Chapter 4

The air outside the hospital felt sharp against my skin as I stepped into the courtyard, leaning heavily on the crutch.

My head still throbbed, and every movement tugged at the bruises across my ribs. I just needed a little distance, a few minutes away from the walls that held too many memories I wanted to forget.

I had barely gone ten steps when the last person I wanted to see appeared right in front of me.

“Charlie… Charlie.”

Her voice floated towards me like a mockery wrapped in silk.

Celine. My younger sister.

She walked up to me slowly, her eyes roaming from my face down to my toes, the way someone inspects a stain on their clothes.

“You’re already out of bed?” she asked with a fake sweetness that carried venom underneath. “I guess your injuries weren’t that bad after all.”

She folded her arms across her chest and tilted her head, studying me like I disgusted her. I didn’t respond. I didn’t have the strength for another fight with her. I turned and began to walk away.

But she stepped forward quickly and blocked my path, pushing my shoulder back with unnecessary force.

I staggered backward. My crutch slipped for a second, and I had to bite down the pain shooting up my injured arm to steady myself.

“What’s the rush?” she asked, feigning concern. “We’re sisters. Can't we talk for just one minute?”

Her voice dripped with practiced kindness, the kind she used whenever she wanted to twist a knife into someone.

“Celine, what do you want?” I asked quietly, exhaustion weighing down my words.

She gave me a mocking smile.

“You don’t know?”

She leaned closer, lowering her voice.

“I want you to get lost. The farther, the better. And stop bothering Nathan.”

The words hit me like stones thrown at me without mercy. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm. But she wasn’t done.

She grabbed the collar of my hospital gown and pulled me closer until I could feel her breath on my cheek.

“And don’t you dare tell him that you were the one with him back then,” she hissed. “If you try it… I will ruin you beyond what you think you’ve seen.”

I pushed her hand off with all the strength my weak body had left.

“Don’t worry,” I said softly. “I mean it this time. I’ll stop loving Nathan.”

My heart squeezed painfully as those words left my mouth. “I’ll give you everything you want.”

Before I could even blink, her hand connected with my cheek in a desperate slap. The slap landed so fast I didn’t even see her hand rise.

The sound echoed across the courtyard, sharp and humiliating. My head snapped to the side, and tears stung my eyes instantly. For a moment, I just stood there, feeling the heat spread across my cheek.

She didn’t care. She never cared.

“I’ve always gotten whatever I want,” she said proudly. “You’re only fit for my leftovers. I don’t need your favors.”

Her laughter was soft, cruel, and almost joyful.

Then her eyes shifted, past me.

Nathan was walking across the courtyard in our direction.

A wicked idea sparked in her eyes.

Before I could understand what she was planning, she seized my wrist tightly.

“Charlotte,” she whispered, leaning in with poison masked as sweetness, “I’ll show you right now who Nathan truly loves.”

I didn’t understand what she meant until she turned sharply, her back facing the swimming pool behind her.

“Celine—wait—”

But she didn’t.

In one swift motion, she yanked my hand and let her entire weight fall backward.

Everything happened too fast.

I lost my balance completely. The crutch slipped from my hand. Her scream pierced the air. And a second later —

SPLASH!

Cold water swallowed us both.

It hit my skin like ice, shocking the breath out of my lungs. Panic shot through me instantly. I kicked desperately, trying to keep my head above water.

“I can’t swim!” I gasped. “Help! Somebody help me!”

My arms flailed helplessly. The bruises on my body burned sharply as I struggled. Water rushed into my mouth, choking me.

Above the noise of splashing, I heard a distant shout.

“Celine! Charlotte!”

It was Nathan.

My heart lifted for one second. Just one.

I saw him running. His eyes widened with shock when he saw us drowning. I reached my hand towards him.

“Nathan—please—help me!”

He dived into the pool a heartbeat later.

Relief spread through me. Until he swam right past me.

Straight to Celine.

Not even a pause. Not even a glance at me. At the woman who sacrificed everything for him.

I felt my chest collapse inside itself.

He reached her limp body and pulled her up instantly, dragging her towards the edge. I tried to paddle, but the water kept pulling me under.

Outside the pool, he laid Celine gently on the ground, tapping her cheek.

“Celine! Celine, wake up! Come on, open your eyes!” His voice trembled with fear.

She opened her eyes slowly and began coughing.

“Nathan…” she whispered, playing weak.

“You scared me,” he breathed, brushing the wet strands of hair from her face and pulling her tightly into his arms. “Don’t ever do that again.”

My heart cried out, but only water came out of my mouth.

I was still struggling in the pool, swallowing large gulps of water.

“Nathan… Nathan, please,” I choked out. “Help… I’m drowning—”

Celine turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting mine and she smiled.

A small, triumphant smirk.

Then she turned back to Nathan.

“Charlotte… pushed me,” she whispered immediately, her voice shaking like a frightened child. “I don’t blame her. She didn’t mean to. She’s my only sister.”

She glanced at me again, pretending pity. “She’s drowning! Please… save her!”

Nathan looked over his shoulder.

Finally… finally, his eyes landed on me.

But instead of fear… I saw coldness. I saw anger.

He turned back to Celine.

“You’re too kind,” he said softly. “She tried to kill you. And now she jumped in to play the victim.”

My chest tightened painfully. I couldn’t even shout. The water had stolen most of my strength.

Nathan cupped Celine’s face gently.

“Let her stay in the water and reflect. Maybe she will learn.”

He stood up, lifted Celine into his arms, and carried her away from the pool.

Just like that.

Leaving me behind.

My arms went numb. My legs stopped kicking. The pain in my body blended with the cold water until everything felt distant.

“Nathan…” I whispered weakly. “Please…”

No one turned back.

The courtyard grew faint. The sky above me blurred. My grip on the water slipped completely.

The last bit of strength inside me vanished.

And then, slowly… quietly…

I let go.

The water pulled me under, swallowing me whole, and the world faded into silence.