Surprise Twins for the Hockey Prince

Eliana POV:

I held my breath, watching as Asher and Erica emerged from the bathroom.

They were wrapped in each other's arms, their faces flushed with the afterglow of their tryst.

Erica's gown was slightly disheveled. Asher smoothed it down for her, then leaned in to kiss her forehead with a tenderness that made my stomach clench.

They didn't see me. They walked toward the ballroom, laughing quietly like a real couple.

I stepped out of the shadows, my body numb with cold. Their words echoed in my mind—fool, suicide, Carlisle Holdings.

Something snapped. I couldn't stand it for another second.

I strode after them. Just before they could turn the corner into the ballroom, my voice, trembling but clear, cut through the air.

"Asher! Erica!"

Their bodies went rigid. They spun around, the smiles freezing on their faces.

Seeing me, Erica's eyes flashed with panic before she plastered on a fake look of concern. "Eliana, where have you been? We were just looking for you."

Asher's expression was a mix of shock, guilt, and a flicker of annoyance.

I ignored their performance, walking toward them step by step. My eyes were locked on Asher. "What really happened to my father?"

The color drained from Asher's face. "What are you talking about? Your father committed suicide, we all know that..."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. I turned my gaze to Erica. "You arranged it, didn't you? Carlisle Holdings... What's your deal with them?"

Erica's face twisted. "You're insane! Eliana, have you been drinking?"

She reached for my arm, trying to drag me away before anyone else saw.

I yanked my arm back with disgust, the force of it making her stumble.

In the ensuing struggle, my hand shot out. Not to slap her, but to grab the loose shoulder strap of her gown.

I pulled.

The dress slid down, exposing her bare torso to the hallway lights. It was covered in fresh, angry-red marks.

Asher gasped, instinctively moving to shield her, but it was too late.

Erica shrieked, a sound of pure fury and humiliation. She scrambled to pull up her dress, her eyes shooting daggers at me.

"You psycho!" she screamed, lunging at me without a second thought.

My mind was on my parents. I didn't anticipate her feral attack. She slammed into me, pushing me backward.

My back hit the wall, but she didn't stop. Her hands dug into my shoulders, shoving me back toward the bathroom we had just passed.

My heel caught on the edge of a rug. I lost my balance.

"Eliana!" Asher screamed, his hand reaching for me, a fraction too late.

The back of my head struck the hard, marble edge of the bathtub.

A dull, sickening thud echoed in the small space.

Sharp pain exploded behind my eyes. The world spun, then went dark.

In the last moment of consciousness, I saw Erica's terrified face and Asher's frozen, slack-jawed expression.

Erica's hand trembled as she reached down, her fingers hovering near my nose. A second later, she snatched it back, her face a deathly white.

She turned to the equally stunned Asher, her voice a ragged, panicked whisper, a desperate lie taking shape.

"Asher... she's... she's not breathing! She's dead!"