TPCF 56

CHAPTER 56………………………………….

She decided that since she’d already been caught, she might as well satisfy her curiosity. In response to Anita’s question, Edmund flipped through the booklet with an air of indifference.

“A decent enough speech.”

“You’re not writing it on your palm or the podium this time?”

“Oh, Miss Anita Rodel. You can get away with that outdoors, perhaps, but not in a brightly lit hall like this.”

Though Edmund’s expression was playful, his voice carried an unusual seriousness.

“So I’ll just have to memorize it.”

It seemed he had a knack for making ordinary things sound extraordinary. Anita was almost impressed—almost—but her face soon returned to its usual neutrality.

“Wait a moment.”

“…?”

The relaxed expression Edmund had worn while flipping through the booklet shifted into one of discomfort. His eyes fixed on something behind Anita, and he let out a sigh. Just as Anita turned to see what could possibly have caused such a reaction—

“Hold this for a moment, will you?”

Before she could respond, he thrust the wine glass in his hand into hers and vanished. The result: Anita stood there awkwardly, a wine glass in each hand.

“What are you doing here? Isn’t it boring being alone?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Anita turned to see Liliana, and immediately understood what had happened. Edmund had sensed Liliana’s presence and fled in haste.

“Why are you holding two glasses?”

Without waiting for an answer, Liliana casually took the one in Anita’s left hand. Anita hesitated, wondering whether to tell her it had been Edmund’s glass.

But since she wasn’t even sure whether Edmund had actually drunk from it, she decided to keep quiet.

As Anita’s gaze lingered on the glass Liliana was holding, the other woman seemed to misinterpret the look.

“Rutger’s not coming tonight, you know. Or were you saving that drink for him?”

That wasn’t what Anita had meant at all. She hesitated, unsure whether to clarify or to ask why Rutger wasn’t attending.

“I see. I suppose something came up,” she replied, feigning indifference.

“Hmph. Something came up, sure. More like he just couldn’t be bothered.”

“…”

“Come to think of it—have you seen Ed?”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind. I’ll go find him myself.”

Muttering almost to herself, Liliana tossed back the rest of the wine in one gulp, set the empty glass on a passing waiter’s tray, and quickly wandered off.

Left alone, Anita glanced around. No one in the room seemed familiar. It was, she realized, the perfect moment to slip away unnoticed. She quietly turned toward the back door.

Then—crash! A piercing scream rang through the hall. Anita flinched and turned toward the noise, nearly collapsing at what she saw.

“How dare you… how dare you humiliate me like this!”

The low, trembling voice belonged to none other than Charles Bennet. In his hand was a shattered wine glass, its jagged edge glinting under the lights. Everyone else had backed away, leaving him standing alone in the center of the hall. His black, gleaming eyes seemed almost deranged.

“I told you to be ready for this!”

He no longer seemed in his right mind. Charles raised the broken glass and swung it threateningly. The guests scattered in panic. The hall fell into utter silence. No one dared to stop him.

Anita took a step back, intending to find help—security, a policeman, anyone. But the moment she moved, Charles snapped his head toward her.

“You! You’re the reason…!”

He looked completely unhinged. The glass, which had been waving aimlessly, now pointed straight at her. Anita thought she should say something—anything—but no words came out.

If she said the wrong thing, she might provoke him further.

“Come here.”

He told her to come, yet he was the one striding toward her. In those few short seconds, Anita’s mind raced. Running would be dangerous—turning her back would leave her open to attack.

But standing still and waiting to be stabbed didn’t sound appealing either.

“You told me you loved me, and now this?”

When did I ever—!

Anita screamed inwardly. She had never said any such thing to Charles. She wanted to tell him to see a doctor for his delusions, but held her tongue.

In the end, frozen with fear, she could only stumble backward, her face pale. The broken glass in his hand caught the light, flashing ominously.

“Wait! There’s been some misunderstanding—ah!”

She tripped and fell hard, landing on her back.

“Too late. You should’ve done better when you had the chance.”

What had she done wrong? Anita felt a surge of indignation even through her fear. Charles’s face twisted grotesquely as he lowered the jagged glass toward her. She squeezed her eyes shut and raised her arms to shield her face.

This is going to hurt.

Of course it would. The glass could slice deep into her skin—she might need surgery. Or worse, she might not survive at all.

“What—what the—?”

Anita flinched. A dull thud rang out, followed by Charles’s startled voice. When, after several long seconds, no pain came, she cautiously opened her eyes.

Charles Bennet was sprawled on the floor, a dark bruise spreading across one side of his face. Anita’s gaze followed the line of his fall—up to the person who’d struck him.

“Why… why are you here…?”

Anita stared blankly at the last person she’d expected to see tonight.

“Get back.”

He didn’t even look at her as he spoke. Before Anita could stop him, his fist slammed down again, this time into Charles’s head. The sickening sound of impact echoed through the hall as Charles’s body went limp once more.

“S-stop…”

With his face bruised and his lips split and bleeding, Charles no longer looked threatening at all. But Rutger didn’t stop. He kept striking him, as though determined to erase Charles Bennet from existence.

Would you like me to make the translation read more literary and novel-like (as if for publication) or keep it as a faithful, natural translation for understanding the Korean text?