Emily's POV
Standing at the window where I last saw Noah, I stared at the sky.
"Grandfather… I'm coming to see you. I'm coming to you," I whispered with a faint smile.
The letter and knife trembled in my right hand. As I stood there, my whole life—childhood to now—flashed before me. Everything felt so heavy, so miserable. I wanted it all to end, once and for all. No more fighting with my mind and heart.
Without a second thought, I pressed the knife against my wrist. Gathering every ounce of strength, I cut deep.
Blood oozed out. My body weakened, my knees gave in, and I collapsed to the floor. My eyelids grew heavier by the second, darkness pulling me in.
Somewhere distant, I heard Mia screaming my name, pleading for me to stay awake. But it was too late. My blood was draining out… and so was I.
Mia's POV
That afternoon, I was the happiest I had been in months. I had just completed my entrance test for fashion designing, and I was confident—I was going to clear it. Walking out of the center, I smiled to myself, already dreaming of my future.
On the way home, I checked my phone. Dozens of notifications. I expected messages from friends asking how my test went—but no. Instead, they were about Emily.
Something about her? News? Scandal?
Confused, I scrolled and froze.
The ground beneath me felt like it was crumbling.
I dialed Emily immediately, but no one answered. Panic gripped me as I rushed into a cab, praying it was all some misunderstanding.
When I arrived at her building, I stopped dead. Guards surrounded the place, tall and intimidating, dressed like something out of a crime thriller. Reality struck—this wasn't some movie. This was real.
Why were they here? Who were they protecting? And then it hit me—Emily's name had been tied to Damon Roy in the news. If he was involved… it explained everything.
But—what about Emily?
I tried to run inside, but a guard blocked me.
"Please, I'm Emily's friend!" I pleaded.
They didn't budge.
Frustrated, I called Jack. Within minutes, he came out, spoke to them, and only after a call did they allow me inside.
The sight inside broke me. Stella sat on the couch, crying silently, while her parents just sat idly, not comforting her. I rushed past them, demanding answers from Jack. He led me to Emily's room.
The moment I opened the door, my world shattered.
Emily lay there—covered in blood.
My knees gave out. My breath caught. My heart screamed, but no sound came out until reality struck me—she was still alive.
"Jack! Jack! Help!" I screamed desperately. "Please—Emily's dying!"
Jack burst in, his face pale as he froze at the sight.
"Emily… What happened?" His voice shook. Then he snapped into action. "Wait, I'll bring my kit!"
He dashed away. But Emily had already lost so much blood. First aid wasn't enough. She needed a hospital. Now.
One of the guards had already called for an ambulance. Within minutes, we rushed her—not to a normal hospital—but one of the top hospitals in L.A. Straight into a VVIP room. Damon Roy's arrangements, no doubt.
Jack spoke to the doctors while I sat trembling, shivers running down my spine at the thought: What if I had been five minutes late?
I called Stella.
"Mia?" her shaky voice answered.
"Hey, Stella…" I whispered, trying to steady myself. "Emily's fine, dear. Don't worry."
"How is my sister?" she sobbed.
"She's fine. We got her in time. She'll be okay, I promise." I lied, though my chest burned.
"No… She didn't do this because of the news. Or because of Mom. She… she did this because Noah broke up with her."
My heart dropped.
Stella continued, her voice breaking, "She thought she lost everything. I told Noah about the suicide attempt, but he said Emily cheated on him with Damon Roy. He said she did it for attention… called her a liar."
My blood boiled.
"That bastard…" I hissed. "Don't you dare believe a word he says, Stella. Emily's not what he thinks. She'll be alright. I promise."
"Please… take care of her," Stella whispered.
"I will. But you have to stay strong for her too, okay?"
"…Hmm." She hung up.
I broke down in the hospital corridor, guilt clawing at me. She had been there for me all my life—scolding me, fighting for me, guiding me. And when she needed me the most—I wasn't there.
Jack's voice cut through my sobs.
"Mia… come here."
I didn't move. I couldn't. He walked over, pulled me into a hug.
"Hey… don't cry. She'll be alright. She has to be."
"If I had just checked my phone in the morning, she wouldn't have done this!" I sobbed.
"Shhh… Look at me." He tilted my chin up. "She's been through enough today. When she wakes up, you need to be strong for her. If she sees you like this, what do you think she'll feel?"
I nodded through tears. He was right.
But then a thought struck me.
"Jack… where are your parents?"
His expression faltered. He told me everything. My stomach twisted—how could her parents reveal such heartbreaking news at the worst possible time? No wonder she lost herself.
Damon's POV
After coming out of Emily's room, I told Alex to keep the guards stationed there until I said otherwise. Then we both boarded the car.
"Did you find any lead in this?" I asked.
Alex handed me a file and replied, "That picture wasn't sent through any IP address, which means it was handed over in person to one of the news channels. We found out which channel broadcasted it first."
I nodded, and he continued, "We just need to find out who gave them that picture."
"Find out, Alex. You do have your ways." I smirked.
Later, sitting in my office chair, I leaned back and thought about the little act I had pulled in Emily's room in front of her boyfriend. That was worth watching. Did he really love her at all? How could he trust someone he doesn't even know over his own lover?
My phone buzzed. Caller ID: my bodyguards. I had instructed them to call me if anyone came to visit.
"Sir, her friend wants to see her," the guard reported.
"Allow her," I ordered, "but don't let her leave the house."
I tried focusing on some project files that needed my signature, but Emily's terrified face kept flashing in my mind. The way she looked at me earlier—fearful, fragile—I wanted to see that face again. Whatever it takes, I will.
The phone buzzed again. This time, urgency in the guard's voice.
"Sir! Miss Emily tried to commit suicide by cutting her wrist. We called an ambulance. It's on the way."
What the hell was she thinking?!
"How is she now?" I asked sharply.
"She lost a lot of blood, but her brother is a doctor. He gave her some first aid."
"Take her to our hospital. I'll speak to the doctors."
"Yes, sir."
Is she insane? How can she act so recklessly, so childishly?
"Alex, come with me."
He dropped whatever he was doing and followed me.
We reached the hospital. The doctors informed me she was out of danger. I waited for her to regain consciousness. Meanwhile, another wave of breaking news spread like wildfire across the city: Emily had been admitted to the hospital.
Alex busied himself with the investigation while I smirked at the thought—someone was trying too hard to get my attention. But my smirk didn't hide the truth: I was furious with Emily for pulling such a stunt. She would have to face the consequences.
Still, I was already thinking of a way to twist this situation in my favor. I had my own way to kill two birds with one stone.
Soon, the doctor came to inform me that she was awake. On my way to her room, I thought about how she would react to what I was about to say.
Emily's POV
I slowly opened my eyes. Two doctors and a nurse were standing over me. Relief washed over their faces as they saw me alive. They must be Jack's colleagues.
After a while, they left. Moments later, Mia rushed into the room and hugged me tightly where I lay on the bed.
"Do you even consider me your friend?" she asked, her voice trembling.
I knew why she said that. She had every right. I hadn't told her anything. But I didn't want to disturb her before her important test.
"Sorry for not sharing this with you," I whispered. I had nothing else to say.
"I'm really fine, Mia. Tell me—how did your test go?"
"It went awesome. I'm confident about it. But if only I had checked my phone this morning, maybe you wouldn't have taken this step." She was on the verge of tears.
I didn't want to see her like that. "I just don't want to live anymore. How is that your fault? Huh?"
"No, no, no," she shook her head fiercely. "You have me, Jack, Stella, our friends… Forget the people who don't give a damn about you."
"Mia, is there anybody outside?"
"Yeah, Jack's talking to the doctors about… this." She pointed at the bandages on my wrist. I let out a small chuckle.
"What about Mom and Dad?"
She turned her face away, not answering. I understood.
"You know, Mia, I had a dream." I closed my eyes briefly. "In it, I was searching for Grandpa. You were with me. We couldn't find him, but we saw Jack. There was someone else with him too. We both reached them. Then you and Jack left… but I stayed with that person. I couldn't see his face clearly, but he was so charming. He gave me his jacket because I was freezing… and then, I woke up."
Mia's eyes widened like she was watching a scene from a romantic drama.
"Aww… Such a romantic dream," she sighed.
"I feel like I'm still in that dream. If only I could see his face once…"
Before I could finish, I heard noise outside—Jack's voice arguing with someone. The door swung open.
Jack walked in, and beside him stood Damon.
The dream flashed back in my mind. I froze. And when I glanced at Mia, she was already staring at me with a knowing, wide-eyed expression of awe.