Chapter 8: My plan worked

BEATRICE

Bailey’s bruises look like they hurt. But I think what’s killing me more is that she didn’t tell me.

She was out there alone while I was locked in my goddamn room.Thalia and her brat knew I couldn’t stop them. They looked at my daughter and saw an easy target. And I wasn’t there. 

I couldn’t protect her. I feel sick like something’s rotting in my chest. I want to break something and make them feel what Bailey felt.   

I don’t care what I have to do. No one lays a hand on my daughter and walks away from it.

And when I finally asked Bailey why she didn’t tell me, she just said, “Because it would make you sad.”

God. What kind of mom does that make me, if my little girl thought she had to stay quiet just so I wouldn’t feel bad?

I’m supposed to be the one protecting her. Not the other way around.

Telling Enzo would be useless. He’ll swallow whatever bullshit Thalia fed him without even blinking.

I swear to myself I'm getting Bailey out of here. One way or another. 

And Thalia? She’s going to pay for every bruise, every tear, every second my daughter spent scared and alone.

*******************

Thalia barges into my room without even knocking. She just walks in like I’m supposed to be waiting on her.

“There you are,” she says. “I’ve been calling for ten minutes. I want a coffee. Extra hot. No sugar.”

She barely breathes before adding, “And Celeste wants cake. The chocolate one with the raspberry drizzle. Not the plain one. You better not mess it up this time.”

I just stare at her. No reply. 

She tilts her head like she’s confused, then takes a step closer. “Did you hear me, or are you just ignoring me again? Because I’m not going to keep repeating myself every time you decide to act stubborn.”

I don’t say a word.

I just slap her as hard as I can.

The sound snaps through the air like a whip. She jerks back, clutching her cheek, eyes wide like she can’t believe I actually did it.

For a moment, she just stands there frozen with her mouth open.

Good. Let her feel it.

“You—” she sputters. “Did you just—?”

She lunges at me, hand raised, but I grab her wrist midair and twist it just enough to make her gasp. And before she can recover—

Crack.

Another slap. Even harder than the first.

She stumbles, barely able to stay on her feet. Her eyes are wild, stunned that I’d dare hit her twice.

“You crazy bitch!’ Thalia yells.

“You wanna know why I slapped you?” I ask.

She doesn’t answer but I don’t need her to.

“The first one was for Bailey. For the bruises.I was locked away and you were out there treating her like trash.”

She tries to look smug but I can see right through her… Her hands are trembling. She has no idea I’ve already put the pieces together. I know what she’s done to Bailey.

“And the second?” I lean in. “That one was for your husband. The one who gave his life for this pack while you’re in here screwing someone else’s mate.”

My hand is still burning but I don’t regret a single thing.

Just then, I hear quick footsteps pounding down the hall.

Celeste.

She storms in like she’s coming to the rescue

“Get away from my mom!” she yells. Before I can even react, she shoves me.

I take a step back and just look at Celeste. She really thinks she’s doing something brave, standing up for her mom.

But all I see is a smaller version of Thalia: entitled, rotten, and dangerous.

Then I hear it.

“Stop!”

Bailey’s voice cuts through the room. My daughter is standing between me and Celeste.

Bailey is standing there with her little arms out, trying to protect me. That kills me.

She shouldn’t have to be in the middle of this.

And just like that, I lose focus.

That’s all Thalia needs.

She yanks my hair hard. “You’re gonna regret this!” she snaps.

I grab her wrist, but she lets go right away. She’s smirking like she’s already won.

Then she looks toward the stairs, eyes narrowing.

“If I fall down those stairs,” she says, slow and cold, “it’ll be your fault.”

She takes a step back. “Enzo will deal with you.”

I know exactly what she’s trying to pull. She's a crazy woman.

Thalia finally lets go of my hair, but I can tell she’s not done. She steps back toward the stairs, swaying like she’s about to fall.

She’s going to fake it to make it look like I pushed her. Then Enzo will blame me, and she will get more care from him.

But I won't let her.

I grab her arm before she can pull it off. “You’re not getting away with it,” I snap, holding her in place.

Her eyes go wide. She wasn’t expecting that. But I don’t stop there.

"Don't worry about me, Bailey. Everything will be fine. Trust me." I say gently to my daughter.

And I look Thailia's dead in the face, then yank my arm out of her grip. Without thinking, I throw myself down the stairs.

It hurts. My back hits first, then my shoulder, then everything else. I roll halfway down before I stop.

I don’t cry out.

I just lie there, eyes closed. Everything is throbbing.

Then I hear Bailey’s voice. “Mom! Somebody help! Please!”

She’s crying. I can hear it in every word, and it tears at me.

I whisper to Bailey, telling her that I'm fine. No one sees that.

But I don’t move. At least, not yet.

Even through the pain, I smile.

My plan worked. This will be the first step in taking Bailey and leaving this place.

Let’s see how Thalia will twist the story now… Well, she can’t because she’s at my mercy.

She started this war. Now, she gets to see how I finish it.