For Her, He Destroyed Me

Her eyes were red and puffy as she covered her face.

"Raine, don't do anything stupid."

Charlie reached for her, and as she moved, a tattoo peeked out from her collar—a sleek arrow with a bold C inked into it.

Something clicked.

Charlie had a similar tattoo on his chest, a Cupid-like design.

When I asked about it, he brushed it off. Just for fun, he'd said.

He always swore Raine was like a sister.

But lies, told often enough, start feeling real—to the liar, at least.

He said he loved me, but his heart had never been mine.

Raine ran out sobbing. Charlie chased after her.

A nurse walked in, checking my IV. "Were those two your friends? While you were unconscious, they were all over each other by your bedside. Had to tell them to keep it down so you could rest."

"Maybe," I muttered.

Whether she was clueless or just warning me, I didn't care anymore.

Between the stolen reunion and Charlie's betrayal, I was drained.

The nurse wheeled me outside. "The weather's nice today. A little sun will do you good."

I shut my eyes, soaking in the warmth.

But peace never lasted long.

"Madelyn, you really have time to lounge in the sun?"

I opened my eyes.

Raine lounged beside me, admiring her freshly manicured nails, her smile dripping with satisfaction.

"You know, I really should thank you," she said, smirking. "If you weren't so stupid, I never could've taken your place."

My hands curled into fists.

"You had no idea, did you?" she went on, her voice sickeningly sweet. "The second you told Charlie about your real identity, he ran straight to me. All I had to do was sigh and say, 'I wish I had parents who loved me too.' And just like that, he handed it to me."

She unlocked her phone, tilting the screen just enough for me to see as she sent a voice message.

To my father. My real father.

"Daddy, I miss you. Can you come pick me up later?"

Rage burned so hot inside me, I thought it might tear me apart.

I wanted to rip her to shreds. Snatch that phone. Scream the truth—I was the real daughter of the Moore family.

Raine tucked her phone away, her eyes flashing cold.

"But as long as you're alive, you're a threat. I can only truly be the Moore heiress once you're dead."

A chill ran down my spine.

Then—she grabbed me and shoved.

My body, already weak from blood loss and the miscarriage, had no fight left. One push was all it took.

I hit the stairs hard.

Instinct took over. A drowning person will grab anything to stay afloat.

I caught Raine's hand as I fell.

Agonizing pain ripped through me as I crashed onto the floor. Blood pooled beneath me.

Charlie arrived, but he didn't even glance at me. He ran straight to Raine.

She lay there, weak and trembling, pointing in my direction. "Madelyn didn't mean to... It's my fault—I stole her identity first. If she pushed me, I deserved it. Charlie, don't be mad at her."

Charlie scooped her up, his arms gentle, his glare at me anything but.

A nurse rushed over and had me sent to the ER.

But Charlie got there first—with Raine.

"Save her first!" he barked. "Raine's health is fragile. Madelyn pushed her down the stairs on purpose—she's faking it!"

I lay on the hospital bed, sinking, my strength slipping away.

Maybe he thought the doctors wouldn't believe him because the next thing I knew, his hands were on me, yanking me up.

"Stop pretending! You hurt Raine, and now you're playing dead? If you have any conscience left, get up and give her your bed!"

I was limp, barely conscious, a rag doll in his grip.

But that only pissed him off more.

"You can run up a flight of stairs without breaking a sweat, but now you're acting half-dead after pushing Raine? You think I'd believe that?"

A doctor stepped in, alarmed.

"Stop! She's lost too much blood—multiple fractures. If you keep this up, you'll kill her!"

Dr. Reed rushed in, breathless, drenched in sweat.

But before he could do anything—

Charlie shoved me off the bed and stomped on my stomach.

Pain exploded through me.

"Say something, Madelyn! You had plenty to say when you pushed Raine, but now you're suddenly mute?! Losing a little flesh and blood, and you're acting like you're dying? Are you teaming up with the doctors to fool me?"

I couldn't even scream. The pain was too much.

Dr. Reed snapped.

Crack!

His fist slammed into Charlie's face.

"That's enough! Who the hell are you to this patient? She just had a miscarriage and fell down a flight of stairs—she's hemorrhaging! Are you trying to kill her?"

Charlie froze.

"What?! You're saying she just had a miscarriage?"