(Giselle's POV)

I grabbed my stomach as pain spread all over my body.

My eyes blurred and it became hard to see clearly but I could still see the pool of blood around me.

My heart throbbed, panic surging in but I was pulled back from my thoughts as Travis pulled my hair.

Tears spilled over as I screamed and begged, “Please… Please let go of me… It wasn't me… I promise… You can check the CCTV… I promise it wasn't me…”

I begged but he only pulled me fiercer.

“You're really good at scheming! Knowing that there were CCTVs, you already cut their connections beforehand! Don't you feel shameless to lie now?”

Pain surged through all my body. “I swear, it wasn't me, Travis!”

He only laughed loudly, before kicking me again. “How dare you still die? Don't you value your family? It was only you and Esther on the roof so, who else could it be if not you who pushed her?! Or, are you telling me that she deliberately fell from the roof herself and framed you?!”

My heart clenched and I nodded. But I was only met with a slap.

“How low can you get?! Esther is so injured and can't even stand properly and you're framing her?!”

My jaws dropped. Travis didn't believe me. He didn't believe a word I said. But that was the truth!

Esther had called me. She had told me that she was willing to leave Travis if she gave her a million dollars. But instead, as soon as she went there, Esther laughed, and jumped from the roof.

But Travis didn't believe me. No one believed me.

At the time Esther fell, everyone saw me standing on the roof. And, rumours spread. I had pushed Esther. Even Travis didn't believe me.

“Look Giselle, confess to your crime, and pay for what you should. Otherwise, I promise you, you'll be much worse off than you would be in prison.”

A drop of tear slid down my cheeks. “You want me to go to… prison…?”

“How dare you quibble here after all you have done? Do you know how low the stocks have fallen?! And, you should pay for what you did!”

I looked up at him, and pleaded again, “But… I didn't… I didn't push her… How can I confess to a crime I didn't even commit?!”

My voice roared at the silent room. Travis’ face darkened as he kicked me harder this time.

“You still won't admit, right?! How low have you become! You've become just like your father — headstrong, scheming, degenerate, a bloody bastard!”

I glared at him and this time I stood up straight and I pushed him with all my strength, rage building inside me. “What did you call my father?! How could you fucking call my father like that?!”

Travis scoffed. “What should I call him then? He's just an ungrateful wolf, who's eyeing for the company, and so are you! You forgot who all of this belongs to!”

Tears streamed down. “He helped you manage the company. He's also the one who stabilized your position as the manager. How could you call him that when he has done so much for you?!” I thundered but again, Travis lost his temper and slapped me hard.

Blood spat out from my mouth but all I could feel was my heart shattering to pieces.

Before I could speak, Travis grabbed me by my neck and cuffed me in chains.

I panicked. “Wh—what are you doing?”

Travis sneered. “Since you aren't going to learn it the easy way, you need to be taught a lesson, wouldn't you?”

My heart throbbed in fear as I watched Travis bring a hammer towards me slowly.

I shook my head in fear begging him to let me go but he remained adamant.

“Esther has a total of four fractures in her left hand. Don't you have to double back the pain then?”

I shook my head in fear and cried at him as I struggled to escape but it was futile.

Travis grabbed my left hand mercilessly as he emotionlessly, cold-bloodedly struck the hammer on my hand.

“Argh!!!” I screamed at the top of my lungs as pain spread all over.

I could barely keep myself awake but then again — he struck.

This time I felt as if something broke inside me.

“Travis… please…” I tried to beg but I had no strength to utter any words…

Travis looked at me with no expression as he struck for the third time.

Blood spilled over, and by this time, my dress was drenched in blood.

Distanced away from me, there was a mirror.

I couldn't look clearly but my heart thumped in fear as I watched myself in horror.

I shut my eyes close, heart thumping loudly as I couldn't bear to look at myself.

But then he struck again and I screamed harder.

It felt like someone was breaking and cutting me into pieces and when I looked at my hands in the mirror — I was horrified. Blood dripped and flesh from my arm severed themselves.

I thought that it was over. But Travis had no plan to stop yet. He struck me again.

I pleaded, “Please… I beg you… Please… don't do this…”

Travis only laughed. “Look at the hammer. It doesn't have any edge, and you have thrown Esther from the 30th floor! She could have died! You're let off easy that she didn't die… Otherwise…” he grunted before he struck again.

This continued for the eighth time.

My left hand stung with pain and it felt like burning. I tried to move my hand but it was futile. My hand had become numb.

Tears streamed down but Travis only mocked, “Don't pretend. I've asked the guards to send me a hammer which doesn't have any edges. You're let off very easily!”

I scoffed at his words. I— was let off easy? My flesh almost dropped and my hand almost severed from the body! How can it not hurt? I didn't even do anything… And, he was willing to believe that woman’s lies…

Travis pulled my cheeks at anger. “I hate this spiteful look of yours! That look, which is arrogant and looks down on everyone! I should've specifically asked for an edged hammer so that it'd hurt you!”

I clenched my teeth. “You're the ungrateful wretch! It was my father who helped you gain your current position… And, it was me who donated you bone marrow, and stayed by your side. Have you forgotten all of that?!”

Travis' eyes lit up. Not with realisation but with rage as he slapped me again.

“How long are you going to manipulate me like this?! You manipulated me into marriage and to believe in your lies! I had already paid you for everything but you and your wretched father want to get everything!”

I scoffed. I manipulated him into marriage?

Tears dripped down my face. I had no idea this is what he thought about me…

I gathered my strength to rub the tears on my face and looked at Travis, my feelings and heart numb from all the pain he already caused me.

“Let's get a divorce.”

Travis' face darkened with anger and he again cuffed me. “You want to escape without paying a price for your crime? No way!” He grunted as he was about to do something.

But his phone rang.

Travis frustratedly checked the call but as soon as he saw the caller ID, his face lit up, and he immediately picked it up.

I didn't need to check who it was. It was Esther.

“Travis, my body is hurting again… Can you accompany me? It hurts so much…” Esther’s sultry voice came from the other side.

There was no trace of gasps, and pain in her voice. How could Travis be fooled by her?

But Travis' face etched with worry. “I'll come over immediately.”

As he cut the call, it was as if Travis had forgotten all about what had happened previously.

He turned cold again, and ordered, “Stay here, quietly.”

I panicked. “Travis, let me go! I need to go to the hospital right away!”

He scoffed. “No way! Don't even plan to take a step out of this place. It's not as serious as Esther anyways!”

I panicked, trying to break free as I was continuously losing blood but it didn't help. Travis only enjoyed my helplessness before he made way out of the room, in a hurry.

Tears continued to drop as I suppressed the pain in my heart. He didn't care at all about my pain… my life…

(Giselle's POV)

I had no idea when my consciousness faded away, but I woke up to my left arm burning.

It felt as if someone had set a fire on it. How could Travis be so cruel?

How was I so blind back then to fall for him?

A drop of tear slid down.

I had met Travis at his lowest.

He had leukaemia and our bone marrow was a perfect match.

My father worked for Mr. Hayes, Travis’ father and out of loyalty for him, my father agreed to the transplant.

And, I was more than willing to save his life.

Mr. Hayes in return gave my father some of his company’s shares. He didn't want to take it but Mr. Hayes gave my father the responsibility to train Travis to be the next chairman, and so he had accepted it.

Travis, after recovering, thanked me. He courted me, confessed to me, and proposed to me.

And, I had fallen for him too at that time.

My father also wished to return back the shares to Travis after he took the company’s control but the board contained many enemies, and he had become all of their enemies for supporting Travis. And, he knew that it wasn't the right time to leave yet.

My father had always been honest and so was I.

But how did it all change?

How could Travis even say I manipulated him into this marriage? He was the one who took the first step, and I simply fell for him.

We had been married for ten years.

Our relationship wasn't always like this. He had never put his hands on me until today.

I bit my lips, suppressing my pain.

Since Esther came, our marriage ended.

Esther was the same person who had left Travis years ago for his leukaemia.

But Travis changed once she returned.

The first day she came back, Travis started sleeping in his studies.

In a month, he grew cold towards me. Even my son of my blood pushed me from the stairs for disturbing his and aunt Esther’s time together.

In the second month, I caught them kissing.

And this was the third month only, but Travis was a changed man.

Tears bubbled inside my eyes. How can a person change so much? Even my son turned against me.

Just as I was about to fall unconscious again, I heard someone open the door.

I grew restless, trying to break free from the chains. “Pl…ease… Tra…vis… let… me go…” I managed to huff out, but I was shocked when I saw Esther enter in a wheelchair.

“Wh—what are you doing here? Why don't you tell the truth?!” I questioned, growing restless as Esther came towards me.

Esther laughed aloud as she stood up.

My eyes widened.

“You must be wondering how I am so safe, and what I am doing here,” Esther smirked.

“You… you're faking it…” tears slid down my cheeks.

“You're correct, I'm faking it. I just used a body double and she is doing well because she was saved by the firefighter before she could have any serious impact.”

I froze in a moment of disbelief. “H…how? Why would you go for such lengths?!”

Esther laughed. “What are you talking about? All of this which belongs to you should've become mine. But you came in between, and ruined everything…”

“You're the one who left Travis when he had leukaemia!”

“He proposed to me! How could I marry a dying person? It'd be a waste! I wanted to return to him… I loved him… But you already snatched him away, but now, I'll take him back from you!”

I laughed in disbelief.

Esther’s face twitched but she composed herself and let out a smirk. “And, you know, why am I here? I wanted to stay with Travis and wanted him to accompany me. So, he brought me here to live. With him. He even arranged my room with all the medical appliances I need and booked me with private doctors. Do you understand how important I am to him?”

I faltered at her words. Travis had brought her home, and gave her room to Esther without a second thought.

Esther laughed, adding salt to the wound, “I had specifically asked for your room. Only she deserved to be in that room.”

That room was the master room. So, Travis planned to give this all to this scheming woman.

Tears blurred my vision when Esther smirked again, “And, do you want to know why Travis became so cold to you and thought this marriage was manipulated by you?”

I looked up, my lips parting. Was she behind that too?

Esther laughed, seeing my expression as if she enjoyed hurting me. “I had told him that it was your father who threatened me not to be near him otherwise, you wouldn't donate the bone marrow to him. Later, step-by-step, he wanted you to get married to Travis and control the company. Now you know why he hates you and your dad so much… In his eyes, you and your father separated us, and manipulated this marriage to steal his company…”

I shook my head, refusing to believe. “How… how could he believe… how could he believe these words?”

Esther laughed. “But he believes me. Even now, he believes that you're behind everything and you hurt me…”

My face twitched with anger and gathering my strength, I kicked her.

Esther gave me a scornful look but soon, she pretended to fall hard and cry.

I was amazed and couldn't understand what happened until I saw Travis rush to her help.

Esther trembled in his arms as he pulled her gently and placed her in the wheelchair.

“Travis… Travis, listen… Nothing happened to her… She's faking it… She told you lies… Nothing she said was the truth…” I managed to spew out, hoping Travis would believe my words but instead he slapped me.

“Even until now you're spewing lies! How can you be like this?! How can you?!”

I trembled, my heart shattering into pieces as he again refused to believe me.

“How can you hurt Esther again?!”

Esther pulled his sleeves gently as if she had no strength. “I… I just came here to ask why she pushed me… I didn't expect her to do this…”

Travis grunted as he punched me again. “Looks like you need to know your lesson the hard way.”

I shuddered. Was he going to hammer me again?

But Travis casually called a number.

My heart thumped loudly but as he spoke, I was in complete despair, “Throw out Hugh Kelson out of the company right now! He has such a daughter. How can he stay in the company? Throw him out of the company so that he doesn't dare to enter the company again!”

“No! No, Travis! You have problems with me! Don't go for my dad! Come at me!”

Travis only scoffed, looking at me with stern eyes. “You’ll only learn a lesson this way.”

As he said it, he left, cuddling with Esther.

(Giselle's POV)

My heart throbbed in panic. I didn't even care about my arm and the blood loss anymore, I only cared about what was going to happen to my father.

He had always been an honest person. He could never bear such a shameful incident.

Hours later, a servant came, releasing me from the chains, looking scornful.

I rushed, dragging my bloodied body out but I was stopped by Travis in the living room.

“Look at this. Look what you've done to your father.”

My lips parted and I looked at him for a second. He signed for me to take the tab from his hands.

My hands were shaking as I took it from him.

It was recorded live some hours back. And the person… the person in the live was my dad…

My heart seemed to have stopped as I saw my father kneeling and saying that he believed me that I could never push someone from the roof.

While others, many of them were the same persons who once looked up to him and respected him, kicked and punched him.

Commenters cursed him for having such a heartless daughter, and failing to be a father.

‘HAHAHA you deserve it for raising such a heartless daughter!’

‘This is your retribution!’

‘You must not be a good person either looking at how you raised your daughter!’

‘Don’t play the victim!’

‘You and your daughter should just go to hell!’

‘Die, bastard!’

Tears dropped from my cheeks while the tab fell from my hands, unable to read it anymore as it shattered on the floor.

What must he have faced… And, it was all because of me… It was all because of me…

Travis laughed at the scene. “See what your father got because of you… You. Deserve. It.”

Tears ran down, and even though it hurt, I dragged my body in the middle of the rain to go to my dad’s place.

As I went home, and rang the bell, there was no answer.

I rang again and again as I grew more nervous each time.

And, I finally got a call —

‘Mr. Hugh Kelson died in an accident. Please collect his body from the Central Town Hospital.’

The world around me seemed to have stopped.

That must have been a joke.

My father was perfectly healthy. How could he die? It wasn't possible… It wasn't…

Still I dragged myself to the hospital.

There I saw my father's body on the corner of the ground…

Many passed across him and some even stepped on him.

Tears streamed down and I rushed to hug him.

It was indeed my dad.

How could this happen?

I looked at the doctors, and screamed, “How can you place him here?! Why is he on the ground and near the toilet too?!”

Others murmured around me, cursing my father as they realised it was the same man on the live they had seen today — whose daughter mercilessly pushed someone else.

“Tch, she did such a thing and her father doesn't show any shame, who would care for his death?!”

“He should be lying in the garbage instead, along with his daughter!”

“It's good that he died. He faced his retribution! And, it's better if her daughter died too!”

I gasped, unable to bear hearing all of them speaking nonsense about my father.

Everyone was thankful that such a person died because he must not have been a good person to raise such a daughter.

It felt like someone was stabbing me with a thousand knives inside my chest.

I stood up while the world spun around me.

All of this had happened because of Esther and Travis. They caused it and ruined my dad. It was because of them my dad’s body was lying in the ground cold. Even after death, people were cursing him.

They were the reason behind it.

The vision around me constantly blurred while I tried to suppress my rage. I was about to take my father away, away from the place where everyone was cursing him but I lost my balance and my consciousness grew weary…

*****

As I woke up, I found myself in the hospital bed.

“How come you haven't come to the hospital as soon as after you injured your hand?!”

I was still in a daze when the doctor sighed. It felt as if nothing had happened and my dad was still here but…

“This hand can't be saved. You broke many bones, lost a lot of nerves and blood.”

For the first time, I paid attention to his words.

My heart throbbed as I looked at him in disbelief, tears threatening to fall down. “Doctor, please tell me… what's going to happen to my left hand…?”

He shook his head again. “It needs to be amputated. Please get ready for it and during this time, you also need to nourish your body. Also, should I register a police file for you?”

I was still in a daze and disbelief as I shook my head in denial.

It's not possible… My hand can be saved, right?

I tried to move my left hand but it was all numb and didn't budge an inch.

I tried again, giving all my effort but it remained futile.

The doctor patted my shoulder when I let out a drop of tear.

It was just losing an arm. It wasn't as serious as losing my dad…

I gulped, trying to control my tears.

The doctor patted again, “You need to be strong and make a police report. These are clear signs of someone causing you violence…”

As he was explaining, I cut him off and looked at him, “Where is my father, doctor…?”

He let out a worried sign as I broke down into tears, recalling my dad’s cold body.

Clearly, we had done nothing wrong, but why would this happen to us?

Our honor was in shambles. Everyone now wished for our deaths. My left hand was about to be amputated and my dad was no more… He died, and he was still cursed till now.

He died… It was all because of me… All because of me…

No… It started with Esther and Travis… Nothing would've happened if it weren't for them…

I clenched my teeth. They needed to pay the price for what had happened.