Chapter 6

She tightened her grip and dragged my body closer to the open window. Below us was the mansion's enormous swimming pool, its blue water several floors beneath us.

“What are you doing?” I struggled against her. “Let go of me!”

Cassandra suddenly screamed at the top of her lungs. “Larisse, stop! You're going to kill me!”

“What are you talking about? You're the one pulling me!”

She didn't answer. Instead, she yanked my hand with all her strength and threw her body backward. I lost my balance at the same time.

For one terrifying second, we were both falling.

Cassandra screamed.

I screamed too.

Then we hit the water with a violent splash.

Cold water swallowed me instantly. I sank beneath the surface, choking as panic tore through me. I didn't know how to swim. I kicked desperately, but my body only sank deeper.

“Help!” she screamed the moment she broke through the water. “Victor! Help me! Larisse pulled me! She tried to drag me down and kill me!”

I couldn't hear anything clearly beneath the water. My lungs burned as I fought to stay conscious.

Then I saw someone dive into the pool.

Victor.

He reached Cassandra first.

He pulled her from the water and lifted her into his arms while she clung to him, crying uncontrollably.

“Victor,” she sobbed. “She pulled me to the window. She wanted us both dead. I tried to stop her, but she dragged me down with her.”

Victor's face changed instantly. Rage filled his eyes as he looked toward the water.

“Where is Larisse?”

Cassandra pointed weakly toward the pool. “She's still down there.”

Victor looked at the water, then shouted, “Find her!”

Several of his men jumped in immediately.

I was barely conscious by then. My arms felt heavy, and my lungs were screaming for air. I tried to fight my way upward, but my strength was gone.

Then strong hands grabbed me and pulled me toward the surface.

I broke through the water and coughed violently, barely able to breathe. Someone dragged me toward the edge while another man pulled me from the pool.

My vision blurred.

I heard Victor shouting somewhere nearby, Cassandra crying in his arms, and his men calling for a doctor.

I wanted to tell him the truth.

I wanted him to know Cassandra had done this.

But I couldn't speak.

My eyes slowly closed as darkness swallowed everything.

The last thing I felt was someone carrying me away from the pool.

Then everything went black.

When I opened my eyes, all I could see was a white ceiling.

The sharp smell of medicine filled my nose. My throat was dry, and swallowing hurt. When I looked down, I saw a thick bandage wrapped around my stomach.

I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my body and forced me back against the pillow.

The door opened.

Victor walked in.

His face was hard, and there wasn't even a little warmth in his eyes.

“Is this how you repay me?” he asked, his voice low and controlled. “I took you away from that hell. I gave you a place to live, clothes, food, everything you could've wanted, and this is how you repay me?!”

I stared at him, confused and scared.

“W-what are you talking about?”

He came closer and folded his arms.

“Don't act innocent, Larisse. You tried to kill Cassandra. She saved my life once, and she took a bullet meant for me. Then you pushed her through the window and nearly drowned her in the pool.”

My eyes widened.

“No, Victor. I didn't push her. Cassandra grabbed me first and I was only trying to get away from her.”

“Enough.”

His voice suddenly became harder.

“You always have an excuse. Every time something happens, you cry, point at Cassandra, and make yourself look like the victim. I'm fucking tired of it.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks.

“Please, just listen to me. She lied about me before, and she's doing it again. I swear I didn't hurt her.”

Victor stared at me for a long moment.

Then someone knocked.

A nurse slowly opened the door.

“Don, Miss Cassandra just woke up. She's still crying and asking for you. The doctor said she's frightened and keeps calling your name.”

Victor's jaw tightened.

He looked at me one last time.

His eyes were so cold that I felt my chest ache.

“Save your lies for later,” he said. “I'll deal with you when I'm done with her.”

Then he turned and walked out.

The door closed behind him.

I stared at it, tears running down my face.

He didn't believe me.

Again.

I lowered my eyes to my stomach and placed my trembling hand over the bandage.

“Don't worry, baby,” I whispered. “We'll leave this place. I'll protect you somehow. I promise.”

I couldn't stay here.

I reached toward the IV in my hand and slowly tried to pull it out but before I could touch it, the door suddenly burst open.

Jacob and Noah stormed into the room.

The twins looked furious.

Jacob reached me first.

His palm cracked across my face so hard that my head snapped to the side.

SLAP!

“How fucking dare you, Larisse?” he shouted. “How dare you put your hands on Cassandra after everything she's done for this family?”

My cheek burned.

“I didn't,” I whispered.

Noah stepped closer, his eyes filled with rage.

“Don't fucking lie to us again. You killed Mom and Dad, and somehow that still wasn't enough for you? Now you've gone after Cassandra too?”

I shook my head desperately.

“No. She was the one who attacked me. She pushed me toward the window, and I was only trying to get away.”

Noah laughed bitterly.

“She did what?” His voice rose. “You've been saying the same shit for years. Cassandra lies, Cassandra frames you, Cassandra hurts you. Every time something happens, she's somehow guilty and you're the innocent one.”

“She is lying!” I cried. “Please, Noah, you have to believe me. She planned everything because she wanted Victor, and she—”

“Shut the fuck up!”

Jacob grabbed the metal tray beside my bed and threw it onto the floor. The cup and glass shattered, and water spread across the tiles.

“You really think anyone's going to believe you over Cassandra?” he snarled. “She's the one who stayed with us after Mom and Dad died. She's the one who helped this family survive while you did nothing but cause trouble.”

I covered my mouth, trying to stop myself from sobbing.

Jacob leaned closer.

“You're nothing but a fucking stain on this family, Larisse. Mom and Dad are dead, and instead of being grateful that we kept you alive, you keep hurting the people we love.”

My whole body trembled.

“I never killed them,” I whispered.

Noah grabbed my chin and forced my face toward him.

His grip hurt.

“You've had ten years to tell your story, and nobody believes a word of it,” he said coldly. “So stop begging us to believe you, because we're done listening.”

I cried harder.

Jacob stepped back and looked at me with pure disgust.

“Don't expect us to save you this time. You're on your own.”

They turned toward the door.

Before leaving, Noah looked back at me.

“You'll pay for what you did, Larisse. Even if Victor decides to forgive you, we won't.”

The door slammed shut.

…

That night, I pulled the tape from my skin with shaking fingers. It made a soft tearing sound, and I bit my lip hard when I pulled the IV needle free. Pain shot through my arm, but I didn't care. I just wanted to get out.

I slowly lowered my legs from the bed. My body felt weak and cold, and my stomach still hurt whenever I moved. Holding onto the wall, I forced myself toward the door. I was almost there when it suddenly flew open.

Victor stood in the doorway, his face red with anger and his eyes filled with something that made me freeze. “So you're trying to escape now? After everything you've done, you still think you can just walk away from this?”