Chapter 47
My lips curled slightly as I leaned toward Scarlett, voice dripping with mockery.
“Want to know what Ronan told me?”
Scarlett gritted her teeth, “What did Ronan say to you?”
“He said the prince of the Stormridge Pack isn’t someone I should mess with. But Ronan–he said I’m allowed to mess with him.”
Her expression twisted in pain, instantly turning fierce and ugly.
Before I could react, Scarlett raised her hand and slapped at my face, shouting. “You shameless bitch!”
I barely dodged, then swung my palm back hard against her cheek–no mercy.
Growing up. I’ve done all the hard, dirty work. My strength isn’t something a pampered heiress like Scarlett can compare to.
The slap cracked her lip, blood immediately dripping down, staining the carefully chosen white dress she wore.
Scarlett froze, eyes wide with disbelief as she stared at me.
When reality hit, hatred surged inside her like a tidal wave, drowning out everything else. She probably wished she could kill me right there.
“You bitch, how dare you hit me? I’ll make you pay dearly for this!”
She screamed and fled from the storage room.
Mom was calmly sipping tea in the living room. Scarlett’s scream made her jump to her feet.
The next moment, Scarlett came rushing in, clutching her face, sobbing, “Mom, help me-
Her cries were full of helplessness, like the world was crashing down on her.
Mom hurried over, steadying Scarlett as she examined the injury with concern.
When Scarlett lowered her hands, the vivid red palm print was impossible to miss.
“Scarlett, what happened?”
Mom’s voice trembled with anger. She had no doubt who was responsible.
Scarlett sobbed, her tears streaking down her face. “Mom, it’s Riley. I just went to call her for hunch, and without a word, she hit me. What did I do wrong? Why does she hate me so much? Sniffle…”
Mom’s whole body shook with rage. “Riley, come out here right now!”
I wasn’t surprised by Mom’s shout–I’d expected this the moment I slapped Scarlet. But I didn’t regret it.
Calm and steady, I stepped out to face Mom’s fury.
“Riley, how could you hit Scarlett? She’s your sister!”
Mom’s words were about how I could hit Scarlett–not why I did it.
That told me everything. She didn’t care
why I hit her. She only cared that Scarlett got hurt.
She was quick to blame me, no questions asked.
I looked Mom in the eye, a bitter smile tugging at my lips.
“Don’t you want to know why I hit her, Mrs. Vale?”
Mom faltered, momentarily lost for words. But when she looked down at Scarlett, still crying in her arms, her heart.
hardened.
“No matter what the reason, you can’t hit someone. Look at your sister’s face–what have you done? Riley, stop being so willful Apologize to your sister”
“No matter what the reason.
I knew Mom was biased. Asking her to be fair was pointless.
She’d protect Scarlett no matter what, even if it meant sacrificing me–her own daughter.
Still, I refused to give in. “What if I said she hit me first, and I was just defending myself?”
“That’s impossible. Scarlett’s always been so well–behaved. She wouldn’t hit you for no reason. You’ve only been home a few days and already caused chaos. I think you’re doing it on purpose…
Her words poured out like gunfire, eager to pin the blame on me.
gaze grew, the weaker her words sounded.
But the colder my gaze
“Well? Why’d your stop talking?” I clenched my fists tight. “Don’t you have the guts to say it? Or are you too scared?” “Since Mrs. Vale won’t say it, I will.”
“You call your perfect daughter the one who, five years ago, lured her best friend into the Black Forest–got her attacked by Rogues, and left her in a coma ever since.”
“You call her perfect, yet on the day I came home, she framed me for ruining her birthday dress, humiliating me in front of everyone at Mooncrest City
“You call her perfect, but she did it again, framing me for pushing her down the stairs, so my father punished me with a belt. I had to cut off my finger to repay that debt, and even in the hospital, she didn’t stop–she told Maddox everything.”
“What? She’s just waiting for Maddox to sue me?”
My words hit Mom like knives. Her chest tightened painfully; tears started falling uncontrollably.
“Riley…”
“Mrs. Vale!” I raised my voice sharply. “Do you really not know what Scarlett has done? Or are you just pretending?”
“Do you not know the hell I’ve been through? Or are you glad to see me suffer?”
“No, it’s not like that… Mom sobbed, crocodile tears failing to soften me, only fueling my disgust.
“You’ve done all these things, yet you still try to deny it? Treating me like an idiot, laughing behind my back while I wait for your mother’s love like a fool–does that make you proud? Do you laugh in the middle of the night?”
“No, I don’t. Riley, please listen to me. I love you just as much as I love Scarlett,”
I burst out laughing–a bitter, painful laugh that shook my whole body and made the wound in my shoulder throb sharply. Pain brought me clarity,
“You say you love me, but you’re the one who drove me insane.
“I, Riley Vale, was the top student at Moonerest Academy five years ago, the provincial champion, an Ashmoor University. scholar.
And now? What am I? A madwoman, a cripple, a prisoner who will never hold her head up again.”
“My fate was sealed by you. You chose to shelter Scarlett under your wing, and you chose to push me into hell. What right do you have to say your love for us is equal?”
Moin shook her head desperately, “No, that’s not true.”
+ Pearls
Scarlett put on her innocent little act, tears welling up as s
she looked at me.
“Sis, I know you hate me. You bully me alone, but why does Mom have to join in?”
Mom held Scarlett, crying with her, “Scarlett, stop it. It’s all Mom’s fault.”
They clung to each other, crying in unison.
I watched the two of them, cold and detached–nothing but a pitiful show.
Just then, Kael and Dad came out of the study.
Dad didn’t hesitate. He snarled at me, “You ungrateful brat. You come home and start causing trouble again. When you were in the hospital, your mother and sister worried themselves sick, unable to eat or sleep. Do you have no heart?”
I looked Dad dead in the eye, no respect, only endless contempt.
My cracked lips curved into a smirk that said more than words could.
Dad’s face darkened with rage; veins bulged on his forehead.
He stormed down the stairs, raising his hand to strike me.
Kael quickly stepped in, blocking him.
“Dad, calm down. Let’s talk.”
Dad glared fiercely at me, “Kael, let go. I have to teach this disrespectful girl a lesson today!”
Kael held Dad tightly, not letting him get closer.
I stared at Dad with utter disgust–the man was the epitome of “bite the hand that feeds.”
He’d been scared witless when I fought him with a knife, yet just days later, he dares to raise a hand again.
I could feel the pure hatred radiating from him. Unlike Mom and Kael’s controlled coldness, this was raw, visceral loathing.
He was supposed to be my father, but he looked at me like a sworn enemy.
Dad shouted, “Apologize to your mother and Scarlett now!”
“Apologize? Why should I?” I shot back.
Dad’s eyes bulged, “You hurt Scarlett and made your mother cry. Don’t youthink you owe them an apology?”
“I hit Scarlett because she deserved it. As for Mom crying, that’s her problem–she’s done plenty of shameful things, not
mine”
Dad trembled with rage, lunging at me again.
Kael held him back desperately, “Riley, can you just say less?”
I crossed my arms and sneered, “Dad’s about to hit me. I can’t even talk back?
“Riley,” Kael frowned, disapproving. “He’s still your father.”
I scoffed coldly, “My father died a long time ago. I’m an orphan.”
Dad’s fury exploded like a volcano. His eyes wide, veins pulsing, cheeks puffed out like a toad.
He shook his finger at me, screaming. “You curse upon this house. Ever since you came back, there hasn’t been a single peaceful day. You’re just here to collect debts!”