Chapter 4
When Lira came downstairs, she was pulling a 16–inch suitcase behind her. She had one of the maids carry it to the front door and then walked into the living room with a few sheets of paper in her hand.
Inside, Blake and Marie sat together, Roselyn was on a two–seater sofa, and Marie and Roselyn looked tense, with wariness in their eyes.
sat by himself off to the side. All eyes turned to Lira. Blake, Charlies
Lira gave a mocking smile. “Relax. I’m not here to make a scene.
In her past life, she’d smashed everything she could get her hands on after she came back. It didn’t earn her parents‘ sympathy, only gave them an excuse to pick her off abroad under the pretense of treatment
“Lira, you’ve grown up,” Marie said, taking Lira’s hand and guiding her to sit between her and Blake. Only then did she show a trace of motherly affection. “My poor girl, you’ve been through so much, and it was my fault. Roselyn kept saying it wasn’t you who stabbed her, but I was just tog upset to think straight. I’m sorry, sweetheart. Can you forgive me?”
Blake chimed in, his tone heavy with belated fatherly concern, “I owe you an apology too. You’ve always wanted to learn to drive and get a sports
ar, right? I’ll get you one.”
Neither said a word about how cruelly they’d treated her before.
In her past life, words like these would’ve sent Lira into a rage
Charlie was waiting for that explosion now. But Lirs let him down. She calmly slid the papers onto the table. “Forget the car. If you really want to make it up to me, sign this”
Four pairs of eyes zeroed in on the bold title: “Declaration of Severance.”
Blake’s brow furrowed. “So you ARE here to cause trouble.”
He’d assumed a stint in jail would’ve worn down her temper Clearly, he was Wrong
-Marie looked exasperated but tried to stay patient. “Lira, we were misled by the kidnapper. Who would’ve thought he’d stab Roselyn and frame
for it? We were wrong to accuse you, and you can ask for anything you want. Just don’t throw a tantrum like a child.”
you
To ber, Lira’s wish to cut ties was just a petulant whim
“Anything I want?” Lira asked.”
“I was right—she was trying to threaten me to get what she wants,” Blake thought.
He nodded but added a quick caveat. “Within reason.”
Lira pointed at Roselyn “Then I want her out of this house”
Roselyn flinched, her delicate shoulders trembling just enough to stir pity. She had that delicate, perfect look that always made people want to
protect
her
“Lira Faulkner,” Blake warned sharply, “you’re going too far!”
Marie leapt to Roselyn’s defense. “Lira, Roselyn’s a victim too. She’s been saying all along it wasn’t you. It was the police who found you guilty, not her. Don’t take it out on her. She’s still recovering.”
Her heart ached for the knife wound Roselyn had suffered, but she felt nothing for Lira spending a month in lockup.
Lira had long grown numb to her parents‘ favoritism. She tapped the papers calmly. “If she stays, I’ll go. I’ve already signed it. From now on, Roselyn’s your only daughter. You can dote on her all you want without worrying about me stirring up trouble.”
She thould’ve done this ages ago.
In her past life, she’d been trapped in a futile chase for love, and it had destroyed her.”
This time, she was letting go fint,
Lira wood up and headed for the door. As she reached the threshold, Blake’s voice thundered behind her. “Liral If you walk out that door now,
don’t ever think about coming back!”
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She’d already decided she wouldn’t.
Grabbing her suitcase, she stepped out without looking back.
“That ungrateful girl! She’s out of her damn mind!” Blake roared, his face flushed with fury
“She thinks she can scare me with this threat? Let’s see how she survives without the Faulkner name!”
He vowed to cancel her cards before tuming to Marie and warning. “Don’t you dare slip her a dime. She thinks she’s tough? Let’s see how long
she lasts.”
Marie and Roselyn took turns trying to calm him down.
Charlie, silent throughout, stared at the severance papers on the table, a smirk curling his lips.
He thought, “Playing the guilt game, huh?
“Not bad. She’s finally learning to use her brain. But still not enough.
“Our father valued reputation more than anything. He never cast out his stepdaughter for his biological daughter. This move is terrible.
What a letdown. If I’d known she wasn’t going to flip out, I’d have gone drinking with the guys.”
He stood up, not bothering with his fuming father, and sauntered out with a careless swagger.
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