“Give up. Even if you scream until your throat tears, Walter won’t let you out. I actually believe you didn’t poison Grandma—but Walter has already decided you did. Isn’t that pathetic?”
I crawled forward on my knees, clutching at her pant leg.
“I beg you! Let me see Walter. Please!”
Carmen stood and casually admired her manicure.
“Walter hates you now. If you confess to poisoning Grandma and bring me the antidote from your hometown, maybe I’ll put in a good word for you. Maybe he’ll even show you some mercy.”
“Because right now, his heart is completely with me. If I whisper one word against you, your next punishment will be worse than today’s.”
Confess? Why should I confess to something I didn’t do?
I was his fiancée. Why wouldn’t he believe me?
Tears blurred my vision as helpless rage swelled inside me.
I slammed my hand against the stool beside me.
“No! I didn’t do it! Tell Walter to investigate—or let me out, I’ll prove who the culprit is!”
Carmen laughed cruelly, dropping her mask of sweetness.
“You still think you’ll walk out of here? Even if you never confess, I’ll still marry Walter. The only one left by his side will be me. You’re just a mutt he’s grown tired of.”
She stepped back and gestured to the bodyguards.
“Have fun. Just don’t kill her—or Walter might be mad at me.”
The bodyguards obeyed instantly, raining blows on me until I could barely breathe.
Minutes later, they dragged my battered body to Carmen’s feet.
“Well, well. The great beauty, crawling like a dog before me.”
“You might be pretty, but a sparrow is still a sparrow—you’ll never be a phoenix. Walter’s family isn’t somewhere just anyone can marry into. Consider this a lesson.”
I could hardly believe this was the same woman Walter called his beloved.
Before she could taunt me further, one bodyguard spoke.
“Miss, Walter is coming down. Should we clear the room?”
Carmen sneered.
“Such bad timing—I was just getting started.”
Walter pushed the door open and froze at the scene.
“Who told you to come in here? Didn’t I say no one enters without my permission?”
I lay on the floor, too weak to speak.
Carmen put on a pitiful look and grabbed his hand.
“I only came to give her some water. But she accused me of framing her and said I should die with her.”
“Luckily my bodyguards were here—otherwise she might have attacked me.”
Walter glanced at me lying on the ground, expression cold.