Chapter 3

Bianca froze mid-sentence. The room went dead silent. Caroline's eyes flew open, and she saw Bianca standing at the door. "You two…" Bianca's voice trembled as the suitcase in her hand hit the floor with a thud. She stared at how Bradley was holding Caroline in his arms. Her expression was filled with disbelief. "Bianca, it's not what you think…" Caroline tried to pull away, but Bradley tightened his grip. "It's exactly what you think," he said calmly but firmly while pulling Caroline into an embrace. "I'm taking care of my girlfriend. What's wrong with—" "Bradley, shut up!" Caroline snapped. Bianca took one shaky step after another, tears spilling down her cheeks. "So that's why you were so desperate to send me overseas, isn't it? You told me that Bradley wasn't right for me, said he was manipulative and that I should focus on school… but it was all for yourself!" "Bianca, listen to me. It's not that simple…" Caroline tried to get up, but the room spun, and she nearly fell to the ground. Bianca laughed bitterly. "Not that simple? Yeah, I bet it's so complicated that you had to sleep with your sister's boyfriend!" Bradley finally spoke, his voice sharp. "Bianca! Watch your mouth." His defense only pushed Bianca further over the edge. "So that's why you broke up with me, right? Because you fell for Carol?" He didn't answer. His silence cut through the air like a blade, shattering the last trace of hope in Bianca's eyes. Caroline shoved him away. "Bianca, please, believe me…" "You're not my sister! You're a selfish, two-faced bitch! You knew how much I loved him, but you still went after him! When I begged you to help me win him back, were you secretly laughing at me? Does it feel good, sleeping with your younger sister's boyfriend?" Before Caroline could react, Bianca hurled the suitcase at her. Caroline didn't dodge in time. The sharp corner of the suitcase struck her forehead, splitting the skin open in an instant. Blood trickled down her face, staining the pale pink bedsheet. A cry of pain escaped her lips before she could stop it. The fever and the blow hit her all at once, and her body went limp as her consciousness slipped away. Bradley's face hardened at the sight of the blood. "Enough, Bianca! You've crossed the line!" Then, he scooped Caroline into his arms and stormed out. "Brad! Why are you protecting her like that? What am I to you?" Bianca screamed, blocking his way. "What was our year together even worth?" "I never said we were officially together," he said coldly. Bianca's eyes widened, her voice breaking. "Why did you agree to be with me then?" "Carol asked me to be cruel and make you give up completely. Otherwise, I never would have looked at you twice. Although to be fair, after spending time with you, I did feel something…" The hatred and despair in her eyes wavered, giving way to a faint, desperate glimmer of hope. But Bradley's next words crushed it completely. "Still, between you and Carol, I prefer her. If I ever get married, I'd rather choose someone like her." Bianca trembled all over. "So it was Carol who seduced you, wasn't it? Did she make you treat me like this?" "And what if she did? Now move." He brushed past Bianca as he carried Caroline, whose forehead was covered in blood, to the hospital. When Caroline woke up, she found her head bandaged. She instinctively looked around the hospital room, but it was empty. The only sound was a phone vibrating on the nightstand. She picked it up and realized that it was Bradley's. Remembering the video everyone had mentioned, she attempted to unlock it several times, but her efforts were unsuccessful each time. Then, a few new messages popped up on the screen. "Caroline got sent to the hospital after Bianca hit her? Which hospital? I need to see this! Two sisters fighting over a guy? This is gold." "Brad, you really played this game like a pro." The chat was buzzing with gossip, but Caroline only felt cold all over. Caroline and Bianca's mother, Olivia Hudson, had died young, and Edmund was always away working. Caroline had practically raised Bianca herself. They had always been close. And now, for a man who had manipulated them both, Bianca had actually raised a hand against her. Bradley knew exactly how to destroy people without lifting a finger. Still, if this could make Bianca give up, it might have all been worth it. Once she deleted that video, she would explain everything to Bianca. Caroline's hands trembled as she put the phone back. "You're still shivering. Hasn't your fever gone down yet?" Bradley set the medicine on the bedside table and reached out to check her forehead. Caroline turned her head away. His hand froze midair, and his eyes darkened. "Don't you have anything to explain?" Her tone was cold. He smirked. "Why? Are you jealous because of Bianca?"