Unbroken August

One Year Later (he loves me)

"Oh, the DNA. I wasn't responsible for that. Karina did it," she said, raising her hands. "Well, technically, I was," she added.

"You know why everyone in the studio hates you? I stole all their runway projects under your name, told them you forced me to do them. That was how I became the biggest model," she confessed, holding her hands up.

"Am I intelligent, August?" she asked, bending down to August's level.

"No, you're not. You're a demon," August replied, her voice filled with hatred.

"Why are you doing this to me? What did I ever do to you?" August asked.

"If your mom hadn't taken everything away from my mother, we wouldn't be here, would we?" Becky retorted.

"She got the Best Designers Award with your dad's influence, while my mom lost everything," she screamed, while August laughed.

"And what is so funny?" Becky asked, annoyed.

"Well, you don't know my dad. He would never do anything for my mom through nepotism. My mom wouldn't allow it either. That being said, your mom lost because she wasn't half as good as my mom," August said, laughing. Becky gave her a heavy slap.

"My mom might not be as good as your mom, but I am better than both of you put together," she said defiantly.

"No, no, don't cry, princess. Your dad begged me on his knees not to hurt you, so I won't. You are going to die anyway," Becky said, faking pity on August.

August Pov

August lay on the cold floor, her strength fading, but her resolve burning bright."I am going to make sure you pay for this."

"And how will you do that?" Becky asked.

"Jamal, yes, Jamal. He will come for you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Becky's eyes widened, a flicker of fear crossing her face before she masked it with a sneer. "Oh, I'm scared," she mocked, turning back to August.

"Are you talking about the Jamal I poisoned this morning?" Becky's laughter filled the room, chilling August to her core.

"He should be here any moment now. I told him if he didn't come, I would kill you. And yes, he drank the poison himself," she said, a cruel smile playing on her lips.

"He didn't get to experience your love before he died. What a pity," she added.

As my vision blurred and the surrounding sounds faded, Jamal's voice pierced through the haze. "August!... August!" His words echoed, reaching me from a distance. I tried to turn my head towards him, my body feeling heavy and unresponsive.

"Jamal, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," I whispered, tears flowing down my cheeks. The pain in his eyes mirrored my own, and I wished with all my heart that things had been different.

"It's not your fault, Miss Walton. None of this is your fault," Jamal reassured me, his voice breaking. "You're going to be okay. I am going to get you out of here."

Becky's presence hovered nearby, her satisfaction palpable. "Oh, how touching," she sneered. "But it's too late, Jamal. She's already dying. And soon, you'll be joining her."

Summoning the last of my strength, I grasped Becky's hand firmly. "I may die today, but you'll never win, Becky," I said, defiance strong in my voice. "You may have taken everything from me, but you'll never take my spirit."

As my eyes fluttered closed, Jamal's words became distant, comforting murmurs. "Sleep, baby, go to sleep now," he said softly, his tears mingling with mine. And at that moment, I realized it. He loves me, he always has.

Before my eyes closed, I saw Jamal cough up blood, his body convulsing with pain. "Jamal!" I tried to scream, but no sound escaped my lips as darkness enveloped me, pulling me into its cold embrace.

The last thing I felt was Jamal's hand slipping from mine, his final breath leaving his body. And then, there was nothing but silence.