With that, Lavinia left with Cedric. As they walked past me, Cedric raised his middle finger in mockery.
My head throbbed, and I had no energy to argue with him. Once they were gone, I started clearing out everything of Lavinia’s from the house.
When I was done, I called the landlord to end the lease. But the very next day, I was ambushed, beaten unconscious, and dragged away.
When I opened my eyes again, Cedric was standing there with a cigarette hanging from his lips, several men behind him glaring at me with hostility.
It was obvious they hadn’t come with good intentions. I forced my battered body upright and faced Cedric.
I stared at him for a long moment until he smirked.
“Looks like you’ve figured out I’ve been faking the illness. But what can you do about it?”
“As long as Lavinia stays with me, I’ll never admit it. You’ll never beat me.”
He blew smoke straight into my face. I frowned and stepped back.
“What do you want?”
“I want you out of the picture for good. Lavinia is mine, but she still loves you and won’t let go.”
“You worthless pauper, you’ve blocked my path. If I don’t get rid of you, I’ll never have peace.”
No sooner had he spoken than he waved at the men behind him. “Throw him off the sixth floor and let him die.”
I clenched my fists and fought with everything I had. In the struggle, Cedric grabbed a knife and plunged it into my chest.
Just then, Lavinia rushed in. “Stop it!” she shouted.
Cedric quickly yanked the blade out and stabbed himself, pretending I had attacked him. At the sight of blood, his men panicked and scattered.
He pressed a hand against his wound, staggered toward Lavinia, and collapsed in her arms. Blood soaked her clothes, throwing her into panic.
I fell to my knees, pain drowning me, my vision going black as her furious voice rang in my ears.
“Phineas, you really deserve to die, how could you try to kill Cedric!”
Cedric pretended to faint, but before closing his eyes, he urged her to get him to the hospital.
Lavinia shot me a hateful glare before quickening her steps and dragging Cedric away. In the end, I lost all strength and collapsed on the ground, and not once did she look back at me.
At the hospital, Lavinia sat anxiously on a bench, her restlessness showing through. She didn’t even know why, but my pale, powerless face kept flashing in her mind. Could it be that Phineas was hurt, too?