My Son's Death, His Cruel Betrayal

tal

downstairs, reeling from the raw truth, from the public exposure of his twisted a

haking with a rage that bordered on desperation

forting Hailey, then the ominous silence as they lef

Jonathan. It was his mother, her face still contorted with fury, her e

nomous hiss. "You want to drive him to despair? I'll make s

d me, my injured body protesting with every jerk, down the stairs, past the silent, judging servants

nathan' s mother spat, her eyes glintin

ungs, as I was shoved into the freezing water. The shock of the cold

ned, demanding air. Water rushed into my nose, my throat, a horrifying echo of Leo' s last moments. My son. My

t the air, coughing and choking. Then,

ed cackle. "You think you can just leave him? You tried to kill Hailey, did

is frantic rush to Hailey, his cruel accusations. I choked back a laugh. They all thought I was

a sickening rhythm of torture. My vision flickered, black spot

suddenly cried, her voice laced with fear.

loud bloomed, spreading slowly around my head. Jonathan's

dark

strils. Jonathan sat beside my bed, his face haggard, stubble sh

knuckles. "Krystal," he whispered, his voi

murmured, his eyes filled with a raw, aching guilt. "My mother... I've reprimanded

th. He still hadn't defended me. He had simply punished the instruments of his moth

too tired to speak

ed, his voice laced with desperation. "Say som

ould see it in his troubled eyes. Krys

some soup," he offered, a pathetic attempt at redemption.

from the assault. But he didn't notice. He only

my back to him, my voice flat.