Chapter 3

have any

idea what you’ve done?” My father’s fury was something I was used to but never before had I seen him this angry.

As soon as Damon and I walked through the front door of my house, it was like we’d walked into a warzone. My stepmother sat beside Corinna at the dinner table, as she held her hand and glared daggers at me. On Corinna’s other side was Ashton, who I took particular care not to look at.

I’d lose my cool if I saw that “sshole’s face now,

“I can’t believe you ruined Corinna’s engagement party with this nonsense!” red-faced with a receding hairline.

my father shouted,

“I’m sure Addie didn’t ruin my engagement on purpose, Father,” Corinna said bravely, hands clutched on her chest as she smiled tearfully at me.

“I’m so sorry we didn’t invite you or Damon. I couldn’t bear to make Damon watch my engagement after our horrid split,” she said with a pitying look at Damon.

I eyed Damon’s reaction. He paid her no mind, only picked up his steak knife and began slicing into

his steak.

Corinna turned to me with teary eyes, “And I knew you had an important meeting with. your sponsor, Addie. I didn’t want to make you miss it just for me.”

She looked away, hand on her mouth like she’d suppressed a sob,

“You’re such a good sister, Corinna,” my stepmother, Tabitha, patted her hand with a kind smile. She turned to me with a nasty look, “so unlike Adelaide.”

“Good sister, my *ss-” I retorted before I stopped myself.

“Adelaide!” my father slammed his fist on the table, rattling the dishes and spilling his third glass of red wine. “Don’t talk to your sister that way! I should’ve known you would’ve caused trouble!”

Corinna peeked beneath her hand, a tiny smirk on her face only I saw. I clenched my fists under the

table.

I knew better than to take her provocation, but I still wanted to reach across the table and smack her.

“Don’t blame Adelaide,” Ashton’s smooth voice said. “I doubt this was her fault.”

“Not her fault?” my father raged, “the press is having a field day with us! They think there’s a fight for the inheritance of our families because of what she and that illegitimate child did!”

I peeked over at Damon, but he was unaffected by the accusation. Despite being true, it was rude and callous of my father to point this out,

“Here

down his knife and switched our plates so I had the steak he’d meticulously cut up.

steak! I glowered

this,” Ashton said to my father

holding back reared its ugly head, ready

Chapter 3

be Damon’s doing. He must’ve taken advantage of her. I’m so sorry about this. Please forgive Adelaide, Father.” Despite the trash flowing

have seduced her to craft

on my

this

that came out of his stupid mouth. His glass was still full

Corinna must’ve infected

Ashton said coldly to my father. “Father

you insane? I wanted to yell at my ex.

anger dying down, “Adelaide would never do this on her own. She would never disobey me.”

stupidity is contagious.

have not held a ceremony yet. This mistake can easily be reversed. You will annul the license and marry the man I have

“What?” I gasped.

Bradshaw is willing to take you as his third wife,” my father said, with no room for negotiation in

looked shocked at my father’s sudden declaration.

say a single thing back as

over and over.

my father hate me

and a notorious “sshole. Though successful, he was renowned to have a horrid temper and often visited brothels even when

for me a little. Corinna was always his golden child, but me? Nothing I did

to appease my cold-hearted father years ago.

was beyond cold. It was downright cruel.

tears sprang to my eyes. But I couldn’t. I mustn’t. I must not cry. For years, I’d been telling myself to be strong, to be tough, to

Stunned,

tightly under the table, cold and

only me to hear. “I won’t

and looked my

Chapter 3

nothing to worry about, future father-in-law. She has

before Father looked her way and

my father sputtered.

him formally. Silent as a ghost as

would’ve cowered, but Piers had

on

My father paled.

“Mother-in-law is

congratulate me, obviously,” Corinna said, pridefully. “Right,

I watched the room enfold into chaos. Father cleared his throat, and Tabitha brought out her compact make-up

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255