He Only Believed Me After I Died

Zachary's voice came from the doorway.

Sabina snapped her head up.

Tears of injury hit the floor at once.

"Mr. Harding!"

She threw herself into his arms.

"She—she killed Gregory!"

Zachary looked at the knife in my hand.

Then at Gregory, who had stopped breathing long ago.

His pupils shrank all at once.

"Have you lost your mind!"

A hand clamped around my throat.

It pinned me hard against the wall.

"Do you have any idea? That dog was the one who got Sabina through her whole depression!

"I searched forever to pick out that dog, and you just killed it like that!"

I looked at him coldly.

"Anyone who lets that animal wear my mother's keepsake had better be ready to die."

"You—!"

Zachary stared at me, shock in his eyes.

Sabina choked back a sob.

"Mr. Harding, I didn't! I never touched her protective charm!"

The hand around my throat tightened.

Zachary looked at me through gritted teeth.

"What is wrong with you? You were never this insane before!"

I smiled.

A bitter smile.

"You see? Whatever she says, you always believe it.

"Even now, when I'm dying, you still—"

"Enough, Naomi!"

He seized my arm.

"You want to pull the same old trick again? Fine!"

He wrenched me hard.

My bleeding feet staggered.

Then he shoved me down against the railing of the open balcony.

Behind me was a five-story drop.

He bore down on my shoulders, holding me so I couldn't straighten up.

"Then go die! Go on!"

I said nothing.

I only looked quietly into his eyes.

Those eyes that had once been full of love, that had called me "sweetheart."

Seeing that I stayed silent.

He gave a cold laugh.

The pressure on me eased a little.

"See? You're just putting on a show!"

With that, he turned away, still sneering.

"Zachary."

I called after him. "You said it. If I really had cancer, you'd die with me.

"Is that true?"

He turned back.

Mockery in every line of his face.

"If you really had cancer, I'd die with you!"

I smiled.

"Good."

Zachary froze.

He gave a cold snort and turned back around.

Striding toward the weeping Sabina.

The next second.

Behind him, something moved.

He whipped his head around.

"Naomi!!"