Adam didn't look at my bleeding leg. His gaze was fixed on my face, burning with disgust. "If you won't apologize, fine. But hurting Lola? Since when did you become such a rabid psycho?"
They flanked Lola, supporting her as if she were made of glass. The three of them looked like a perfect family portrait.
I was the one cheated on. Framed. Broken. Humiliated. Yet somehow, the arrow of guilt pointed at my chest.
Only after his tirade did Adam notice—my face drained white, my clothes dark with blood.
He stiffened, then moved to lift me back onto the bed.
Lola's hand shot out, grabbing his waist. She buried her face in his chest, eyes glistening. "Adam, didn't you promise to take me ring shopping? Please, let Layla come with us to choose one. You know you're clumsy with these things."
Adam glanced at me, then at the blood dripping onto the floor. He hesitated. "But she's injured. Maybe—"
"I'll go." I forced a smile that felt foreign on my face.
They both froze.
Adam's brow furrowed. "What game are you playing? Don't think I don't know you're just looking for another chance to bully Lola."
The smile stayed fixed. Inside, my heart turned to ice.
His first thought wasn't that I was bleeding out. It was that I—the cripple—might somehow hurt his precious mistress.
He dropped me onto the bed with zero tenderness, the impact jarring my spine, and turned to leave.
But Lola tugged his sleeve. "Adam, she doesn't look that sick. Let her come. If I'm in danger, I'll just scream for you."
I didn't even have a cane. I had to drag my shattered leg to the car.
Before we started the engine, I held out my hand. "Adam, let me see your phone."
Confusion flickered across his face, but he handed it over.
He hadn't changed the password. Still my birthday.
My fingers flew across the screen—locating his private files, attaching them to an email, hitting send. The moment the notification appeared, I deleted the evidence and handed it back.
The car pulled up to the luxury jewelry store.
As I climbed out, a hand shoved me hard from behind.
"Hurry up!" Lola hissed, low enough that only I could hear.
I stumbled. Hit the pavement hard. Knees scraped against sharp gravel. Fresh blood bloomed on my skin.
"Layla!" Lola shrieked, rushing over with practiced panic, helping me up while casting wide, fearful eyes at Adam. "It's all my fault! I'm so clumsy—I didn't see her fall."