Chapter 5 Framed By Love, Silenced By Pain

After a long scolding, everyone finally dispersed, and by the time they returned home, night had already fallen.

Eliana gazed at the sight of Lucien and Vivian walking hand in hand, their shadows stretched long beneath the setting sun.

She had dreamed countless times of walking side by side with Lucien.

But bound by illness, she could only sit day after day by the tall windows, watching Lucien wave goodbye as he walked away.

But this farewell felt final-as if they would never meet again.

With Ethan away on a business trip, Eliana forced herself to manage alone, wheeling through every corner of the house still haunted by Lucien's shadow.

As the ten days drew near, just when she had begun to let go of the past, Lucien suddenly appeared at her door, his face twisted with fury.

"Eliana, you had no right to lay a hand on her."

Eliana frowned, "I don't know what you're talking ab-"

Her words broke off, swallowed by a sharp stab of pain.

Lucien seized her by the collar and dragged her out the door.

Her knees scraped raw against the gravel, leaving a streak of blood behind.

Eliana thrashed and screamed, but Lucien only sneered, "Your legs are dead-what the hell are you pretending for?"

She went still, numb, letting him drag her without a fight.

After what felt like forever, she finally saw Vivian-barefoot at the roadside, soaked to the skin, her wide doe eyes brimming with fear and helplessness.

When she saw Eliana, Vivian clutched her head and shrieked like her soul had fled, "Eliana, I was wrong! Please, spare me-please!"

Before Eliana could react, a heavy slap landed across her face.

"See what you've done?!"

At last she realized what was happening, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You think I sent someone to hurt Vivian?!"

Her voice rose sharply, her chest tightening with pain. "After ten years between us, you still don't believe me?!"

Vivian's eyes were glazed as she muttered, "No... no..."

Lucien's hand closed around Eliana's throat, "A few days apart, and you've already learned to lie. If you won't admit you're wrong, then I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your brother!"

Her head was shoved beneath the icy pool water. Just as she was about to black out, he yanked her up by the hair-only to slam her back down again.

It went on again and again-she lost count of how many times.

Eliana went limp, her once delicate features bloated from the water.

Lucien gave a cold order, "Wake her."

Water gushed from her lungs as Eliana's eyes flew open.

Trembling, she reached for Lucien's sleeve, but he pulled away.

"Had enough? Ready to beg yet? I told you-you should've never laid a hand on her."

Eliana shut her eyes in despair.

"I didn't..."

What met her was Lucien's voice, heavy with disappointment, "You're still lying."

Her body hit the water with a heavy splash, while Lucien shielded Vivian so she wouldn't be touched by a single drop.

Eliana sank, inch by inch, into the depths.

The ripples shattered Lucien's face into fragments, and as Eliana opened her mouth, icy water flooded her lungs, escaping only as a trail of bubbles.

With the very last of her strength, Eliana clawed her way to the pool's edge and clung to it.