Chapter 6

　　“Isn't she the woman from the news, the one who lied about her husband keeping a mistress of a sister? I heard that ten years ago, she pushed that sister off a building with her own hands!”

　　“It's horrifying. And now she's driven three girls to their deaths in public. People like this should get the death penalty!”

　　Bystanders closed in around Edith, and the parents of the three girls arrived on the scene fast.

　　They threw themselves at her like they'd lost their minds, fists slamming down on her body.

　　“Give me back my daughter! You murderer, I want you to pay with your life!”

　　Edith tried to explain, but they were long past reason, in no state to listen.

　　Not until Matthew and Susan appeared.

　　Matthew's face was dark as he looked at her. “What are you stirring up now? Can't sit still even in the dead of night?”

　　The sight of him was a lifeline to her.

　　“Matthew, tell them I didn't kill anyone. They came bursting into my room with knives. I didn't kill them, I swear!”

　　“Matthew, for the sake of all the years we've known each other, for the sake of these ten years I've been ground down into something less than human, all you have to do is tell the truth once.”

　　“You saw it. You can testify for me……”

　　Before Matthew could say a word, Susan cut in, unable to wait.

　　“I believe you. I know you'd never kill anyone.”

　　She reached out and pushed the crowd aside. “Don't lie there on the ground. Let me help you up.”

　　The moment she bent down, she dropped her voice. “Do you really think anyone will believe you?”

　　“Three lives on your hands. You'll get the death penalty, won't you?”

　　“Once you're dead, no one will be left to fight me for my brother.”

　　Edith's head snapped up. “You did this?”

　　“You're insane!”

　　Despair flickered in Edith's eyes. She knew that as long as Susan spoke, Matthew would never testify for her.

　　But she wanted to live.

　　She had survived those seven years of hell. Cyril had promised he would take her away in a month.

　　She had a chance to stand on the stage again, to play the roles she loved.

　　But now, three lives were pinned on her.

　　The death penalty was all too likely.

　　She didn't dare gamble on whether Cyril had the power to pull her out of prison.

　　All she could do was beg Matthew again, beg him to speak.

　　“Matthew, for the sake of the child we lost, help me just this once……”

　　Looking at the plea in her eyes, something in Matthew's chest gave a sudden tremor.

　　He was about to speak when Susan clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.

　　“Matthew, my stomach hurts.”

　　His expression changed. “I told you not to eat so much cold food at night. You wouldn't listen, and now you know how to complain about the pain?”

　　“I'll take you to the hospital.”

　　Susan bit her pale lip, cold sweat beading on her forehead. “But she still needs you. It's only a stomachache. It's fine, I can bear it a little longer.”

　　Matthew spared Edith a flat glance. “Even if she's sentenced to death, she won't die anytime soon.”

　　“Your matter is more urgent.”

　　Those words, she won't die anytime soon, struck Edith's mind until it spun.

　　It wasn't until the police put her in the car that she let out a low laugh.

　　She was laughing at how stupid she'd been.

　　That she'd still held out hope for Matthew, still dared to wish he would speak up and testify for her.

　　Seated in the interrogation room, she asked the officer in front of her. “Will I be sentenced to death?”

　　The officer's face was blank. “If your attitude is cooperative, we'll try to get you a suspended death sentence.”

　　In that instant, Edith thought about confessing. That way, maybe she could still live.

　　But she wouldn't.

　　She had never killed anyone. Why should she carry a stain like this to her grave?

　　Still she tried to fight it. “You can check the security footage. Those three girls broke in with knives. I really didn't kill anyone.”

　　“The hotel's surveillance is all damaged. But we found that your room was 1602, and the last room those girls appeared in was also 1602.”

　　“You are the prime suspect.”

　　Because she refused to confess and her attitude was defiant, she was sentenced to death, to be carried out in a month.

　　“In a month.”

　　Edith chewed the words over and over in her mouth, tears circling endlessly in her eyes.

　　Maybe this was just fate.

　　Letting her believe she'd find release in a month, only to be met with death instead.

　　No. She couldn't accept it. She had to find a way out.

　　For that whole month she was locked in the prison, and Matthew never came once.

　　Not until she was led out to the execution ground, the cold black muzzle aimed at her heart, did she feel, against all reason, at peace.

　　She lowered her eyes, her hand gripping tight to her notes on stage acting.

　　Maybe in the next life, she could still be a stage actress.

　　The trigger drew back slowly, and a gunshot cracked out.

　　Edith closed her eyes, and the last thought in her mind was not of Matthew.

　　It was of Cyril.

　　“Edith, I came too late.”