"Young madam, what do you have to say about the allegations from Winters Industries, claiming Wexford Industries is using fake materials in production?" one of the reporters shouted as camera lights flickered brightly in my face.
I smiled. Of course I smiled. That same perfect, gentle and carefully practiced expression, the same one I've worn for months now.
But internally? I was screaming.
The Winters have been making my life hell for weeks. And with my wedding coming up next week, I barely have time to sleep, let alone handle these press circus shows.
The lights flashed again, right into my eyes.
My smile twitched. My left eye blinked against the blinding glare. Damn lights. I muttered under my breath, "Someone should turn those damn things off."
I stepped forward, keeping my voice calm. "Heh… yes, the Winters have made some bold claims. But let's be honest, Wexford Industries has a reputation. We're respected. And Andrew Winters, well, everyone knows he's a traditional man who doesn't like seeing a woman in power. This isn't the first time rumors like, like this, "
I paused abruptly, choking on words when I felt a burning sensation in my throat.
"The Wexford In… In… Indust—"
Shit, I cursed, what's… happening?
My knees buckled.
"She's falling! Somebody catch her!"
"She's collapsing, grab her before she hits her head!"
My senses suddenly became over ride, and I heard them clearly, so many voices, the lights shining brighter more than ever, and then shouting, lots of shouting.
Wait! Was I… falling? Am I falling from the stage?
Oh God. I had that stupid stage built ridiculously high on purpose. I wanted the world to see me as untouchable, the youngest heiress in the country, above them all. And now I'm about to fall to my death from it.
Oh Lord!
Where are the hands? I feel air, am I floating?
Wait… is that Tyler?
I blink. His face. Beautiful, panicked. But why is he just… standing there?
"Tyler…" I whisper. Or maybe I don't. Maybe the words are just in my head now.
He's not moving. He's just staring.
Why aren't you holding me?
I can't feel anything.
"Oh my God, don't let her close her eyes!" someone shouts. It sounds far away.
"She's throwing up, wait, is that blood?! She's vomiting blood!"
Blood? Wait am I?
No. No, I don't feel anything.
The voices echo, like someone hit the rewind button on life. My vision darkens around the edges. The pain's gone. The lights are gone.
Everything feels quiet, no not just quite it feels peaceful.
Finally.
Just how I like it.
"What did the doctor say? Is she dead yet?"
I heard a familiar voice, and I didn't need to guess who it was. What the hell was she doing here? And more importantly, where was I?
My eyes felt heavy. Damn… what's going on?
"No, Cara baby. The doctors are trying to flush the poison out of her system," another voice came through, this time a deep familiar, and masculine voice.
Tyler.
My fiancé.
Just the mere sound of his voice made my heart slow for a second, until his next words registered.
Wait… Cara baby?
"What do you mean, 'flush the poison out of her system'? I thought we planned to kill her with it! Why are they flushing the poison out? Why the hell is she still alive? She should be dead by now, shouldn't she?" Cara hissed.
Poison?
Flush what poison? Wait are they talking about me?
In my system?
Oh my God… I was poisoned? And they planned to kill me? What the actual hell is going on?
"I know, calm down baby. We can't attract attention right now. I gave her the poison, just like we planned. There are too many people around. I have to pretend like I care for her or it'll look suspicious. Come here… let me make you happy, it's been so long now," Tyler said.
Then I heard footsteps like they were moving, only for it to stop and soft breathy moans filled the air.
What… what are they doing?! My subconscious screamed, and I fought to move, tried desperately to open my eyes, but something heavy kept dragging me down into the darkness. My own body refused to obey me.
No… Tyler… Cara… what are you doing?!
How could you do this to me?! And that too in my presence.
Why?!
I've loved Tyler since I was a child. We were the perfect couple, at least, that's what everyone believed. We had what the world would call a perfect fairy tale love story. Childhood crushes turned soulmates.
I was always too proud to speak to him first, but Tyler… Tyler chased me like a man obsessed. He declared his love for me to the world. Proposed to me in front of cameras, made our love story public, perfect, spotless.
But I guess… perfection was always just an illusion.
"Stop, Tyler. We can't do this here," Cara whispered, her voice sounding both mocking and shy at the same time.
I felt her gaze drift toward me as if she knew I was watching them.
"Shhh now, love," Tyler murmured. "You know I lose control when it comes to you."
Their moans grew louder. Skin slapped against skin.
My body fought harder this time to stay awake, and open my eyes just to get even a glimpse of them, to convince myself that everything I heard was not real, just my ears playing tricks on me, and as if God finally answered my prayers, the heart monitor besides my bed sounded loudly.
"Shit!" I heard Tyler curse. There was frantic shuffling. My fingers twitched, curling and uncurling against the bed sheets. I fought like hell to wake up. Finally, my eyes blinked open, my vision blurry. A blinding light flashed in my face, making me flinch. But I kept my focus, dragging my eyes toward the two figures standing by my bed.
Cara.
Tyler.
They froze.
Their expressions, utter shock. Cara's mouth hung open.
"Wha…t, why? How is she still alive?" she whispered, stepping back.
Tyler stared at me, unmoving. His eyes locked with mine, and I know he saw the fury in them. I couldn't speak, couldn't move yet. But my eyes said it all.
Cara recovered first, as she arranged herself, her eyes trained on me unblinking as if I did not just catch her having me fiancées dick heels deep in her, right in my hospital room.
Her heels clicked against the floor as she walked closer to me. She leaned in and smiled.
"Lena, Lena, Lena… How did you like the sight I greeted you with, take it as your gift for resurrection from the clutches of death,"