Ch. 70
"Ha! Are you really sure that bitch is not who you think she is?" Lizzy snapped angrily. Her lips trembled as she laughed bitterly, eyes burning with fury.
"Look!"
Lizzy stepped closer to Selene, invading her space. She tugged her hair aside roughly, exposing her neck.
"This bruise?" Her voice cracked. "She did this. I almost died because of your crazy friend."
Selene's breath hitched.
"Impossible," she said, the word leaving her lips slowly, confused rather than defensive.
Her eyes were drawn back to Lizzy's neck—the angry redness, the faint scratches that hadn't fully faded. They didn't look staged. They looked raw.
"I wanted to sue that girl for what she did to me," Lizzy continued, her voice rising. "But what the hell—we were the ones who got sued by her family instead! Who the hell does she think she is?!"
Her hands clenched into her hair, fingers digging into her scalp as frustration consumed her. She yanked harshly, breath coming out uneven. Aria moved quickly, grabbing Lizzy's wrists to stop her.
"Lizzy, stop," she whispered urgently, pulling her hands away from her head. Lizzy resisted for a second—then went still, shoulders shaking.
Aria held her tightly now, eyes filled with sadness and pity as she glanced at Selene, silently pleading.
Selene stood frozen.
The room suddenly felt colder.
And heavier.
Selene didn't move.
Her eyes stayed on the marks on Lizzy's neck—but her thoughts were spiraling somewhere else entirely.
That can't be Liana...
The Liana she knew was gentle. Always smiling. The kind of girl who apologized even when she wasn't at fault. She teased sometimes, yes—but never cruelly. Never violently. Never like this.
The image refused to match.
But then again...
Selene clenched her fingers slowly at her side.
I only know her at school.
The realization landed uncomfortably.
She knew Liana as a schoolmate. As a friend in passing conversations. As someone kind to her. But Selene had never seen her when she was angry. Never when she was cornered. Never when she felt threatened.
She swallowed.
This is a novel.
And novels loved surprises. She hates to admit it, but what if that was the case?
"No," Selene said again, quieter this time—but more to herself than to anyone else.
"That doesn't make sense."
Yet her eyes betrayed her.
They flickered—just for a second. Because doubt had slipped in.
What if she's telling the truth?
Selene lifted her gaze to Lizzy's face—tear-streaked, furious, unraveling. This wasn't the face of someone calmly crafting a lie. This was someone cornered by something bigger than herself.
If this is true...
Then what part of Liana have I never seen?
Selene straightened her posture, forcing her voice steady even as her thoughts fractured.
"I know Liana as someone kind," she said carefully. "But I won't deny what I haven't witnessed."
Selene gestured for the two girls to have a seat.
"In fact, I know Liana wouldn't harm you because—" her voice suddenly stopped, the words caught in her throat as she remembered that no one knew Liana was in a coma.
Lizzy narrowed her eyes, noticing the hesitation.
"How can you be so sure?" Lizzy taunted, crossing her arms. Selene straightened slightly, forcing herself to stay calm.
"Wait—are you sure it was Liana who strangled you? Because that's impossible," Selene said, her brows furrowing in confusion.
Lizzy let out a sharp, humorless laugh before sitting down dramatically on the chair.
"We know, we can't force you to immediately believe us because that bitch was your friend but Aria and I have proof of her harming me. Tho, the CCTV in that café is useless because it was deleted by force," Lizzy answered, irritation clear in her voice.
Selene's expression changed, the softness in her eyes fading little by little.
"Who deleted them?" she asked carefully, her tone now more serious than before.
Aria hesitated before speaking, glancing at Lizzy as if asking for permission.
"When Lizzy reported Liana's crime, that was when the CCTV footage was taken down. I-I think... it's because her family is quite powerful... or someone is backing her up," Aria answered quietly.
Selene went silent. Her fingers tightened slightly on the armrest.
Damn... I think this is what my father told me about. Liana's family is quite complicated and powerful in this country.
Her gaze lowered for a moment, thoughts moving faster than her expression showed.
And the more she thought about it, the less she could stay on Liana's side without questions. Selene inhaled slowly, her mind already organizing the situation piece by piece.
"Show me the proof," she was about to say, her gaze fixed on Lizzy— but before the words could leave her mouth, a knock suddenly came from the door.
Three short knocks.
Firm. Urgent.
All three of them froze.
Selene frowned slightly, annoyed at the interruption. She stood up and walked toward the door, her steps calm but her eyes already sharp with suspicion.
When she opened it, she was greeted by her grandfather's assistant.
His posture was straight as always, but his face looked tense. There was a hint of panic in his eyes, though he tried hard to keep his usual professional expression.
Selene immediately noticed.
"What's wrong?" she asked, lowering her voice. The secretary cleared his throat before answering.
"Miss Selene, your grandfather asked me to inform you that we will be leaving now. We will return to the mansion. The party... is no longer necessary."
"...No longer necessary?" Selene blinked, confused.
"Yes, Miss."
He forced a polite smile, but the stiffness in his face only made it more suspicious.
Selene hesitated, glancing back at Lizzy and Aria.
Something was wrong. Still, she nodded.
"...Alright. I'm coming."
Before leaving, she turned back to Aria.
"Give me your contact number," Selene said calmly. "We're not done talking."
Aria looked surprised but quickly took her phone out.
"S-sure."
They exchanged numbers quickly. Selene slipped her phone into her bag, her expression turning serious again.
Since I'm already involved in this strange situation... I can't just walk away now.
Without another word, she left the room. When Selene reached the parking lot, the cold night air immediately hit her face.
Her eyes quickly found her grandfather.
He was standing near the car, his arms crossed tightly, his expression darker than she had ever seen before.
He looked irritated.
No—furious.
Selene slowed her steps. She wanted to ask what happened, but before she could speak, her grandfather looked at her and spoke first.
"Selene... are you really sure one of your friends is a grandchild of the Klein family?"
Selene stopped walking.
"Klein?" she repeated, confused. "I don't understand, Grandpa. What's wrong with the Klein family?"
Her grandfather clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Ugh. All these years... they are still the same creatures that I despise the most."
Selene's brows furrowed slightly, surprised by the amount of hatred in his voice.
"Uh... don't worry, Grandpa. I don't have—" she paused, thinking, then shook her head.
"I don't think I'm close to anyone from that family."
Her grandfather stared at her for a moment, as if trying to read her expression.
"...Good to know," he muttered.
He opened the car door with more force than necessary.
"The Klein clan is despicable. I don't want you to be stained by their wickedness. Just make sure you stay away from that family. Do not get involved with them."
Selene nodded slowly.
"I understand," she answered.
But even as she said it, confusion lingered in her eyes.
Because tonight,
everything she thought she understood...
was starting to fall apart.