The world blurred, and in that haze, a vision of my mother appeared. Her face was streaked with tears, her voice choked with anger and despair as she argued with my father.
“I told you not to interfere!” she sobbed, her hands trembling. “Now look at us—ruined! Why did this happen? What did we do wrong?”
My father stood silent, his face lined with sorrow. His shoulders sagged under the weight of her words, his sighs heavy with regret.
The memory shifted, dissolving into the day of their funeral. I saw David’s face, pale but resolute, as he gripped my hand tightly. “Bianca,” he whispered, his voice trembling. “From now on, it’s just the two of us. I’ll protect you for the rest of my life.”
Anne’s warmth enveloped me next. Her arms wrapped around me in a gentle embrace, her voice soft and soothing. “You’re my sister now,” she murmured, stroking my hair. “My home is your home. My parents are your parents.”
***
The sharp sound of a door slamming open jolted me back to reality. A group of officers stormed in, their faces grim. Without a word, they grabbed me by the arms and dragged me out of the room.
When my vision cleared, I found myself outside a hospital room. An officer stood beside me, his voice filled with righteous fury.
“Look at what you’ve done to your brother!” he barked, gesturing toward the window. Inside, David lay motionless on the bed, his body hooked up to an array of monitors. “How are we supposed to question him now? Confess! Why did you do this?”
I ignored his words, my gaze fixed on the monitor displaying David’s vitals. The steady beeping was almost soothing. A bitter laugh escaped my lips, echoing in the sterile hallway.
“He’ll live,” I said, my voice calm and detached. “He’s always been so stubborn. If I wanted him dead, I would’ve struck harder.” I paused, a cold smile curving my lips. “Oh, by the way, can you confirm he’s permanently paralyzed now?”
The moment my taunting words left my lips, an officer standing nearby grabbed my arm and twisted it behind my back with brutal precision. Pain lanced through my shoulder, sharp and overwhelming, forcing a gasp from my throat. My knees buckled slightly, but I forced myself to remain upright, swallowing the cry that threatened to escape.
“We’ve already let you meet your brother,” the officer growled, his breath hot and furious against my ear. “Now tell us your motive!”