Chapter 3
Everything seemed to freeze, the only motion left was the relentless scroll of comments on the
screen.
“Monsters! Her parents are the ones who should be on trial!”
“Is that how you treat your own daughter? You wouldn’t even treat an enemy like that!”
Then the judge spoke.
“The jury, please now present your verdict. You can choose to acquit her of all charges with one vote, or you may choose to rule only on this specific accusation. If any of the other charges still hold, the accused will remain guilty.”
Thirty–three votes. They acquitted me outright.
“Sure, her upbringing was tragic, but that just means she might come back with even worse revenge later.”
“Exactly. Can someone really stay that soft and innocent forever? No way she hasn’t done
something.”
Next came the second accusation from my parents.
“She took two hundred thousand and disappeared without a word, leaving her parents buried in
debt.”
The comment stream flared back up.
“Knew it! She did do something worse!”
“Two hundred thousand? If it weren’t her family, that would be straight–up fraud–she’d be in
jail!”
Hearing the audience’s opinion shift in their favor, my father straightened his back proudly.
I looked at Isabelle. She still wore that same calm mask, but her trembling fingertips betrayed her
inner turmoil.
She should be afraid.
The screen lit up again.
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“Uncle’s in trouble–come back quick!”
As soon as I got Isabelle’s call, I rushed to ask for time off from work, bought the earliest train
ticket, and hurried home.
But when I arrived, I found my father lounging on the couch watching TV, my mother sipping tea
beside him, and Isabelle dressed in a lovely outfit, smiling sweetly as she nestled next to Mom.
When they saw me, my father snapped, “It was not until I was dead will you come home, huh?”
I felt furious for being cheated, I snapped back, “Then maybe I should just leave right now!”
My father’s face darkened. He grabbed an ashtray and hurled it at me. I didn’t dodge in time. It struck my forehead, blood pouring down my face.
“What are you doing? What if it leaves a scar?”
For once, my mother actually scolded him.
I was stunned. Even a little touched. Tears welled up in my eyes.
I couldn’t even remember the last time she’d shown me any concern.
But just as I was starting to feel moved, a knock came at the door.
The man who entered was someone I knew well–he used to be the Alpha of the neighboring pack.
But after years of drinking, abuse, and cheating, his Luna had finally run off with the entire pack. Stripped of his pack, he was no longer an Alpha.
Out of habit, though, we still called him Alpha Julian.
He sat down, eyes raking over me in a way that made my skin crawl.
“Not bad, not bad at all.” He grinned, revealing a row of yellowed, blackened teeth, their faint
stench hanging in the air.
Mom greeted him warmly, tugging me along for a quick spin in front of him,
“Don’t let her slim frame fool. She’s tough as nails. She’s done giving you a pair of kids in no time.”
I stared at her, speechless, unable to believe she’d actually said that.
All the years of pain and humiliation rushed to the surface. I lost control and screamed, “Are you
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insane?! I’m your daughter! How could you push me into a hell like this?!”
My father’s expression turned cold. “Looks like you’re getting too big for your boots, huh?”
My mother tugged my arm, speaking in a soft, coaxing voice, “Look at you–no degree, no looks, not even a mate in sight. Sure, Alpha Julian ain’t much to look at, but he’s dependable, loaded, and he’s still an Alpha! Marry him and you’ll live happy life. You really think we’d steer you wrong?”
I felt ice in my veins. I couldn’t stop shaking.
So they did know education was important. Then why had they fought so hard to keep me from school?
Sensing my resistance, Alpha Julian’s cheerful face twisted into a scowl. “Why the hell did you call me here if you hadn’t settled this? I’m telling you now–I already paid the two hundred grand. No matter what, I’m taking a woman home with me today.”
Two hundred thousand.
So that’s why they suddenly called me back.
Chapter 3
