Chapter 2 The Accusation
Leila's POV
The emergency room buzzed with frantic activity as Chloe was rushed in on a stretcher, John and Susan following anxiously behind. I arrived moments later, having followed the ambulance in my car. My mind was still reeling from what had just happened—the calculated fall, the accusations, the horrified gasps.
Hospital staff moved quickly around Chloe while several Reed family relatives who had followed from the party gathered in the waiting area. Every eye turned toward me, filled with judgment and accusation.
"How could you do this to her?" Susan's hysterical voice cut through the hospital noise as she lunged toward me, only to be held back by a nurse. "You monster! After everything we've done for you!"
"I didn't push her," I said, my voice steadier than I felt. "She threw herself down those stairs. It was deliberate."
The medical team wheeled Chloe through the double doors into the intensive care unit, with John and Susan forced to remain outside. I stood alone as whispers rippled through the gathering family members.
"I saw her push Chloe with my own eyes," Reed's cousin Kate declared loudly.
"Pure jealousy," Aunt Patricia agreed. "She couldn't stand seeing the real Reed daughter take her place."
My grandmother, Doris Reed, stepped forward, her face contorted with rage. "You ungrateful little imposter! After everything this family has done for you! You're nothing but common trash pretending to be a Reed!"
"That's enough, Doris," my grandfather William intervened, placing himself between us. "Leila has always been kind-hearted. I can't believe she would deliberately hurt anyone."
"Of course you'd defend her," Grandmother spat. "You've always had a soft spot for this counterfeit. Open your eyes, William! She's not even our blood!"
I retreated to a corner of the hallway, feeling the weight of their condemning stares. John approached, his face contorted with rage.
"How dare you?" he hissed, his voice low but venomous. "We raised you for over twenty years, and this is how you repay us?"
"Dad, please listen—"
"Do not call me dad!" John's voice rose sharply. "The DNA test proved everything. You are not a Reed. You're nothing to us."
Susan joined him, her perfectly manicured finger jabbing the air inches from my face. "I knew you resented Chloe from the moment she arrived! You couldn't stand that she was our real daughter!"
The Reed family members huddled nearby, their whispered comments carrying clearly to my ears.
"I heard she discovered she wasn't the Reed's biological daughter and snapped," Cousin Kate murmured.
"The Sterling-Reed marriage alliance might need a new bride," Aunt Patricia responded. "She must have been desperate."
"I did not push her," I repeated firmly. "We were talking, and she deliberately threw herself down. This was a trap."
"Still lying!" Susan spat. "Everyone at the party saw what happened!"
In the waiting area, I sat alone, physically and emotionally isolated. My thoughts drifted to Theron and our last conversation before he left for his business trip.
"One month, and I'll be back," he had said casually. "Try not to cause any trouble while I'm gone, Leila."
Would he believe me now? Or would he side with the unanimous voices accusing me?
John approached again, looking down at me with cold disdain. "Be prepared to face the consequences. The moment Theron returns, I will tell him everything."
I met his gaze directly. "I've done nothing wrong. I'll wait for Theron and explain everything myself."
"You think he'll believe you?" John laughed bitterly. "A fake heiress against everyone else's testimony? Don't forget what your marriage truly is—an alliance between families."
The painful truth hit me: in this orchestrated drama, I stood completely alone.
Hours later, a doctor emerged from the ICU, removing his surgical cap. "Ms. Reed is stable and conscious. She has a mild concussion, a fractured right arm, but no life-threatening injuries."
The gathered crowd exhaled collectively. John and Susan embraced in relief.
"She can see visitors now," the doctor continued, "but only a few at a time. She needs to remain calm."
The Reeds immediately stepped forward. I rose from my seat as well.
"I need to see her," I insisted. "I need to ask her directly what happened."
John turned to me, his eyes cold. "You've done enough damage. Stay away from her until this is properly investigated."
"Security will make sure you don't go anywhere near her," Susan added venomously.
Through the partially open door of Chloe's room, I glimpsed her lying in bed, her golden hair spread across the pillow, her face pale but composed. John and Susan rushed to her side.
"Darling, how are you feeling?" Susan stroked Chloe's hair tenderly.
"I'm okay," Chloe replied weakly. "Just sore... Is Leila alright?"
The Reeds exchanged surprised glances.
"Chloe," John began gravely, "tell us the truth. Did Leila push you down those stairs?"
Chloe hesitated, then whispered, "I don't want to complicate things... Leila and I were just talking, maybe I lost my balance..."
"Chloe, you don't need to protect her!" Susan exclaimed. "Everyone saw what happened!"
"Mom, Leila was probably just upset... I don't believe she meant to hurt me."
Chloe's performance of forgiveness seemed to move Susan deeply. "You're so kind-hearted. Much more than she ever was."
"This is the true Reed family spirit," John added proudly. "Theron needs to know the true character of his wife. We will formally request an end to this marriage."
Susan nodded. "Once they divorce, Theron will marry you instead. This match was always meant for you."
"Oh no, Mom," Chloe protested weakly. "I wouldn't want to break up anyone's marriage because of me..."
"You're so much better than her," Susan said admiringly. "I can't believe we didn't see the difference before."
John squeezed Chloe's hand. "Don't worry, sweetheart. Everything will work out. The Sterling family needs someone truly noble like you."
From my position by the door, I heard every word of their conversation. I saw through Chloe's act—playing the forgiving saint while encouraging my destruction. My heart ached at the mention of divorce, of Theron marrying Chloe instead.
I remembered Chloe's whispered threat on the staircase: "This is just the beginning..."
When the Reeds emerged from the ICU, they found me waiting in the lobby.
"The Sterling family should be ashamed to have you as a daughter-in-law," Susan hissed.
John straightened his tie. "We will formally request Theron to divorce you. You should leave gracefully on your own."
I met their gaze steadily. "Do you really believe Chloe's performance?"
"How dare you slander her!" Susan's voice rose. "She's injured, yet still speaking kindly of you, and this is how you repay her!"
"I will wait for Theron to return and explain everything myself," I replied calmly. "Until then, I won't be leaving the Sterling residence."
"Do you think he'll believe you?" John challenged. "An imposter with questionable heritage against everyone's testimony?"
"I trust he will give me a fair chance," I said firmly. "No matter how you try to defame me, the truth will eventually come out."
Susan's parting shot was ice-cold: "You'll regret this, Leila. You're no longer a Reed, and soon you won't be a Sterling either."