Chapter 41
“See!” my stepmother exclaims. “She’s trying to drag us down! She just wants to keep taking from us!”
A harsh sigh leaves my lips as I shake my head. My heart is beating so hard that I can hear it in my ears.
“If that’s what you want to believe then fine,” I say, so tired of these twisted games. “But I’ve never taken anything from you. You’re the ones who keep taking things that don’t belong to you.”
“What is that supposed to mean!?” my stepmother yells, taking a step forward as my step siblings do the same. I do my best to keep holding my ground.
“You’ve been stealing my mother’s jewelry for years now,” I state. “Do you really think I haven’t noticed? That necklace you’re wearing right now is hers.”
Eyes growing wide, my stepmother tries to hide the heart-shaped stone under her hand.
“You’ve also been taking items that are part of my inheritance,” I counter. “Clothes, quilts, furniture, books. They’re heirlooms that were supposed to be passed down to me.”
Katya scoffs. “You’re so selfish and entitled!”
“Says the one wearing my mother’s bracelet,” I say, my throat growing tight. I want to scream or demand that she take it off. Especially as she stares at me with pure hatred.
It baffles me that they think I wouldn’t notice. My mother was my favorite person in the entire world – she still is. I recognize every piece of clothing that was hers, or every necklace, ring, or bracelet.
“All of those heirlooms are the last pieces I have of my mother,” I’ state. “And yet you’ve all stolen every single thing.”
“Stolen?” my step mother asks harshly. “You really think these things belong to you?”
Yes, I do. And it’s not because I care about their monetary value or feel as though I have something to gain. But I want them to remember my mother, to honor her.
So I nod at her and I lift my chin.
“How dare you act like such a brat to your stepmother!” my father bites out, reaching forward to grab my wrist. His grip is tight, pinching my skin and clenching my bone.
“You think you can talk like this in my house? You think can disobey me?” he asks, his face coming closer to mine so I can see the anger burning in his eyes.
“Then you’ll need to be punished!” he hollers, then calling for the maids. As they quickly come filing into the room, my father sneers.
“It appears my daughter is due for some lynchings,” he hisses. “Hold her!”
I try to yank my arm away from his, but he doesn’t let go. Quickly, maids are grabbing my shoulders, working together to keep me in place. It reminds me of Bianca and how she had her guards restrain me,
1/2
+25 Bonus
causing my stomach to tighten as I await a slap across my face.
“What is going on here?” a voice calls over the room before anyone can deliver a blow.
All together, everyone turns in the direction of the voice before we all freeze. Surprise floods through me followed by slight delight as I notice the mortification across my father and stepmother’s faces as they realize who has just entered.
The Alpha King scowls as he takes in the scene, his entourage flanking both his sides.
“Release her,” he orders, barely having to raise his voice as his tone is easily commanding. Immediately, the maids let go of me and step away. As does my father as he swiftly turns to the Alpha King.
“Sir, it’s not what it looks like,” my father pathetically tries to explain, looking as if he’s ready to drop to his knees in front of the King.
“Yes, please forgive us,” my stepmother joins him. “It’s all just a complete misunderstanding.”
I’m not sure how someone could possibly misunderstand what was about to happen – it was pretty clear my father intended to hurt me. The Alpha King seems to share my thoughts as his features do not soften.
He still appears furious as he regards my father with pure disapproval.
“I heard plenty,” the Alpha King states, causing my father’s face to completely turn white. “You have no right to hurt Evelyn, let alone lay a hand on her.”
“Well, y-yes. Of course, I don’t. But she -” my father tries, but the Alpha King takes a threatening step toward him, making him fall silent.
“There are no excuses,” the Alpha King states. “You will return everything to Evelyn immediately because
she is the rightful heir.”
2/2
