A Canvas Stained with Tears

The wound on my calf had reopened, blood seeping through the fabric of my pants, but no one seemed to care.

"Doctor! Someone call an ambulance!" Chris's voice was frantic. "Bella's hand—her hand is the hand of a future great painter! Nothing can happen to it!"

He was panicking, his hands trembling as he tried to take control of the situation. Meanwhile, my brother tore off his own shirt, hastily wrapping it around Bella’s wound. He pulled her into his arms, whispering reassurances.

"It's okay, Bella. The doctor will be here soon. Just hold on." His voice was filled with concern, but his eyes were blazing with rage as they landed on me. "What the hell happened?"

Bella whimpered, her tear-filled gaze locking onto mine, her expression full of fragile innocence. "I... I only wanted to take Nindy outside for some fresh air, to help her feel better. But then—" she choked on a sob, "—she suddenly grabbed a razor and slashed my hand. She said that if she couldn’t paint, then I shouldn’t be able to either. I was so scared..."

She sniffled, trembling slightly and clutched my brother’s arm like a frightened child.

"Brother, please don’t be angry at her... I know she didn’t mean it... she’s just—she’s just upset."

Her performance was flawless. The perfect victim. But I could see the flicker of triumph in her eyes.

My brother’s face darkened, his hands clenching into fists.

"Nindy!" he thundered. "What the hell is wrong with you?! Bella has nothing to do with your mess! If you ruin her ability to paint, I swear, I’ll make you pay with your life!"

Chris’s eyes burned with fury as he stepped forward. "Nindy, I know you’re angry that I chose Bella over you, but this? This is pathetic. I used to pity you, but now I see—this is all your own doing. You deserve every bit of what’s happening to you."

The ambulance arrived moments later and my brother and Chris helped Bella onto the stretcher. As they disappeared inside the vehicle, my brother turned back to the bodyguards.

"Lock her in the car," he ordered coldly. "She seems to love blades so much—let’s see how much she likes being locked up with a hundred of them. Let her think about what she’s done."

My heart pounded. Panic surged through me. I fell to my knees, my hands scraping against the pavement as I begged. "Brother, please! I didn’t do anything! Please, you have to believe me!"

His response was nothing but a cruel smirk. I sobbed, my voice hoarse as I pleaded, but my cries fell on deaf ears. Chris hesitated for a brief second. "Ferry, are you sure about this? The weather is scorching today and locking her in a car could be dangerous. What if something happens?"

My brother scoffed. "Oh, come on. She survived being abused by a dozen beggars. She won’t die that easily. Besides, we’re just scaring her. Let her sweat a little. She deserves it."

And with that, they left.

***

Hours passed. My throat was parched, my body drenched in sweat. The air inside the car was suffocating, the heat unbearable. My breath came in ragged gasps as I struggled against my restraints.

Then—I smelled it. Smoke. A flicker of orange light reflected on the car window. Flames. The car was on fire. I screamed, pounding my fists against the glass, my voice raw as I cried for help. The heat intensified, scorching my skin. I was going to die here. My vision blurred as I fought against the overwhelming dizziness. The smoke filled my lungs, burning from the inside out. Desperation clawed at my chest. Someone, please.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, my brother and Chris sat beside Bella as the doctor examined her injury. When they finally received confirmation that her hand would fully heal, my brother let out a sigh of relief.

"Good. Then let’s wrap this up. Release Nindy," he said casually. "A small punishment is enough. She’s still my sister, after all."

Chris nodded, reaching for his phone to call the guards. But before he could dial, his assistant burst into the room, his face pale with terror.

"Mr. Jain! There’s an emergency! The car—Miss Jain’s car—it’s on fire!" he blurted out, breathless. "Just a minute ago, she sent an email to your inbox!"