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

and switched our plates so I had the steak he’d meticulously

I glowered at

plan something like this,” Ashton said to my father with a placating

reared its ugly head, ready to

Chapter 3

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

her to craft

nearly choked on my water.

this “sshole?

by the accusations that came out of his stupid mouth. His glass was

must’ve infected him

our family’s reputation,” Ashton said coldly to my father. “Father and I are politicians. This could influence the votes in the

you insane? I wanted to yell at my ex.

“Adelaide would never do

stupidity

father said to me coldly, “you have not held a ceremony yet. This mistake can easily be reversed. You will annul the

“What?” I gasped.

third wife,” my father said, with no room for negotiation in

at my father’s sudden declaration.

stunned into silence at my father’s words. I couldn’t retort or say a single thing back as the room spun around me. Thoughts rushed through my brain in a whirlwind but only one came back.

over and over.

hate

renowned to have a

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

my

cold.

must not cry. For years, I’d been

hand wrapped around mine. Stunned, I turned to

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

whispered for only me to hear. “I won’t let that

the sincerity of Corinna’s tears and looked my father

Chapter 3

to worry about, future father-in-law. She has me

smile faltered, glaring at us furiously before Father looked her way and returned

dare-” my father

our family’s butler, interrupted him formally. Silent as a ghost as always, I hadn’t

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

on her way.”

is?” My

is coming?

Corinna said,

watched the room enfold into chaos. Father cleared his throat, and Tabitha brought out her compact make-up kit to do touch-ups. Even Corinna and Ashton fixed up

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

Comments ()

0/255