Chapter 7

• Elena's POV
• The large decorative scaffolding, heavy with lights and floral arrangements, gave a groan. It swayed dangerously.
• It was falling.
• And it was falling right toward us.
• In that split second, instinct took over. Or maybe, it was the truth revealing itself.
• Liam didn't reach for me.
• He lunged past me. He threw his body to the left, tackling Sophia to the ground, shielding her with his own body as the heavy steel structure came crashing down.
• I stood there, alone in the center of the stage, as the lights plummeted toward me. Then I fell into darkness.
• ***
• The first thing I noticed was the silence.
• No music. No applause. No crashing steel.
• Just the rhythmic beep... beep... beep of a heart monitor.
• I opened my eyes. The harsh fluorescent light of the hospital room blinded me for a second. I tried to shield my eyes, but a sharp, searing pain shot through my left arm.
• I gasped, looking down. My arm was encased in a heavy plaster cast. My head throbbed with a dull, heavy ache, a concussion, definitely.
• "You're finally awake."
• The voice came from the chair beside my bed. It wasn't Liam.
• I turned my head slowly.
• Sophia Cruz was sitting there, her legs crossed elegantly. She looked impeccable. Not a hair out of place, her makeup flawless, wearing the same white dress from the party. It wasn't even wrinkled.
• In her hands, she held a paring knife and a red apple. She was peeling it, one long, continuous strip of skin curling away from the fruit.
• "Where is Liam?" I rasped. My throat felt like it was filled with broken glass.
• "He's outside," Sophia said, not looking up from the apple. "Talking to the doctors. And the lawyers. And the PR team. You caused quite a mess, Elena."
• "I caused a mess?" I tried to sit up, but dizziness slammed me back against the pillows. "The scaffolding fell on me."
• Sophia finally looked at me. Her eyes were cold, devoid of any sympathy. A small smile played on her lips as she sliced a piece of the apple and popped it into her mouth.
• "And who do you think pushed it?" she whispered.
• I froze.
• "It was an accident," she continued, her voice light and conversational. "Or at least, that's what the police report says. Loose bolts. A tragedy."
• She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the bed rail, invading my space.
• "But we saw it, didn't we? In that split second when the metal came down... who did he save?"
• My breath hitched. The memory was burned into my mind. Liam lunging. Not for me. But away from me. Covering her.
• "He chose me," Sophia said, her voice dropping to a cruel purr. "He didn't even think, Elena. It was instinct. He protected the mother of his child. And he left you to rot."
• "Get out," I whispered, my hand clenching into a fist on the sheet.
• "Why? I'm just keeping you company," Sophia laughed softly. "You should be grateful. If you had died, I would have had to pretend to be sad at your funeral. That would have been exhausting."
• She stood up, brushing an invisible speck of dust from her dress. "Face it, sweetie. You lost. You're just the placeholder. The visa mule."
• "Sophia!"
• The door swung open. Liam walked in. He looked frazzled, his tie undone, sweat beading on his forehead.
• When he saw Sophia standing by my bed, his face softened instantly.
• "Soph," he breathed, rushing over to her. "Are you okay? You've been standing too long. The doctor said you need to rest. The stress isn't good for the baby."
• He placed a hand on her back, guiding her to the chair she had just vacated. He didn't even look at me.
• I watched them. My husband. Fawning over his mistress while his wife lay in a hospital bed with broken bones.
• "I'm fine, Liam," Sophia said, putting on a brave, shaky voice. "I was just... worried about Elena. She seems very agitated."
• Liam finally turned to me. His expression wasn't one of concern. It was annoyance.
• "Elena," he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Why are you upsetting her? Sophia has been here for hours waiting for you to wake up. She's traumatized."
• I stared at him in disbelief. "She's traumatized? Liam, I have a broken arm and a concussion! She just told me she pushed the scaffolding!"
• "Oh, stop it," Liam snapped. "That's the concussion talking. You're hallucinating. Sophia would never do that."
• "She admitted it!"
• "Lower your voice!" Liam hissed, glancing at the door. "There are reporters outside! Do you want them to hear you screaming like a lunatic?"
• He walked to the side of the bed. "Look, I know you're in pain. But you need to be reasonable. It was an accident. I tried to save everyone, but it happened too fast."
• "You didn't try to save everyone," I said, tears of rage pricking my eyes. "You saved her. You left me there."
• "She's pregnant, Elena!" Liam blurted out. "She's carrying Mike's baby! My dead best friend's child! Of course I prioritized her! You're an athlete. You're tough. I knew you could take a hit. But Sophia... she's delicate."
• I knew you could take a hit.
• The words hit me harder than the steel beam had.
• Because I was strong, I was expendable. Because I was competent, I deserved pain.
• "I see," I said. My voice went eerily calm.