“Save your act!” Mike lunged forward and grabbed his collar. “Were you the one who cut Nathan’s climbing boots? You ruined his spiked boots, did you?”
“If you hadn’t done that, he might have held on until help came. You killed him, you bastard!”
“Enough!”
Before Mike could swing a punch at Justin’s face, Isabel grabbed his hand and pushed him aside.
Mike’s back hit the wall hard.
My parents were also furious. “You and that brat Nathan really are just the same! Get him out of here. He’s never allowed to enter the Miller Family house again!”
Justin was still crying.
Winona watched as Mike was dragged outside. Even when he reached the door, he was still shouting in anger.
She frowned slightly, but soon her eyes softened as she turned back to Justin’s tearful, pitiful face.
“I know I was born poor, but I never stole or hurt anyone. Why would they accuse me like that?”
Winona instinctively reached out with a tissue to wipe his tears, then suddenly stopped herself and handed it to him instead.
“Don’t worry. We would never believe something that ridiculous.”
“That’s right, Justin. Nathan just wanted attention. He made up this story to make us panic and misunderstand you.”
“Don’t worry. We’re all on your side.”
I closed my eyes in pain.
My family.
My lover.
All of them standing together, promising to always believe the man who killed me.
That night, I overheard Justin on the phone with someone.
“Of course not. When we fell from the snowy mountain, the gloves and the spikes on his boots were damaged. That’s normal, right? Who would ever think I actually messed with them?”
So, it was true…
The broken spikes on my boots that couldn’t grip the ice, my gloves and boots that couldn’t keep me warm… none of it was an accident.
“That spoiled brat was so funny. I only said I was freezing to death and he actually forgot we were enemies. He gave me his warm gear and said we would settle things after we got off the mountain.”
“Hahaha! Man, that’s hilarious.”
***
Winona called me more than ten times, yet not a single call was answered.
Frustrated, she left me a voice message.
“I’ve already picked the wedding dresses. Five different styles. If you don’t come back soon, I’ll choose the ugliest one and marry you in it.”
There was still no reply.
“Nathan, actually, I know what you did to Justin. That’s why I haven’t talked to you lately. What you did was crossing the line.”