I Borrowed Money From My Bullies Before Faking My Death Chapter 05

I Borrowed Money From My Bullies Before Faking My Death Chapter 05

The party downstairs kicked off. Glasses clinked. Everyone mingled.

I slipped out the door as quietly as possible.

And immediately ran into a group headed up the hallway, all polished outfits and designer accessories.

They were chatting. “Isn’t the lounge on the third floor?”

I nearly jumped out of my skin.

They noticed me too.

At the front stood the girl who’d been clinging to Silas’s arm earlier.

She blinked at me. “You are…?”

I pressed my lips together. “I’m—uh. The housekeeper’s daughter. Yeah. That.”

Someone else immediately challenged it. “Why would the housekeeper’s daughter be up here?”

The girl’s expression shifted. So did everyone else’s. Disgust crept into their eyes. “You’re some staff member’s kid, sneaking around to steal, aren’t you? I’m going to tell Mr. Whitmore right now.”

Someone else nodded, voice dripping with contempt. “Yeah. She’s clearly guilty of something.”

My eyes went wide. “Wait!”

The girl was already turning toward the stairs, firm. “It’s Mr. Whitmore’s birthday. I won’t let any theft happen tonight.”

“I came here with Knox!” I blurted it out in sheer desperation.

She stopped.

Turned back slowly. Looked me up and down, disbelief written all over her face. “You? With him? How is that possible?”

The way she scanned me now was nothing like the timid little act she’d been putting on beside Silas.

“What’s all this?”

A lazy voice cut through the tension.

Everyone turned.

Knox raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely surprised by the scene in front of him.

The girl jumped in immediately. “We were looking for the lounge. Then we ran into her, sneaking around the hallway. I assumed she was a thief. I was about to go inform Silas… but she claims she’s here with you.”

Seeing Knox, I exhaled in relief.

He could vouch for me. I wasn’t a thief.

But the air went weirdly silent.

After a beat, Knox’s mouth curled coldly. “You’re saying you found her in the hallway.”

The girl nodded frantically. “Acting very suspicious. Like she’d just stolen something and was about to bolt.”

I was at a loss for words.

“Bolt?” Knox repeated the word, smile razor-sharp.

A bad feeling hit me hard.

Sure enough, his tone went flat. “She’s a thief.”

The girl lit up at his confirmation. Then shot me a venomous glare. “Not just a thief. A liar, too. I’m telling Silas right now. He’ll handle you.”

Her little leather shoes clicked down the stairs. By the time she reached the bottom, her voice had turned soft and sweet again. “Mr. Silas Whitmore!”

I stood there, frozen. Ice in my veins.

I looked at Knox, completely thrown.

He leaned against the hallway wall, arms crossed.

His deep eyes pinned me down. Cold. Distant.

Then came steady footsteps. Getting closer.

The girl was already tattling, voice gentle. “Silas, it’s a good thing I noticed her snooping around upstairs. She even lied and said Knox brought her here.”

I dropped my gaze, despair swallowing me whole.

My heart slammed against my ribs, frantic.

Then my vision went black. The world spun.

Just before I fully slipped away, I felt a pair of warm arms catch me.