CHAPTER 2

Soren sees Violet is awake and gently helps her sit up. He asks in his deep cool voice, "Are you okay?" Violet looks him in the eyes and nods. In a weak voice, she says, "Thank you." Soren stares at her for a brief moment, while Violet blushes, wondering why he was staring at her like that. A bodyguard rushes over with a thick blanket, and hands it over to Soren. He wraps Violet with it and picks her up into his arms in front of everyone.

The guests witnessing this, gasp and gossip among themselves. "Is that Soren Ashwood?" one guest whispers in a panic. "Don't look him in the eye, he'll ruin us!" another hisses. They know Soren, and they are terrified of him. Soren glares at the crowd and scolds them for just standing there and doing nothing. "Are you all brainless statues?" Soren roars, his dark eyes cutting through the crowd. "You watched a woman drown and didn't lift a single finger!" They all lower their head in shame, staying silent. Soren directs his eyes at the penthouse and storms over there with Violet wrapped well in his arms.

Inside the penthouse, Chloe is wrapped in a blanket, clinging to Derek like she's sick. Her parents, Violet's father and stepmother, nurse Chloe in front of other guests, blaming Violet for causing this incident. "Violet has always been a bitter, jealous child!" the stepmother rants loudly to the surrounding guests. "She intentionally tried to drag my poor Chloe down with her!" Chloe gives a devilish smile. She believes Violet would be dead by now.

Just then, the door is pushed open with force, and everyone turns to see Soren stepping in with a cold, wet Violet. Chloe gasp, her eyes bulging as she chokes out, "Violet?! How are you..." She is shocked to see Violet is alive. Derek is more stunned to see the VIP guest he has been waiting, carrying his fiancée.

Derek rushes over to welcome him, stretching his hands out nervously. "Mr. Ashwood! Thank goodness you're here! Let me take her." Derek gets pushed back by the bodyguards. Everyone murmurs over this, making Derek feel ashamed. He drops his gaze on Violet, who's helped to stand on her feet by Soren, and he vents his anger on her. "What is wrong with you, Violet?!" Derek snaps, his face flushed with embarrassment. "You pushed Chloe into the river out of sheer jealousy! Don't look at Mr. Ashwood with that fake innocence, he won't fall for your pathetic act!" He accuses Violet.

Chloe acts innocent and begs for her sister. "Derek, please... don't scold Violet anymore. I'm just so happy she's okay. It was my fault for being too close to the edge."

That makes everyone think Chloe is the better one. Her parents also scold Violet and tell everyone she's the family's curse. The father steps up, pointing an angry finger. "You are a complete disgrace to this family, Violet! Always bringing bad luck and messing up everything!"

Violet stares angrily at the ones she calls family, takes a step closer to Derek, who smirks and says, "You were pretending you don't know how to swim. Aren't you the one standing here now?" Then she lands him a hot slap across the face, stunning everyone. Derek holds his cheek in disbelief and yells, "You crazy bitch!" He lunges at her but gets punched in the face by Soren. "Touch her again and I'll dismantle your entire life, you pathetic failure," Soren growls. Derek holds his face is shock, watching Soren shield Violet from him. Violet feels her heart glow as she stays close to Soren.

Derek is pissed off and yells, wiping blood from his mouth, "Mr. Ashwood, you don't know her!"

"Don't protect a vicious snake like her! She tried to end Chloe's life just now!" He accuses her again, getting the guests to side with him.

Soren is done with their drama and signals a guard over with surveillance footage which was aimed at the stone terrace Violet and Chloe fell from. Chloe jumps off her sit in panic. "No! Don't play it!" Chloe screams, her voice cracking as she fakes tears and acts like the victim. "Please, Mr. Ashwood, I promise I won't go near Violet anymore! Just don't embarrass our family with videos. Violet, you win."

Violet laughs at her act. "What's the matter, Chloe?" Violet mocks, crossing her arms. "Are you suddenly terrified that your little murderous act will be exposed to the whole world?"

Chloe trembles and wants to speak, but her parents back her up quickly. "Play the footage, Mr. Ashwood! Let everyone see the truth!" Father yells confidently.

Stepmother angrily speaks, pointing at Violet, "We completely cut ties with you, ungrateful child. Trying to kill our precious Chloe!"

Derek gets bold and barks, "It's over between us, Violet. I don't want a snake like you as my wife! Mr. Ashwood will see the truth right now!"

When the footage comes up, everyone is left baffled by what they see. Chloe tightens her hand in fear, lowering her head in shame as her parents look at her in disbelief. Derek is also lost for words. Violet feels good and glad there was a camera taking note of everything, including what Chloe said.