He Pushed Me From a Balcony But My Savior Was Waiting in the Snow

Betrayal on the Balcony

The winter wind howled through the stone arches of Blackwood Manor, carrying with it a bitter, freezing frost. On the high stone balcony of the dark gothic castle, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense. Emilia stood shivering in her periwinkle gown, her hands gripping the icy stone railing. Before her stood her husband, Levi, his slate-grey coat dark against the falling snow. His short blonde hair was wild, and his eyes burned with a dangerous, unstable rage.

Behind Levi, half-hidden by the shadows of the heavy oak doors, stood Scarlett. She wore a deep red dress that looked like a drop of blood against the white snow. Scarlett was Emilia's closest friend—or so Emilia had believed until tonight, when she discovered the secret financial accounts and the forged deed. Now, Scarlett simply watched with cold, calculating eyes, offering no help, only silent complicity.

"You always make me the villain, Emilia!"

Levi roared, his voice echoing over the howling wind.

"You and your family, always looking down on me, holding the inheritance over my head like a leash!"

"Levi, please, you're not thinking straight!"

Emilia pleaded, her voice trembling from both the freezing cold and sheer terror.

"We can talk about this inside. Just let me go."

But Levi was beyond the point of reason. He stepped forward, his boots crunching loudly on the frozen snow. With a sudden, violent surge of adrenaline, he grabbed Emilia by her shoulders and shoved her hard over the low stone railing. Down below, standing near the snowdrifts, Jude looked up in horror. Jude, Levi's cousin, had followed them out, fearing the worst. He screamed out a warning, but it was too late. Levi let go, and Emilia fell backward into the dark, freezing abyss.