<h4>Chapter 64: 64 - their trust</h4>
64
?~Lisa’s POV
The hallway was quiet now.
The triplets had walked away, and the guards slowly dispersed, murmuring about what had just happened. Cecilia’s blood still stained the floor, and my heart felt heavy. Not for her, she tried to kill me, but for everything. The fear. The betrayal. The pain.
I stood there for a moment, watching them disappear. Kael nced back once, his expression unreadable, then turned and followed his brothers. Even Belinda had left. Calm. Too calm. Like nothing had happened.
But I knew it wasn’t over.
And I wasn’t going to let it end like this.
As soon as I saw Belinda turning the corner toward the east corridor, I followed her. My legs moved quickly, my heart pounding hard with each step. For the first time in forever, I wasn’t scared. Not like I was this morning. Not like when I took the drug Cecilia gave me. That fear had nearly killed me.
Not again.
I caught up to her just as she entered a part of the corridor where no one was watching. No guards. No maids. Just us. And I ran, full speed, until I stepped right in front of her.
She stopped, shocked.
"What are you doing?" she asked, voice low but irritated. Her eyes narrowed.
"I want to talk," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
Her brows lifted like she was amused. "Talk? Now you want to talk?"
I didn’t move. "Why did you try to kill me?"
Belinda’s face changed just slightly, a flicker of something passed through her eyes, but she quickly masked it.
"Excuse me?"
I didn’t back down. "You sent Cecilia, didn’t you?"
She crossed her arms, giving me a mocking smile. "Why would I try to kill you through Cecilia, Lisa? If I really wanted you dead, do you honestly think I’d use someone else? I would have done it with my own hands."
I swallowed, hard. Her voice was steady. Cold. Confident.
I didn’t care.
"You may not have used your hands," I said slowly, "but you used hers. And now she’s dead because of it."
Belinda gave a small shrug. "You’re lucky I didn’t use mine."
I tilted my head, letting a cold smile creep onto my lips. "Do you think the triplets actually like me?"
Her eyes widened for a second, but then she let out a soft scoff, shaking her head. "You’re not serious."
"I am," I said, stepping closer. "Because for someone they supposedly like, they didn’t stand beside you when you killed Cecilia. They questioned you. Kael was angry. Rowan asked why. Damon just stared like he didn’t know you."
"You’re delusional," she said, voice sharper now. "You think one little incident will change what we have? Please."
"Do you have anything with them?" I asked. "Because to me, it doesn’t seem like it."
"Who are you to say that?" she snapped. "A maid? A weakling who cries at every shadow? You think just because you survived, suddenly you’re strong?"
"I was quiet," I said, my voice firmer now. "I kept my head down. I followed orders. I stayed out of your way. And I almost died because of that."
She blinked, clearly not expecting that.
I took a deep breath, fists clenched. "I’m done being the scared little girl. I’m done pretending not to see what’s going on around me. You don’t get to act like the victim now."
"You’re talking to me like we’re equals," she hissed.
I stared at her. "We’re not. But today, you proved you’re just as dangerous as the enemies outside these walls. Maybe worse."
She stepped forward, close enough that I could smell the expensive perfume she wore. "Careful, Lisa. You think because the triplets saved you today, that makes you important?"
"No," I said. "But I know I’m not nothing either. And if they had to choose between someone who lies and someone who tells the truth, I think they’d pick thetter."
Her lips curled into a bitter smile. "You think they see you?"
"I don’t care anymore if they do," I replied. "But I see you, Belinda. And I know what you did."
"I didn’t do anything," she spat. "Cecilia was the one who tried to poison you."
"And you killed her before she could talk," I said quietly.
Her jaw tightened.
"You silenced her because she was your tool. She knew too much," I said. "That’s why you killed her in front of everyone, to look like a hero while hiding the truth."
"I don’t owe you exnations," she said. "And I certainly don’t need to justify myself to a lowlife like you."
"Then stop pretending," I whispered. "Stop acting like you care about this ce. You care about them, the triplets. You’re obsessed."
She didn’t respond, but her re said it all.
"You hate that they even looked at me today," I continued. "You hate that I didn’t die like you wanted. You hate that I survived."
"You should have died," she growled, stepping even closer. "You’re not strong, Lisa. You just got lucky. You were supposed to take the drug, pass out quietly, and never wake up. That’s what was nned."
"So you do admit it," I said, heart racing.
"You already know it," she snapped. "So what? You’ll run and tell them? Go ahead. Who’s going to believe you? A maid with no status, no voice, no power?"
"I don’t need power," I said, meeting her gaze. "The truth has power."
Belinda stared at me for a long second, then gave a coldugh. "You really think you’re something now, huh?"
"No," I said. "But I know I’m not what I used to be."
She clenched her jaw, and for the first time, she looked unsettled. Not scared. Just shaken. Like she didn’t know what to make of me anymore.
I took a step back, never breaking eye contact.
"You lost today," I said.
"I lost?" sheughed again, but this time, itcked confidence.
"You lost your cover. Your secret. And their trust."
"I still have them," she insisted. "You’re just a bump in the road."
"Then why are you standing here arguing with me?"
Silence.
I nodded slowly. "Exactly."
Belinda didn’t move. Her face was still, cold like stone. But her silence said it all.
I turned to leave, my legs shaking just a little from everything I’d said.