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

I can cut my own steak! I glowered

Ashton

anger I’d been holding back reared its ugly head,

Chapter 3

advantage of her. I’m so sorry about this. Please forgive Adelaide, Father.” Despite the trash flowing

her to craft this plan,” Ashton accused his half-brother.

on

By this “sshole?

Ashton’s wine glass, bewildered and infuriated by the accusations that came out of his

Corinna must’ve infected him with

he was playing a prank, never considering our family’s reputation,” Ashton said coldly to my father. “Father and I are politicians. This could influence the votes in the

wanted to yell

right,” my father nodded, his anger dying down, “Adelaide would never do this on her own. She

stupidity is

my father said to me coldly, “you have not held a ceremony yet. This mistake can easily

“What?” I gasped.

is willing to take you as his third wife,” my father said, with no

looked shocked at my

say a single thing back as the room spun around me. Thoughts rushed through my brain in a whirlwind

over and over.

hate me that

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

I always assumed he had to care for me a little. Corinna was always his

appease my cold-hearted father years ago.

beyond cold. It

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,

wrapped around mine. Stunned,

gripped my fingers tightly under the table, cold and confident like everything was still

me to hear. “I won’t let

all the sincerity of Corinna’s tears and looked my

Chapter 3

future

glaring at us furiously before Father looked her way

my

our family’s butler, interrupted him formally. Silent as a ghost as always, I hadn’t even noticed he had come in.

father snapped. Most of the servants would’ve cowered, but Piers had dealt with my

madam is on

My father

gasped, “Mother-in-law is coming? Why?”

obviously,” Corinna said, pridefully.

watched the room enfold into chaos. Father cleared his throat, and

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