard enough to make me stumble. “Enough lies. You’ll give her your blood whether you want to or not.”

“Dane, stop! Please!”

He didn’t stop. He dragged me down the hallway toward the nurse’s station. My feet scraped against the floor. I tried to hold onto the doorframe, the walls, anything.

The nurses stared as we entered, frozen in shock.

“Take her blood,” Dane ordered. “Drain her if you have to. She’ll pay for what she did.”

“Sir—” one nurse started, hesitant.

Jason’s voice cut through the silence. “Do as he says. She owes our sister her life.”

Calen nodded beside him. “Get it done.”

I screamed when they held me down. “Please, don’t! I’m begging you! I’m pregnant! You’ll kill my baby!”

No one listened.

The needle slid in. I watched my blood fill the bag, red and endless. My body turned cold. My vision started to fade.

Before the world went dark, I whispered, “After this… I’ll end it all.”

---

When I woke again, the room was quiet. My body felt empty. Pale hands. Weak breath. Nothing inside me moved anymore.

The nurse stood by the bed, her face sad. “Miss Candy,” she said softly, “Miss Naira survived. She’s stable now.”

I turned my head slowly. “Did… he come?”

She looked away. “Mr. Vale hasn’t returned.”

I nodded weakly. My hand drifted to my stomach. It felt too still. Too quiet.

Something was wrong.

“Where’s my baby?” I asked, my voice trembling.

The nurse hesitated. “I’ll call the doctor.”

When he came in, he didn’t look me in the eyes. He just said it... quietly, like a whisper he didn’t want to say.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “We couldn’t save it.”

The world stopped. I couldn’t even cry at first. I just smiled, shaking. “So that’s it,” I said softly. “My baby died to save hers.”

The doctor left. The room stayed silent.

That night, I got out of bed. My legs almost gave way, but I kept walking. No shoes. No coat. Just the thin gown they gave me.

Outside, the air was cold. The rain poured hard enough to blur everything. I kept walking until I reached the bridge.

The water below was dark, moving fast. I stood there, shaking.

I looked up at the sky and whispered, “Mom, Dad… I’m tired.”

The rain hit my face like tiny slaps. I smiled through the tears. “I’m sorry if I rest now. I tried to be good. I tried to be strong.”

My voice broke. “My brothers hate me. The man I loved… used me. And my baby? They killed it too. I just want peace now. Please, let me come home.”

I took one step forward. The wind carried the sound of rushing water.

“Goodbye, Dane.” My lips trembled around the name. “You took everything from me and still, a part of me loved you. I don’t even know why. Maybe because I never knew what love was supposed to feel like.”

The rain poured harder, drowning my voice.

“Goodbye, Jason. Goodbye, Calen.” My voice cracked. “I hope one day, you’ll remember I was your sister before I became your shame.”

A sob tore through me, soft and hopeless. “You’ll all wake up tomorrow and won’t even notice I’m gone. Maybe that’s better.”

Lightning flashed in the distance. I closed my eyes.

“My baby,” I whispered, pressing my palm to my stomach one last time. “Wait for me, okay? Mama’s coming.”

The wind carried the sound of rushing water below.

I stepped closer to the edge, rainwater pooling around my feet. “This is it,” I murmured. “The last pain I’ll ever feel. I hope you both burn.”

And then, I took one step forward.

The world tilted. The storm roared.

And I jumped.

The water swallowed everything.