Chapter 5: The Fall.

Kelsey stepped out of her room after changing into the dress.

The soft fabric brushed gently against her skin as she carefully held the side of the gown, afraid she might accidentally step on it.

For a moment, she stood quietly outside her door. It had been a very long time since she dressed up like this.

The gown was not overly expensive. Not flashy. But it made her feel human again.

Her fingers unconsciously touched the smooth material before she slowly lifted her head.

Then she froze.

At the end of the corridor stood Ramon.

His back faced her while he held his phone against his ear. One hand rested casually inside his pocket as he spoke calmly on the call.

Kelsey stopped breathing for a second.

Even from behind… he looked handsome, cold, and untouchable.

The black suit wrapped perfectly around his tall figure, making his already powerful presence even more intimidating.

No matter how many times she saw him… from afar, from beside him, or even secretly staring when he wasn’t looking… Ramon Holloway always looked like a man that belonged somewhere far above everyone else.

And even as his wife, Kelsey could never reach him.

Her eyes stayed on him.

Then suddenly, as though he sensed someone staring at him, Ramon slowly turned around.

Their eyes met instantly.

Kelsey’s heartbeat jumped violently. Her cheeks flushed red from being caught staring.

She immediately lowered her head in panic.

The corridor suddenly felt unbearably quiet.

She could feel his eyes resting on her for a brief moment.

Then without saying anything, Ramon calmly looked away and started walking toward the staircase.

Only after he disappeared downstairs did Kelsey finally breathe properly again.

Her racing heart slowly started calming down.

But just then…

Tiny hurried footsteps echoed through the corridor.

Kelsey looked up quickly.

“Kendrick!”

Her eyes widened in worry as she saw her little boy running carelessly through the hallway.

“Kendrick, stop running!” she called anxiously while quickly hurrying toward him. “You might fall!”

She finally caught up to him and grabbed his small arm gently before he could trip.

But the moment Kendrick realized it was her touching him, his expression changed instantly.

“Let me go!” he shouted while trying to pull away from her.

Kelsey’s heart squeezed.

“Kendrick…”

“You’re a bad woman!” he yelled angrily. “You hurt me!”

Pain flashed across Kelsey’s face immediately.

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, her voice trembling. “I really didn’t mean to hurt you. I would never hurt you on purpose.”

But Kendrick refused to listen.

“You’re lying!” he shouted stubbornly.

“Kendrick…”

“I don’t like you!” he snapped while struggling harder to free himself from her hand. “Aunt Wanda is prettier than you!”

Kelsey’s shoulders stiffened. The childish words stabbed directly into her chest.

Kendrick continued angrily.

“Daddy should marry Aunt Wanda instead!”

Kelsey felt her eyes burn instantly. Her throat tightened painfully.

She slowly crouched in front of him despite the tears gathering in her eyes.

“Kendrick…” she whispered shakily. “I’m your mother.”

“I don’t want you as my mummy!”

The words shattered something inside her.

“I love you so much,” Kelsey continued weakly. “Everything I do…”

“Leave me alone!” Kendrick shouted loudly while covering his ears. “I don’t want to talk to you!”

Kelsey’s hands trembled badly.

She knew he was still angry over what happened at the ice cream shop.

But hearing her own son reject her so openly still broke her heart every single time.

She could not blame him. The Holloways had never allowed him close to her. They said she was dim-witted and would only influence him badly.

“Kelsey.”

A sharp voice called her disrespectfully.

Kelsey turned slightly.

The moment Kendrick saw the distraction, he immediately pushed her hand away and ran off down the corridor.

“Kendrick!” Kelsey called anxiously.

But he was already gone.

Kelsey’s chest pounded as she stared after him. His cruel words still echoed loudly inside her head.

“I have been calling you,” Grace, the housekeeper, complained rudely. “Didn’t you hear me?”

Kelsey quickly stood up.

“I was just—”

But Grace didn’t let her finish.

Her eyes slowly moved over Kelsey’s dress before her expression turned strange.

“Oh,” Grace said mockingly. “So this is why you suddenly couldn’t hear me.”

Kelsey said nothing. She understood what she meant.

Grace folded her arms.

“Are you dressed to join the party?” she asked, though she could already see it for herself.

Kelsey hesitated slightly before nodding. She thought it was right for her to join the party as the daughter-in-law. She had initially believed she wouldn’t attend, but then the dress was given to her.

“You seem to have forgotten your place,” Grace said, pointing toward Kelsey’s room. “Go change out of that dress and get to the kitchen. You will be attending to the guests today.”

“But… I… I want to join the celebration,” Kelsey managed to say in a low voice. Her head was still lowered. She never had the courage to meet people’s eyes.

“What did you say?” Grace asked, her tone daring Kelsey to repeat it again as she stepped closer like she might hit her.

Kelsey’s mouth opened and closed. She wanted to insist, but fear stopped her. She knew Grace was sent by Doris, and she couldn’t go against her. Not that she would dare even if she wasn’t.

“What nonsense is going on here?” a disgusted voice asked, walking toward them.

Kelsey’s shoulders stiffened immediately as she recognized the voice.

“She wants to attend your party, Madam,” Grace answered, giving a small respectful bow.

Doris raised her brows, then let out a cold laugh.

“You dare think of showing your face at my party?” Doris asked as if it was ridiculous.

Kelsey nodded slightly and muttered lowly, “I’m Ramon’s wife.”

No matter how weak her confidence was, she knew Ramon was her husband. And at the same time, she was confused. Didn’t they keep the dress for her so she could join the party?

“You are not worthy of my son,” Doris snapped in pure dislike. “If your father had not manipulated Collins, you would never have stepped foot into this family.”

Kelsey’s eyes trembled at the harshness. It wasn’t the first time Doris had said such things. It had been like that from the first day she became Ramon’s wife.

“Wanda is who I want for my son,” Doris continued without stopping.

Kelsey’s heart skipped painfully at the mention of Wanda. They never stopped reminding her that she was not the chosen one. Wanda was always part of every comparison.

“You better behave, or I will have you thrown out on the street where you belong,” Doris warned sharply.

Kelsey’s eyes widened in fear.

“Please don’t throw me out… I will go to the kitchen now,” Kelsey said quickly, panic in her voice.

Her father had told her the street was dangerous before she married Ramon. He said she was only safe here. So she had to do everything to remain.

She quickly turned to head downstairs.

“You are already dressed up, Kelsey,” Wanda’s voice suddenly came.

Kelsey didn’t even know when Wanda appeared.

She didn’t stop. She just wanted to reach the kitchen before Doris got more angry.

But just as she was about to run pass Wanda, she suddenly tripped.

Her foot caught the edge of the step.

She lost her balance.

“Kelsey!” someone shouted.

But it was too late.

She fell.

Her body rolled down the stairs in a painful blur of movement before she landed hard on the floor. Her head hit the ground with a heavy impact.

A sharp pain shot through her body.

She winced painfully.

“You always know when to disgrace us,” someone said coldly.

“Kelsey!”

She heard voices around her, but they sounded far away.

Her vision blurred. Her body weakened.

And slowly… everything went dark.