Chapter 925: Yuko Confronts Julie & Marina

When the gurney passed, she shot to her feet.

"Doctor... how is he?" Her voice cracked—raw, hoarse from hours of crying.

The doctor (under my influence) answered calmly. "His life is out of danger now. I have to say... he’s extremely lucky. If that knife had shifted even an inch to the left, it would have pierced his heart. Fatal. As it is, it was a deep muscle wound—serious blood loss, but no vital organs were hit. We’ve stabilized him. We’re moving him to the private ward for closer monitoring."

Yuko nodded numbly, wiping her face with the back of her sleeve. She followed the gurney like a ghost—steps unsteady, eyes fixed on my bandaged form.

In the private ward, nurses arranged pillows, hooked up monitors (all readings faked to look precarious but stable under my control), dimmed the lights, and left with quiet instructions: "He’s sedated. Let him rest. We’ll check back soon."

The door clicked shut.

I kept my eyes closed, breathing slowly.

Through telekinesis and enhanced sight, I watched Yuko stand at the foot of the bed—staring. Her expression was a storm: guilt so thick it was suffocating her, conflict twisting her features, anger still smoldering under the surface.

Her thoughts poured into my mind via telepathy—jagged, looping, anguished:

[What is this bastard doing... why didn’t he let the knife go straight into his heart... why did he make me do this... I feel so guilty... so fucking sad... was I wrong...? But no—it’s clearly this bastard who’s been deceiving my... no... Haruna’s feelings... he deserves it... he does... but... but why does it hurt so much... why can’t I stop crying... I almost killed him... I almost killed Jack...]

Suddenly, the door burst open.

Marina and Julie rushed in—faces pale, eyes wide with perfectly rehearsed panic.

"Jack... Jack...!" Marina cried, running to the bedside and grabbing my limp hand. "What happened... oh god..."

Julie was right behind her, voice trembling. "Jack—please—say something—"

I stayed perfectly still, unresponsive.

Marina turned to Yuko, her voice trembling with perfectly acted panic and confusion, eyes already glistening.

"Yuko... what happened to Jack...? When we called his phone, the hospital staff picked up. They said he’d been in some kind of accident... attacked with a knife... But didn’t he just go outside with you...? What happened out there...?"

Yuko crossed her arms tighter across her chest, trying to hold her crumbling facade together. Her jaw clenched so hard the muscles stood out in sharp relief.

"Hmph... it’s all his fault. This is what he deserves."

The words came out flat, forced—her attempt to sound cold and unforgiving. But her voice cracked on the last syllable, betraying her.

Julie’s face darkened instantly. She stepped forward, eyes flashing with feigned outrage that felt painfully real in the moment.

"Yuko... what are you saying?" Her tone dropped low, dangerous. "Is that even human language coming out of your mouth? How can you talk about Jack like that...? Isn’t he your sister’s boyfriend? The man Haruna loves more than anything? How can you stand there and say he deserves to be stabbed—deserves to bleed out in an alley—after everything?"

Yuko lifted her head just enough to glare at Marina through tear-swollen eyes. "Hmph... my sister’s boyfriend...? Then who the hell is she?"

She jerked her chin toward Julie. "It’s obviously Jack who’s been deceiving Haruna’s feelings this whole time. I think... It’s better if he just dies."

The words landed like a slap.

Julie didn’t hesitate. Her hand cracked across Yuko’s cheek—sharp, resounding, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

"Yuko... that’s enough," Julie hissed, voice trembling with fury. "Are you going crazy? What are you even talking about?"

Yuko’s head snapped to the side from the impact. She touched her reddening cheek slowly, then looked up at both of them and let out a bitter, broken chuckle.

"Don’t pretend to be innocent, either of you." Her voice cracked, but stayed venomous. "Did you forget, Marina? Your own grandmother said it right in front of me—Jack was your boyfriend. "

"You’ve been together since way before Haruna ever met him. And you, Julie... I called you Aunt Julie... I trusted you... And here you are, helping Jack deceive my little sister. I didn’t expect you to be such a fucking slut."

Marina’s face crumpled. Tears spilled instantly. Before anyone could blink, her palm flew—slapping Yuko’s other cheek with equal force.

"Yuko... that’s enough!" Marina’s voice broke into a sob. "When you don’t know anything—anything—how can you say something like that...?"

She clutched her own stinging hand, tears streaming. "What happened to Jack...? Tell me... how did he get hurt...?"

Yuko’s eyes blazed, but her lip quivered. She forced the hardness back into her voice.

"Hm... I killed this bastard."

Julie’s breath hitched. "Yuko... what are you saying...?"

"Didn’t you hear?" Yuko spat, though her voice cracked on the last word. "I said I killed him. With a knife. But he was lucky—he didn’t die. I’m just waiting for him to wake up so I can finish it properly."

I could feel it through her thoughts—she was pretending to be steel, but inside she was already fracturing. She couldn’t really hurt me again. Not now.

Julie’s face twisted in horror and grief. "Yuko... tell me this isn’t true... It’s not Jack’s fault... you... I will never forgive you... never..." Her voice dissolved into quiet, wrenching sobs.

Yuko laughed again—hollow, self-loathing. "Don’t pretend to be innocent, Julie. You’re cuckolding Jack. I bet you’d be the happiest person in the world if he died—so Marina would finally be all yours."

She turned her gaze to my bandaged, motionless form. "And don’t try to deny it. I saw everything. You two are lesbians. I guess... this is what fate looks like. Jack betrayed by my sister... now getting cuckolded and cheated on by his own girlfriend... and even by his trusted ’Aunt Julie.’ Deserve it."

She stared at me—eyes red, glistening, voice dropping to a whisper. "Hmm... deserve it..."

Marina broke.

"It’s... not... it’s not like that... what do you know...?"

She lunged forward, grabbing Yuko by the shoulders, crying so hard her whole body shook.

"Jack... didn’t cheat on your sister... It’s all my fault... It’s all my fault...!"

Julie rushed to Marina’s side, wrapping her arms around her. "Marina, it’s not your fault... don’t blame yourself..."

"How can I not?!" Marina wailed. "Jack gave me everything... helped me escape... and we only met because of him... now he’s hurt—because of me...!"