“My uncle is THE head of the Prince Family. Without his permission, even my parents wouldn’t dare utter a single extra word. You said he's marrying you? A woman who’s been to prison? What makes you think you’re worthy of him?
“Consider this your warning: if you spread more lies, tearing your mouth apart will be the least of your worries.”
He shoved me away and I stumbled, crashing into a storage shelf. My grandmother’s memorial photo fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Panic shot through me as I quickly picked it up, carefully dusting off the surface and cradling it close to my chest.
My mother had told me that before Grandma passed, her final wish was to see me get married. She even had this photo taken, smiling her brightest, just for the occasion.
Now, the wedding hadn’t even started and Gabriel had already ruined it.
Tears welled up, my resentment simmering just beneath the surface.
Before I could collect myself, Ellie’s delicate, needy voice echoed from the doorway,
“Nora, I know you don’t want Gabe to marry me, but what’s the point of bringing your Grandma’s memorial photo here to ruin my wedding?
“Don’t you see? Holding onto that picture is like cursing Gabe’s and my child. All it does is make him hate you even more. Please, Nora, stop this nonsense and give me Grandma’s photo. I’ll take care of it for you.”
“Get lost! Don’t touch me!” I snapped, my voice sharp with anger.
Ellie lunged for the photo, but I turned my body to shield it from her grasp. Undeterred, she clung tightly to my arm.
She leaned leaning closer to whisper, her tone dripping with venom, “Nora, now you are capable of crying and grieving? Where was this so-called remorse when you were taking someone’s life?”
“Did you even think about your precious Grandma while you were committing murder? Did you know that old hag couldn’t even think straight in her final moments, but she was still calling your name?”
Her words pierced me like a blade, cutting straight into my heart. My fingers trembled uncontrollably from the pain.
Before I could react, Ellie suddenly grabbed my hand, leaned backward and threw herself to the ground. Her palms scraped against the floor, leaving angry red marks.
Tears streamed down her face as she cried pitifully, like a fragile flower in a storm. “Nora, I was just trying to help you! Why did you push me?
“Oh no—Gabe, my stomach hurts! Could it be the baby? Did I fall on my stomach?”