Chapter 5

His eyes were bloodshot, his hair was a wild mess, and he reeked of cheap whiskey.

He grabbed my arm in a death grip.

"The ticket is gone! My life is ruined! Everything is gone!"

He glared at me, spitting saliva onto my face as he yelled.

"I remember you saying you were sick in your past life, right?"

"You still have that illness now, don't you? Go tell your rich stepfather!"

"He has millions! Get some money out of him for me!"

"If you don't, I will stalk you every single day!"

"Nobody is going to live in peace!"

I winced, trying to shake off his grip.

"Let go of me."

Furious, my dad raised his hand, about to slap me.

"You ungrateful little brat! How dare you speak to me like that!"

But before his hand could fall, someone caught his wrist mid-air.

Arthur appeared behind us. He shoved my dad's hand away with immense force, shielding me behind his broad shoulders.

Ethan stepped up from behind, pushing my dad back.

"Get the hell away from her."

My dad stumbled backward, nearly falling onto the gravel.

Looking at Arthur and Ethan, his tough-guy act instantly vanished.

He didn't dare mess with Arthur Sterling, so he resorted to pointing and screaming at me.

"You just wait! This isn't over!"

Arthur's eyes were razor-sharp.

"If I ever see your face near this property again, I will personally ensure you spend the rest of your life begging on the streets."

My dad shivered, shrunk back, and ran off into the dark, stumbling over his own feet.

Arthur turned to look at me. For the first time, he took my hand.

"Let's go home."

Ethan glared coldly at the direction my father had fled.

Only after confirming he wouldn't dare return did he turn and follow us back.

Back in the living room, Arthur was clearly displeased by the scene.

His face was grim as he went straight up to his study to deal with work.

Ethan dragged Chloe off to the home theater.

Once Eleanor made sure they were out of earshot, she completely lost her mind.

She felt that Arthur having to step in and handle her trashy ex-husband made her lose all dignity in this house.

She rushed up to me, grabbing my collar, sobbing hysterically.

"Why can't you just be invisible?! Why do you have to ruin everything?!"

"Do you have any idea how hard I worked to get a scrap of respect in this house?"

"You got here, and now it's all ruined!"

"That pathetic excuse of a father of yours actually came here to beg!"

"What if Arthur decides to throw me out because of this?!"

"Why did you choose to come with me in the first place?"

"Do you just hate seeing me happy?!"

She got more and more frantic, her nails digging into her own palms.

Finally, she went quiet.

She pulled a credit card out of her purse and threw it onto the coffee table.

"Take this money and get out."

"Go live in a dorm, rent an apartment, do whatever you want."

"Just don't come back here."

I looked at the woman who had given birth to me, yet looked at me with such pure disgust.

I had long since grown used to her selfishness and coldness.

I forced a pale, faint smile.

"Don't worry. I won't be an eyesore for much longer."

My mother frowned, taking a step back in disgust.

"Are you playing the victim again?"

"I say two words to you and you look like you're about to die—"

Before she could finish her sentence.

I felt a sudden, uncontrollable warmth rush down my nose.

A thick drop of crimson blood fell onto the pristine white rug, bright and terrifying.

Arthur and the twins had just walked back into the living room, catching the scene.

Chloe let out a sharp gasp, covering her mouth.

My vision began to blur.

That familiar, tearing pain roared in my skull.

Under their horrified gazes, my knees gave out.

And I collapsed onto the floor.