“Join her? You better not stain Stephanie’s path to heaven,” Rachel said weakly.


    She supported herself to stand up. “Michael, you will regret this. When you see the true colors of


    the woman in your arms…”


    I stood behind Rachel. In a hoarse voice, I added, “Michael, there’s a heavy price for betraying


    trust.“.


    Michael shifted his gaze away. “You’ll see the truth at my wedding,” he dered.


    He was still holding onto a sliver of denial about my fate.


    As they exited the police station, Michael’s hand slipped from Yasmin’s grasp. He seemed


    somewhat deste.


    “Michael?” Yasmin steadied him after noticing his troubled state. She managed to prevent him from


    stumbling.


    “It’s nothing,” Michael imed as he waved his hands.


    “Michael, could something have happened to Stephanie?” Yasmin’s question was tentative.


    “No!” Michael’s voice was sharp. It cut through the air. “She’s not dead.”


    Yasmin recoiled at his intensity. Her face turned pale.


    Michael, realizing his outburst, softened his tone. “I’m sorry, Yasmin. Please go back first. I have


    matters to attend to.”


    “Michael, do you still think about her?” Yasmin asked as her eyes brimmed with tears.


    “Make yourself clear, Michael,” Yasmin pleaded as she followed him.


    “You always said Stephanie was like a sister. What are you afraid of? Her death would mean she


    could no longer be entangled with us.”


    Michael stopped suddenly. He turned and frowned at Yasmin. “She’s not dead! She will show up at


    our wedding.”


    “And if she doesn’t?” Yasmin’s voice was filled with doubt.


    “She will. She must…” Michael muttered repeatedly.


    I observed Michael coldly. Perhaps he was starting to believe I was truly gone. What kind of


    madness. would lead someone to believe I would harm myself in such a way?


    He knew that even a bug would scare the hell out of me.


    Michael sent Yasmin away with the driver and walked alone into the night. I followed, watching him


    with a mix of sadness and irony.


    “I’m dead. Aren’t you relieved?” I whispered hoarsely, though I knew Michael couldn’t hear me.


    Yet, he stopped and turned suddenly as if he sensed something. Then, looking defeated, he turned.


    back and massaged his forehead wearily 2


    Michael took out his phone and opened our chat. He had my WhatsApp chat pinned at the top,


    which I found bitterly amusing.


    “Stephanie, you’ve won,” Michael typed..


    I could hear his voice breaking. “Come back, and I’ll call off the engagement with Yasmin.”


    He leaned against a wall, looking blighted. The revtion of the ten nails today had clearly shaken


    him.


    I watched Michael sarcastically as I stood right in front of him. “You pushed me into the abyss when


    I loved you. Michael, you’re the one who killed me.”


    Michael continued to send messages


    but I could no longer respond.


    Michael, I am gone. No one can save me now. The despair I feel is nothingpared to what I felt


    while alive.


    I still remember the day Michael found out about my feelings for him. His eyes were filled with


    disgust.


    “You’ve always been like a sister to me. We, the Ford family, took care of you, and this is how you


    repay us?”


    He tore up my letter and scolded me. “Focus on your studies. No dating until you’re in college.”


    Back then, the despair in Michael’s eyes truly crushed me. Little did he know I had let go up my


    letter.


    ”


    when he tore


    But it was always him, clinging to the past, unable to move on. He humiliated me whenever I got


    close.


    to any man.


    If a man showed interest in me, he would nder me. I spent a long time doubting myself,


    wondering if I was really as terrible as he made me out to be.


    “Stephanie, where the hell are you!” Michael shouted into the night with his frustration boiling over.


    “You’ve won, okay? You’ve seeded. You’ve scared me. Please,e back…”


    Michael copsed to the ground and repeatedly sent messages to beg for my return. Watching his


    pitiful state, I couldn’t help but find it slightly amusing.


    N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    Is this what fear looks like?


    Now, I was almost looking forward to the day Michael found my body. I was curious to see his


    reaction when he realized Yasmin was responsible for my death.


    I wondered how he would feel when he learned the whole truth, that I had never pushed Yasmin


    down


    the stairs, that I had never hurt anyone. Instead, it was them who tormented me behind my back.