Chapter 33 Jumping Off a Building
The moment the needle pierced her skin, Cecilia barely had time to draw breath before the cold fluid surged into her veins.
It spread with ruthless speed, as if a swarm of invisible blades were slicing through her from the inside.
At first there was only a faint ache, but it swelled into a violent burn, radiating outward from the injection site until it consumed her entire body.
It was as though molten iron had been poured into her bones, searing every nerve with each shallow breath.
Her muscles spasmed uncontrollably, skin crawling with a phantom itch and pain that made her want to tear herself apart.
When her fingertips brushed her own arm, the heat was unbearable; even the slightest pressure sent darkness flashing across her vision.
The agony came in waves, relentless and suffocating. It pounded through her chest like a hammer striking her organs, then flared into a firestorm that set every inch of flesh screaming for release.
Sweat soaked her clothes, her teeth rattled against each other, and her sight blurred until there was nothing left but the pain… endless, merciless pain.
Blair stood nearby, watching with the satisfaction of an artist admiring her masterpiece.
"Does it hurt?" she asked softly, almost sweetly. "Do you wish you could end it all, just so you never have to feel this again?"
Cecilia writhed on the floor, too consumed to answer. Her body spoke for her, each convulsion a silent scream.
The more Cecilia suffered, the brighter Blair's eyes seemed to shine.
Blair crouched beside her, tucking a loose strand of hair behind Cecilia's ear. Her voice dropped to a private whisper. "If it hurts this much, why not end it? You think you have no control over anything… but this, this you can choose."
Her words slithered into Cecilia's mind like poison. "End your life. End this pitiful existence. In the next world, there's no pain, no father who favors someone else, no Rufus who turns his back on you."
The pain dulled, replaced by the hypnotic echo of Blair's voice. One thought rose above the haze: die.
Blair "helpfully" lifted her from the floor, guiding her in shaky steps toward the window. A narrow pane stood open beside the glass wall — small, but wide enough for a person to slip through.
Cecilia gripped the frame, her gaze falling to the street far below, where cars streamed past like restless currents.
Would jumping be freedom?
In another life, could she have the family she'd always wanted, the love that belonged only to her?
Her focus blurred as she leaned closer to the opening. Blair's lips curled in anticipation.
She stayed a few feet away, watching in silence, waiting for the moment to arrive.
Soon, it would be over. She would never have to see Cecilia's face again, never have to fear her secret being exposed, never have to worry Rufus might be taken from her.
"What are you doing?" Rufus's voice cut through the air behind them, startling them both.
Blair's heart jolted — not from guilt, but from the fear her perfect image might crack. Cecilia, on the other hand, snapped back to awareness, horrified at herself. She had been ready to die… and at Blair's urging.
Already at the edge, the sudden shock made her lose her grip. She swayed, nearly pitching forward.
Blair moved fast, grabbing her arm and pulling her back. "Cecilia, come down. We can talk. If you want Rufus, I'll step aside. If you want Father, I'll make sure he visits you. Just don't do this."
She turned to Rufus, eyes wide with pleading. "Help me talk to her!"
By the time Cecilia realized what was happening, they had both fallen to the floor. Pain exploded in her body, leaving her gasping.
Rufus rushed to Blair first, helping her up and scanning her for injuries. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
Blair's tears brimmed but didn't fall; she shook her head, earning even more of his concern.
"What happened?" Rufus demanded, his gaze shifting to Cecilia. "What are you trying to pull now?"
Before Cecilia could speak, Blair's voice trembled, perfectly timed. "Rufus, I'm so scared. Please… whatever happens, believe me."
Her vague plea hooked his attention.
Rufus looked down at Blair trembling uncontrollably in his arms and asked softly, "Tell me… what happened?"
Blair still clung to Rufus's sleeve, refusing to let go, and said nothing at all.
Rufus did not press her. Instead, he kept gently patting Blair's back, reassuring her. "You're safe now. If you're willing, tell me exactly what happened just now. I will always stand by your side… I will always believe you."
In the safety of his embrace, Blair could barely hide her smile.
She lowered her voice, weaving her tale. "After you left, Cecilia changed. She said awful things, things I swallowed without a word. Then she told me that even if she couldn't beat me while alive, she could still drive a wedge between us.
"Before I could understand, she moved to jump… from the thirty-second floor."
Once Blair poured out her story, she broke down in tears, as if the horror had only just caught up with her.
Only then did Rufus realize the true source of Blair's fear.
He was trembling with rage. He pulled Blair into a tight embrace, as if he could shield her from everything.
He stayed like that for a long time, until Blair cried herself into exhaustion and fainted. Rufus then lifted her in his arms and gently laid her on the bed, before turning to face the one responsible for it all — Cecilia.
Cecilia had stayed where she was from the very beginning, slumped on the floor as if she were nothing more than a spectator. Faced with Blair's accusations, she made no attempt to defend herself.
Because Cecilia knew… Rufus would never listen.