14%
Marco shot to his feet, his eyes wide with horror, his whole body trembling. Regret struck him like a blow to the chest. He should have stopped Andrew. He should have protected me.”
How dare he hurt me!
Every guest held their breath, eyes fixed on me, anticipating the grotesque moment my eyes would be carved out.
Diane stepped toward the stage, her heels clicking softly against the marble. She thought it was finally over–thought she had eliminated me. That all the money she spent hiring a foreign team to fabricate that damning video had paid off.”
A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
Until she saw it.
A single drop of crimson sliding down my arm.
Her smirk faltered.
My hand was wrapped tightly around the blade’s front end, blood dripping from between my fingers. It spread slowly, deliberately, across my palm.
I lifted my head, eyes ice–cold, and swept my gaze across the stunned crowd, landing last on Andrew. My voice cut through the silence, steady and laced with a feverish calm.
“Has it been enough?” I asked. “All the slander, the humiliation–have you had your fun?“}]
I took a breath.
“Because now, it’s my turn.”
Andrew’s face twisted. He hadn’t expected defiance. In a rage, he forced the dagger down–but it didn’t move. Not even a twitch.
He pulled again, harder this time, struggling. His eyes widened in disbelief.
For twenty years, I’d been nothing but obedient. Silent. Weak. Powerless.
When had I become strong enough to stop him?”
I released the blade.
He staggered backward, catching himself just before falling. He stared at me like I’d become someone else.
“How did you…”
I didn’t let him finish.
With a single movement, I bent my leg and drove my foot into his face.
He barely had time to raise his arm to block, but it wasn’t enough. The force of the kick sent him crashing into a decorative vase, which shattered as he hit the ground. The dagger clattered from his hand, spinning across the floor with a sharp clang.”
The hall fell silent again–this time, in shock.
I stepped forward and picked up the blade. It felt strangely familiar in my grip.
I examined it carefully, tracing the totem engraved on its hilt. Every groove and scratch was mine. I had stayed up countless nights carving it for him, handpicking the materials he liked most, crafting it into the perfect weapon–just for him.”
And now, that weapon had been used against me.
Just like everything I gave him. Just like every sacrifice I made to push him to the top–only to be discarded when he no longer needed
- me.
“I put everything into this dagger,” I said softly. “But I see now–you were never worth it.”
I dropped it at my feet like garbage, raised my heel, and stomped.
The blade snapped beneath the weight, the sound sharp, final.
Just like the last piece of my heart–splintered beyond repair.
“Geneva, are you insane?!” Andrew roared from the floor.
“Yes,” I answered, calm and direct. “I’ve been insane for a long time.“@
My gaze met his.”
“Since the day you threw me into that hellhole of a hospital? No. I was already mad–madly in love with you, more than ten years ago.“”
“I was crazy to believe in you. Crazy enough to stay, to grovel, to endure. And that madness made me blind.“}
His expression darkened. But I saw it–the flicker of fear beneath his fury.>
He climbed to his feet, refusing to accept the woman standing in front of him was no longer the one he controlled.
“You disobeyed. You will be punished,” he hissed. “I don’t care what games you’re playing–your eyes are mine. You’re not walking out of here.”
“I’ve seen all your tricks, Geneva. You’ve done everything–everything–to cling to me. Why should I believe you now?“>
“Be obedient. Give me your eyes. Kneel. Beg.”
He snapped his fingers.
1/2
64.3%
Instantly, members of the Weber Family began locking the banquet hall doors, one by one, cutting off all exits.
Diane called out from the side, her voice honeyed with mock concern. “Yes, Geneva. Don’t act out. You won’t win his attention that way.” I laughed inside.}
Even now, they thought I was faking it. Still believed I was putting on a show.
Because in their eyes, a ‘good girl‘ never fights back.
Andrew lunged again.”
But this time, I was faster.}
I pivoted, my leg sweeping out in one swift arc, and kicked him hard in the chest. He gasped, then crashed to the floor again.”
2/2
