"Let go of me! I didn't kill him!"
Sierra's voice echoed down the prison hallway, sharp and desperate. It bounced off the walls and came back to her, making everything feel even more suffocating.
The two policemen holding her didn't react.
Not even a glance.
They just kept walking, their grip tight around her arms as they dragged her forward like she wasn't even human.
"I said I didn't do it…" her voice weakened this time, almost breaking.
Still nothing.
Their footsteps were steady. Heavy. Cold.
The sound alone made her chest tighten.
The air smelled damp, mixed with something metallic. It made her stomach twist. Her head felt light, like everything around her wasn't real.
This couldn't be happening.
Not to her.
Not like this.
They stopped suddenly.
Before she could even react, the cell door opened with a loud creak.
And then—
She was pushed inside.
Hard.
Sierra hit the ground, her hands scraping against the rough floor. Pain shot through her palms and up her arms, but she barely felt it properly. Everything was already too much.
The door slammed shut behind her.
That sound…
It felt final.
Like something had just ended.
Sierra Stone.
The eldest daughter of the Stone family.
The one who was always praised, always envied.
Now—
A prisoner.
"Hah… imagine killing your own father just for inheritance."
One of the policemen spoke as they walked away.
His tone was casual. Like he was talking about some random gossip.
"The rich are always like that," the other replied. "Too much drama."
Their voices faded.
Just like that.
Sierra stayed where she was, her body still on the cold floor. Slowly, she pushed herself up, her hands shaking slightly.
Her cheek was wet.
She didn't even remember when she started crying.
She wiped her face quickly, almost angrily, then pulled her knees close to her chest.
Then the voices came.
"They say she's just like her mother."
"A disgrace to the Stone family."
"She killed her own father."
"Why can't she be like Bella?"
"No…" Sierra shook her head weakly.
Her fingers tangled in her hair.
"I didn't do it," she muttered. "I didn't… I didn't…"
But the voices didn't stop.
If anything, they got louder.
Faster.
Like they were closing in on her.
Her breathing became uneven. Her chest hurt.
Everything felt too tight.
Too loud.
Too much.
"I didn't do it…" she whispered again, softer this time.
But even she didn't sound convinced anymore.
The voices overlapped until she couldn't tell one from another.
And then—
Everything went dark.
A noise pulled her back.
Faint at first.
Then clearer.
The sound of a door.
Sierra's eyes slowly opened. Her vision blurred before focusing little by little. Her body felt heavy, like she had no control over it.
A policeman stood in front of her.
"You have a visitor," he said.
Just like that.
No emotion.
No explanation.
For a second, Sierra just stared at him.
Then something lit up in her eyes.
Hope.
Small. Weak. But there.
Someone came.
Someone must believe her.
She pushed herself up slowly, her legs unsteady. She almost lost her balance, but managed to stay upright.
She had to.
She couldn't fall apart now.
Not yet.
She followed the policeman out.
The hallway felt longer this time.
Every step made her more nervous.
Who was it?
She kept wondering.
Her heart skipped.
When they reached the visitor's room, the policeman stopped.
"Go in."
Sierra hesitated for just a second before opening the door.
She froze.
Bella stood inside.
That was the first thing Sierra noticed.
Perfect.
A red dress hugged her body neatly, elegant and bold at the same time. Her hair was styled, her makeup flawless. She didn't look like someone who came to a prison.
She looked like she belonged somewhere bright.
Somewhere far from here.
The difference between them was painful.
"Bella…" Sierra said, her voice soft.
Relief rushed through her chest.
"You came. I knew you would."
She took a step forward.
Bella stepped back.
It felt like a slap.
Sierra paused.
Bella looked at her slowly, her eyes moving from her messy hair to her wrinkled clothes.
There was no concern.
No worry.
Just… disgust.
Something inside Sierra shifted.
"You think I killed Father, right?" she said quickly. "But I didn't, Bella. I swear, I didn't—"
Bella didn't answer.
She just kept looking at her.
Then—
She smiled.
But it wasn't the smile Sierra knew.
.
"You're right," Bella said quietly.
Sierra's heart tightened.
"…because I did it."
Everything went silent.
Sierra stared at her.
She didn't understand.
She couldn't.
"W-what…?" her voice came out broken.
"You're lying…" she said quickly. "Bella, this isn't funny. Stop—"
Bella laughed.
Actually laughed.
"What's wrong?" she said. "Did you really think we loved you?"
Sierra felt like the ground disappeared beneath her.
"We…?" she repeated.
Bella tilted her head slightly, like she was enjoying this.
"Me," she said. "Daniel. And Mother."
"No." Sierra shook her head. "No, that's not true. You're lying—"
"Stop embarrassing yourself," Bella cut in.
Something snapped.
"Stop lying!" Sierra rushed forward.
But her body was too weak.
Bella pushed her easily.
She fell.
The impact hurt, but not as much as what she just heard.
Tears ran down her face.
She couldn't stop them.
Everything felt like it was collapsing.
Then—
Footsteps.
Bella looked toward the door, a faint smile returning to her lips.
The door opened.
Daniel walked in.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his appearance calm and composed—as if he had just walked out of a meeting instead of into a prison.
Each step he took echoed in Sierra's ears.
He stopped in front of her.
Then crouched slightly, reaching out to grip her chin and force her to look up.
"I'm sure you understand everything now," he said coldly. "Did you really think I'd fall for someone like you?"
"Honey," Bella said lightly, her voice carrying amusement. "Don't waste your time on her."
Daniel chuckled softly.
"Do you know how long we've waited for this day?"
Sierra's fingers clenched tightly.
Her eyes burned with rage as she glared at them.
"You think you'll get away with this?" she shouted. "I'll expose everything! I'll make sure everyone knows what you've done!"
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
They laughed.
Sierra's heart sank.
"Get away with it?" Daniel repeated slowly.
His gaze turned cold.
"Did you really think we'd let you leave this place alive?"
Before she could react, she felt a stinging pain in her abdomen.
Her body stiffened.
She looked down.
A knife.
Buried deep in her abdomen.
Her breath hitched.
Her mind went blank.
Daniel's hand tightened slightly before pulling the knife out—
Only to pierce it back in again.
The pain spread quickly, making her consciousness feel too heavy.
Like she was drifting away.
He let go of her.
Her body collapsed onto the cold floor.
Blood began to spread beneath her.
Endlessly.
She pressed against the wound, but it was already useless.
She could feel her strength slipping away.
Bit by bit.
Her vision blurred.
Darkness slowly kicked in.
Her thoughts became scattered.
Regret filled her entire heart.
She shouldn't have loved them.
If she hadn't—
Maybe none of this would have happened.
Her breathing slowed.
Her body grew colder.
The last thing she saw—
Was Bella and Daniel standing above her.
Smiling.
If she could be given another life—
She would make them regret everything.
She would make them experience a living hell.
And then—
Everything went dark.