CHAPTER 003

ELENA'S POV

I stood there, watching the man I once loved show his blind loyalty to Danielle, and I couldn’t help wondering how I had been so foolish for so long.

I had no wish to stay in their messy drama any longer. Just as I turned to leave, not bothering to grab my things, Danielle’s voice stopped me.

“I would never admit to something that isn’t my fault! Why can’t you trust me? Do you honestly believe I destroyed your marriage just to hurt you? I’ve barely spent any time with you both. I’m only here for a film project. Why are you accusing me?”

Although she spoke to the whole room, it was obvious her words were meant for me.

I almost laughed at how ridiculous this had become, one man blindly in love, one woman scheming for her own benefit, and Adrian burning with misplaced anger, ready to snap at me at any moment.

Adrian faced me, his voice sharp with hostility.

“If you didn’t plan this, then who did? Who else would target Danielle like this besides you?”

I sighed, already too exhausted for this nonsense, and looked straight at Danielle.

“If you’re so certain I did it, then where is your proof? Without it, you could be facing a false accusation lawsuit.”

Her eyes widened nervously as everyone’s gaze shifted to her. Even Adrian’s mother paused, doubt flickering across her expression.

After all, who would risk everything on a revenge scheme without solid proof? Tears filled Danielle’s eyes as she turned to Adrian in desperation.

“You trust me, don’t you? We were almost family once. You saw how hard I tried. How could you think I would do something like this?”

Adrian, still caught in his lingering feelings for her, softened. He had always carried guilt about what happened between them, and that regret kept him tied to her no matter how much it hurt me.

“I don’t believe you did this,” he said. “But we need evidence to prove your innocence. Do you remember where you were that day?”

Danielle’s face fell at his half-hearted defense, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

“So you still don’t believe me? Just because Elena said something, I’m suddenly the suspect now? Fine! If you want evidence, I’ll give it to you. I’ll die right now, and then you’ll see how much I care about proving my innocence!”

Before anyone could stop her, Danielle dashed toward the sharp edge of a hardwood cabinet. With the force of her movement, the impact could have been deadly.

Adrian’s face went pale, and even his mother let out a terrified scream. I stayed where I was, knowing Danielle was too calculated to actually hurt herself. This was just another one of her dramatic stunts.

But Adrian lunged forward, catching her wrist just before her head struck the corner. Still, her forehead scraped against the edge, leaving a cut that trickled blood down her face.

Danielle trembled, shaken by her near fall. Adrian wrapped his arms around her, his voice unsteady. “Danielle, what were you thinking? How could you be so careless?”

Her voice quivered as she whispered, “Now you believe me, right?”

Lost in the moment, Adrian nodded without hesitation. Clearly, she was innocent in his eyes. Who could doubt her after she had just put herself in danger to prove it?

Watching their ridiculous display, I almost laughed. It was a perfect performance worthy of applause.

But I had no intention of staying for the next act. I turned toward the door, ready to walk out for good, but Adrian’s voice stopped me.

“I said, stay right there!”

I paused, my patience completely gone, then turned back to face him. “What now? What do you want?”

“You shoved her! Don’t you have anything to say about it?” Adrian accused, his voice filled with anger.

I raised an eyebrow.

“Are you serious? I didn’t tell her to smash her own head into a cabinet. That was her choice. How is that my fault? If she had actually gone through with it, would you call me a murderer?”

I crossed my arms, utterly fed up.

“You really need to think before you speak. And if you’re accusing me of hurting her, where’s your evidence? If you don’t have any, the only thing I can do is call an ambulance for her.”

Without waiting for a response, I pulled out my phone and dialed emergency services. Adrian and his mother froze, panic flashing across their faces.

“The ambulance will take an hour to get here!” Adrian shouted, his voice filled with urgency. “She might not make it by then!”

I clenched my fists, frustration rising. “What exactly do you want me to do?” I snapped.

“Drive!” Adrian barked, lifting Danielle into his arms as he rushed toward the door.

I stood frozen for a moment, stunned by the chaos, until Adrian’s mother shoved me hard from behind.

“Move! If anything happens to her, I can’t wait to see how you explain yourself,” she sneered. “It’s always misfortune whenever you’re around.”

I glanced at her, catching the bitterness in her tone. It was obvious she didn’t truly care about Danielle. No one who genuinely cared would complain about their luck in a moment like this.

Shaking my head, I grabbed the car keys, a small part of me curious to see how this entire farce would unfold.

On the way to the hospital, Adrian was already on the phone, making sure Danielle received the best treatment available.

I had to stifle a laugh. It wasn’t even a serious injury.

Yet here he was, pulling every string he could for what was likely just a minor cut. If we had waited, it probably would have healed on its own.

When we finally arrived, doctors were already waiting at the entrance. They rushed Danielle inside as if it were a life-or-death emergency, lifting her onto a stretcher.

I raised an eyebrow, quietly entertained by the drama.