Chapter 3
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A blinding white light stabbed at my eyes.
The first thing I saw was Gemma’s flawless, beautiful face.
Her cheeks were flushed, her hair and clothes a mess–clear evidence of what she and Zion had just done.
I locked eyes with her, pleading for help, hoping she’d have even a shred of mercy left in her.
But Gemma didn’t seem the least bit surprised that I was awake. She looked down at me with a sneer, her eyes filled with contempt.
“Tsk, tsk. How pitiful. You’re about to be buried alive. Zion’s off taking care of the funeral arrangements, so, dear lit- tle sister, I thought I’d come keep you company.
“Five years ago, your mother uncovered my identity. To clear your path, she drove my mom to her death and had Dad kick me out of the Ravell family! And as if that wasn’t enough, you stole my wedding–Derek was supposed to marry
me, not you!
“For five years of marriage, you let Derek abuse you for five years. I never thought you’d endure it for so long, refus- ing to divorce him. I had no choice but to send Zion to seduce you. You were so stupid–you actually fell for him. Weren’t you fantasizing about running off to marry Zion overseas? You stole my marriage, so I’m stealing yours!
“Finally, your mother is dead, and I tampered with your fake death drug. Once you’re buried, you’ll be forced to watch yourself die. The day you die will be the day Zion and I get married.”
Gemma spoke each word with cruel precision, and I felt my heart grow colder with every syllable.
The hope that had flickered inside me was snuffed out all over again.
Gemma curled her lips into a satisfied smile, practically glowing with delight.
She pulled out the water and food that had been set aside in the coffin, tossing them carelessly. “You’re going to die anyway–no point letting you have these. I’ll leave you the oxygen tank, though, just to keep you alive a few days longer. Too bad you won’t get to see my wedding to Zion.”
She slammed the coffin shut, cutting off the last sliver of light.
My fingers dug so hard into the wooden boards that my nails nearly broke.
My eyelids grew heavy. Exhausted, I slipped into unconsciousness.
When I came to, the sound of voices and laughter drifted from outside.
My funeral had begun.
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Chapter 3
Guests chatted and joked, their laughter echoing, not a single person grieving for my “death.”
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“Ms. Remi finally got beaten to death. Derek left her a wreck, but she still wouldn’t divorce him for the Ravell fami- ly’s sake.”
“She deserved it! She stole Gemma’s man, and Gemma’s prettier and more capable anyway. If Gemma hadn’t been ex- posed as illegitimate, Remi never would’ve had a shot.”
“Exactly. She even drugged Derek just to marry into the Jarrow family. Shameless! Then she lost the baby right after the wedding–what a joke. Now she’s dead, and Derek won’t even show up to the funeral.”
“Gemma’s the lucky one. Sure, she suffered five years ago, but now Remi’s gone, and she’s the only heir to the Ravell family. In a week, she’ll marry the Valemont Group’s only son. Who’d dare call her illegitimate now?”
They gossiped about my family and my marriage, mocking and belittling me without restraint.
No one knew that the woman lying in the coffin was still alive, desperately waiting for death.
The priest finished his prayer, and it was time to lower me into the ground.
I struggled in vain, feeling every second slip away, but no one came to save me.
They carried me to the cemetery, and just before I was lowered into the grave, I heard Zion leaning close to my cof- fin.
With all the strength I could muster, I forced three words from my throat. “Help… help me.”
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