71 I\u2019d forgotten just how weak a young body can be\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, you\u2019d better say the truth. Did you really see me push your precious mistress into the river?\u201d I asked, leaving no room\u00a0<\/p>\n
for escape.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Emma didn\u2019t answer right away. She just stood there, trembling, her hands clenched into tight fists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Oh my god, what should I do? This bitch obviously didn\u2019t push Lady Sienna into the river, but if they find out I\u2019m lying, I\u2019ll be skinned alive, and be killed.\u2018\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her panicked thoughts slipped into me as clearly as if she had spoken them aloud but like others her lips didn\u2019t move. My lips curled slightly, and I arched an eyebrow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you suddenly silent?\u201d I pressed. \u201cI thought you had so much to say. Or is your lie finally catching up to you?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A ripple went through the crowd. All eyes turned toward Emma now. Even Kane, who had been so sure of her words, frowned in confusion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy is your mouth shut?\u201d Kane demanded, his voice sharp. \u201cYou were the one who called me and Cross here, shouting that Selene pushed Sienna into the river. Or was that a lie?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Emma\u2019s eyes darted toward him. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, unable to form words.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The whispers began immediately, spreading through the gathered servants.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWait\u2026 is Emma reall\u00a0<\/p>\n
lying?\u201d someone murmured.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, even if we all hate Miss Selene, how could she go so far as to frame her like this?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know, right? It makes me wonder how many times she\u2019s lied about the lady.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe we should investigate this\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The murmurs grew louder, suspicion shifting toward Emma, and for once, it wasn\u2019t aimed solely at me. I stayed silent, watching it all unravel, my smile slowly curving wider. I\u2019d never been one for drama, but if they insisted on starting it, why not let myself enjoy the show? One thing was certain, I wasn\u2019t going to stand here like a fool again, taking their accusations without a fight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Emma\u2019s face glistened with sweat now. She looked like a rat trapped in a corner, searching desperately for a way out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane stepped closer. \u201cI\u2019m talking to you, Emma! Did you lie? Did you make it up that Selene pushed Sienna into the river?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Emma flinched violently, her eyes wide, her mouth opening as if she were about to confess. I leaned forward, waiting for the truth to spill out of her mouth. I knew people like Emma, they can\u2019t handle pressure. If a war broke out, they were always the first to say anything to get out of it. But then, miraculously, and perfectly timed, Sienna\u2019s body stirred. She coughed weakly, her eyes fluttering open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The entire crowd gasped, rushing toward her in a frenzy. Kane immediately dropped everything, dropping down at her side with Cross. \u201cSienna! Are you alright? Can you hear me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The whispers stopped. The accusations faded as though they had never existed. All attention shifted to the precious golden child lying on the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stood there, watching them fuss over her. Emma scrambled away from me instantly, glaring daggers before scurrying to Sienna\u2019s side like the loyal dog she was.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna blinked, her lashes trembling as she looked around, her face twisted with confusion. \u201cW\u2013what is going on\u2026?\u201d she murmured weakly\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cross let out a heavy sigh of relief and patted her back. \u201cWe thought something happened to you. We were so worried about you.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane immediately took her hand in his. \u201cEmma came to us and said Selene pushed you into the river. Is that true?\u201d Her gaze shifted to me then. Normally, whenever Sienna\u2019s eyes landed on me, my face softened without even thinking. because no matter what, she was my twin. Even though we were equals by birth, I always felt that protective urge everyone else seemed to feel toward her. She was the delicate one, the one I thought I had to shield. But not anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This time, when her eyes met mine, I didn\u2019t feel softness, or tenderness towards her. I only felt the bile rise in my throat, the disgust that surged whenever I remembered her smirk as she stole everything from me. I couldn\u2019t even pretend to tolerate hera\u00a0<\/p>\n
nna faltered under my gaze, her eyes darting away. She actually flinched.\u00a0<\/p>\n
7) I\u2019d forgotten just how weak a young body can be\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cross leaned closer, his voice gentle. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sienna nodded quickly. \u201cY\u2013yes\u2026 and I apologise. Selene didn\u2019t push me. Emma must have mistaken it. Since Selene and I were so close, we both fell into the river together, but it was just a mistake. The ground was slippery, that\u2019s all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cross studied her face for a long moment. \u201cIt\u2019s okay. You don\u2019t need to say anything more. Let me take you inside. You\u00a0<\/p>\n
need to rest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She gave a weak nod, then turned her head toward me. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Selene.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t answer her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kane\u2019s jaw ticked. I could see the words forming on his tongue, the urge to snap at me for not playing along, for not comforting her like always. But before he could open his mouth, Cross cut in firmly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s enough,\u201d he said, his attention locked on Sienna as if I didn\u2019t even exist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He didn\u2019t look at me once. Well, not that I cared.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cross carried Sienna in his arms, Kane trailing protectively behind him, while the servants scattered one by one to follow them. Their footsteps and whispers faded, leaving behind only the emptiness of the courtyard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only Evelyn remained at my side, her eyes on me, filled with worry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After they all left, she stepped forward. \u201cMiss Selene, are you okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled. \u201cOf course I\u2019m okay. I\u2019ve dealt with so much worse.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn shook her head stubbornly, her eyes glistening. \u201cBut you\u2019re shaking, miss. You\u2019re trembling all over.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
*\u00a0<\/p>\n
I wanted to wave her off, and tell her she was imagining things, but before I could say anything, a strange dizziness washed over me. My vision blurred.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sharp pain shot through my skull, followed by a deafening ringing in my ears. My knees buckled, and before I could steady myself, my body gave way and I crashed toward the cold stone floor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Selene!!\u201d Evelyn\u2019s scream cut through the haze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
My back hit the ground with a heavy thud, but just before my head struck the floor, a strong hand caught me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I blinked through the blur, forcing my eyes to focus. Above me loomed a figure cloaked in black, the hood shadowing most of his face, the fabric hiding everything but his piercing brown eyes\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silas, my personal bodyguard. One of the rare few who had truly stood by me. Even in the moments I believed myself utterly alone, he was there. I never deserved his loyalty, not with how blind I had been, yet still, he never once abandoned me. He bowed his head slightly. \u201cI apologise, Lady Selene. Something happened, I came as soon as I heard.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay, I murmured. \u201cIt\u2019s good to see you again, Silas,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My eyes drifted upward, past him, to the endless sky. I\u2019d forgotten just how weak a young body can be\u2026 I closed my eyes, and everything went dark\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 7 71 I\u2019d forgotten just how weak a young body can be\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27801"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27801\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}