I was frozen. My brain shut down. I'd never imagined that perfect, painted mouth could say something so vile.
I wanted to argue. To scream. But my throat felt stuffed.Part of it was shame—because she was beautiful, and I wasn't. But mostly it was that weak, scared part of me that had always kept quiet.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Genevie tilted her head mockingly. "Or do you already know you're not good enough for him?"
I took a breath. Forced myself to calm down.
"Are you done?" My voice came out steadier than I expected. "Because if you are, I'm leaving."
I turned toward the stairs. But before I could take more than a few steps, she grabbed my wrist. Hard.
"Stop!" Her voice sharpened. "You think you can just walk away?"
She got in front of me. Leaned close to my ear. Whispered.
"Want to know a secret? These past few days, Kirill and I have been together."
Her breath was cold against my skin. "We've been fucking. Over and over. He held me and said my name. Begged me not to leave him again."
My heart seized. Pain shot through my chest.
"So," Genevie straightened, looking down at me, "be smart. Leave on your own. While you still have some dignity left. Otherwise, it's going to get a lot worse for you."
I bit my lip hard. Kept myself from making a sound. Tears burned behind my eyes, but I wouldn't let them fall.
"Only Kirill can make me leave," I said, my voice rough but firm. "Until he tells me himself, I'm not going anywhere."
I shoved her hand off and headed for the stairs.
I needed out of here. I needed to find Olga. Find somewhere I could breathe. I didn't want to see Genevie's fake face or hear another word from her mouth.
But just as I reached the top of the staircase—
A scream tore through the air behind me.
I spun around.
Genevie's body pitched forward, tumbling past me, rolling down the long flight of stairs.
"Ahh—!"
Screams erupted from the ballroom below.
I stood frozen. Blank.
What just happened?
Why did she fall?
The ballroom exploded. Shrieks. Gasps. Genevie lay crumpled at the bottom, curled around herself, clutching her stomach. Her face was white as death. "It hurts! My stomach..."
Instinct kicked in. I forgot the insults. Forgot everything. I hiked up my dress and ran down the stairs. "Genevie! Are you okay?"
I dropped to my knees beside her, reaching out to check her injuries.
"Don't touch me!" Genevie screamed, shrinking away from me like I was a demon. "Please, don't hurt my baby... Harper, why did you push me? I know you're jealous, but why did you push me down the stairs?"
Her words echoed through the hall. I heard someone mutter "vicious bitch."
