Third Person's POV
Jade Maple Private Hospital
Silence settled heavily across the room.
Elder Asher Jade Maple sat perfectly still, but the tightening grip around the polished head of his walking stick betrayed his emotions. The veins along the back of his hand gradually became visible as he stared between Hazel and Seraphina.
"Hazel," he said gently, "are you certain about what you're saying?"
Hazel never looked away from Seraphina.
The warmth that had filled her eyes earlier had disappeared completely.
"I remember", she answered without hesitation.
Asher's heart sank.
"What do you remember?"
Hazel swallowed before speaking.
"I remember standing near the balcony. I remember Seraphina smiling at me." Her voice grew quieter. "Then I remember her face changing."
The room became deathly silent. Hazel slowly clenched the blanket resting across her lap.
"She grabbed me and held me over the edge."
Asher's grip tightened further.
Tears gathered in Hazel's eyes.
"I begged her not to do it."
The old man's chest rose sharply.
"Then she pushed me."
A long silence followed.
Throughout the accusation, Seraphina remained standing near the door. She neither interrupted nor defended herself.
Her calmness only made the atmosphere more suffocating.
Finally, Asher turned toward her.
"Miss Seraphina."
His voice carried none of its earlier warmth.
"Explain yourself."
Seraphina slowly turned to face them fully.
For several seconds, she simply stared at Hazel. Then a look of pity appeared on her beautiful face.
"Hazel," she said softly, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Hazel's eyes immediately darkened.
Seraphina sighed sadly before continuing.
"That night, I was with Collins."
She clasped her hands together.
"It was our engagement party. We were talking about our wedding plans."
Her voice remained calm and steady.
"After the toast, I went looking for you and Elena because I wanted to thank you girls for coming to my engagement party."
Hazel's breathing quickened.
Seraphina continued.
"When I arrived, Elena was alone and you weren't there."
The room remained silent.
"I assumed you had gone looking for me. I asked one of my men to look for you. Later, one of the staff members informed me that you had already left the mansion in your vehicle."
She lowered her eyes sadly.
"After that, we all learned about the accident."
Hazel stared at her in disbelief then anger flashed across her face.
"You're lying."
Seraphina didn't react.
"You're lying!" Hazel repeated.
Her voice echoed through the room.
"My memories have been returning for seven days."
The accusation struck harder than before.
Hazel pointed directly at her.
"I remember your face."
The room seemed colder.
"I remember your smile."
Seraphina's expression remained unchanged.
"I remember your eyes."
Hazel's voice trembled.
"Confess."
The word hung heavily in the air.
"Confess, Seraphina."
Seraphina took a step forward.
SHING!
A blade slid free from Elder Asher's walking stick. The metallic sound froze everyone.
The old man rose slowly from his chair. His posture straightened and his frail appearance disappeared.
The silver blade gleamed beneath the hospital lights while he positioned himself between Hazel and Seraphina.
The transformation was terrifying.
Seraphina stopped moving instantly.
Even Hazel looked stunned.
Asher's eyes remained fixed on Seraphina.
"Take another step", he said calmly.
The blade remained steady in his hand.
"Just one."
Seraphina slowly raised both hands. A flash of panic finally crossed her face.
Then…
BANG!
The hospital room door burst open and several men dressed in green and yellow military uniforms rushed inside.
The lead officer immediately saluted.
"Elder Jade Maple."
Asher nodded once then he lowered the blade.
His eyes never left Seraphina.
"If what my granddaughter says is true," he said quietly, "you will pray for death and fail to find it."
The threat sent a chill through the room.
Hazel stared at her grandfather and even Seraphina's face had gone slightly pale.
Asher continued.
"But if my granddaughter is mistaken, I will bear full responsibility for every action taken today."
He glanced toward the soldiers.
"This is a safety measure."
The soldiers moved immediately.
Before Seraphina could react, they surrounded her.
"Miss Seraphina Birch," the lead officer said formally, "you are required to accompany us."
"Grandfather!" Hazel exclaimed.
Asher never looked away from Seraphina.
The soldiers gently but firmly escorted her toward the door. For the first time, uncertainty appeared in Seraphina's eyes then she disappeared into the hallway.
The room fell silent.
Only the sound of Hazel's uneven breathing remained.
*
Wan State Army Barracks
Seraphina was led into an interrogation room while officers monitored her through reinforced glass.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking officer stood before Elder Asher and snapped a perfect salute.
"Sir."
Hazel's eyes widened at the sight.
The officer's respect was unmistakable. Asher merely nodded before taking a seat.
Years might have passed since his military service, but the authority surrounding him remained intact.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the hallway, dragging everyone's attention.
Collins stormed into the facility.
The moment he spotted Seraphina through the observation glass, his expression changed completely.
"Seraphina!"
At the sound of his voice, she looked up. Tears instantly filled her eyes.
"Collins!", she cried, rushing towards the glass.
The color drained from Collin's face and he immediately turned toward Elder Asher.
"Release her."
The room grew quiet, broken only by Asher chuckling.
"If she pushed Hazel," he said calmly, "Wan State law is very clear."
Collins frowned.
Asher leaned back in his chair.
"Harming a direct family member of a former distinguished military officer carries a prison sentence of thirty-five years."
Collins's face darkened instantly.
"This is ridiculous."
"Then prove she's innocent."
Asher's eyes narrowed.
"Produce the security footage from your engagement party."
Silence.
"The footage will reveal if she is innocent or not."
Collins immediately pulled out his phone.
"Get me the recordings from Birch Mansion," he barked. "Now."
Then he ended the call and glared at Asher.
The old man smiled faintly.
"Good."
His eyes drifted toward Seraphina.
"Let's see what the cameras witnessed that night."
Behind the glass, tears continued streaming down Seraphina's face and for the first time since arriving, genuine fear had begun creeping into her eyes.