How Pretentious!

Adira’s POV

I was stunned by the sudden slap, but not surprised, as it was not their first time doing something like that.

I still remember getting slapped in my past life when I returned cheerfully after accepting Xavier’s proposal. But I was too ashamed to show my miserable face in front of the man whom I loved deeply and hid away until the bruises on my face recovered.

I didn’t care about the red and purple marks on my body, because they were well hidden.

However, this time, Xavier had come to find me after the failure of his proposal, and thanks to him… I wouldn’t get beaten by the whip lashed with wolfsbane as a dark grin flashed in my eyes.

“Wh… Why are you here?” I tried to act as pitiful as possible, and the pain from the slap made my eyes tear up, making me look so bullied and in pain that anyone could feel pity for me instantly.

“You… Young Master…” Melinda stammered, her voice totally different from the moment ago.

The way fear crept in her, it replaced arrogance so quickly it was almost laughable.

“How dare you?!” Xavier strode forward, barking as his hand closed around my wrist and pulled me behind him, his body shielding mine as if I were something precious. “Are you not aware of the fact that she is mine?”

The words settled heavily in the room.

I lowered my gaze just in time to hide the flicker of disgust that rose within me. But I still kept my act and forced my shoulders to tremble faintly, playing into the role he had unknowingly stepped into.

Mine. My foot!

“Pl… please, Young Master Xavier, you can’t,” I let my voice tremble as my fingers clutched the hem of his shirt, holding onto it like it was the only thing keeping me steady.

I made sure my breathing stayed uneven and fragile.

“She is right,” June stepped forward, again pretending to have a calm tone as her hand subtly gestured toward Melinda, who began to move inside quietly, thinking no one would notice. “Let’s not make a scene here. We will just talk to her husband. He will take care of it.”

How pretentious. The thought rose cold and bitter in my mind as I kept my expression weak, because June knew…

She knew everything I had been through, the things I had endured in silence. Letting Derek “handle it” would not solve anything; it would only give him another reason to hurt me, to break me further, and yet she still said it so easily.

“Please…” I wiped at my tears with trembling fingers, turning my face away just enough so Xavier wouldn’t see too clearly. “I do not want you to do anything.” I tried to sound firm, but the sting on my cheek was real, the sharp cut left by Melinda’s ring was throbbing painfully, making my breath hitch for real this time.

“This is why…” I inhaled deeply, letting my fingers slowly loosen from his shirt as I gathered myself. “This is why I asked you to let me go.” My voice came out softer than before.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Xavier turned to me quickly, panic was visibly flickering across his face as his grip tightened, like he thought I would slip away if he let go.

“I don’t want to leave you. So what, you are a mess, you are mine and—”

Not that again. I’m not his and will never be!

“You said it yourself,” I cut him off before he could go any further, lifting my gaze just enough to meet his eyes for a brief moment.

“I am a mess, and you are from the pack leader’s family, and I… on the other hand…” My lips trembled faintly as I forced the words out. “I am nothing more than a slave. How do you suppose we stand together in front of everyone?”

I paused for a moment, letting the silence stretch just enough to make it feel heavy, before I slowly looked at him again. “And as long as I live here, we will never have a future together,” I added, my voice quieter now, almost as if I had accepted something I couldn’t change.

“I do not want people to call you weak just because you have me standing beside you, so… find someone equal to your status and let go of me.”

“Why are you saying all this?” Xavier pinched between his brows in frustration. “You have never once complained to me about it, but why now?”

“I never complained because… I thought we’d never come this far. And given you power, you can’t even help me get my freedom. So… I’d just suffer here alone rather than making you suffer with me.”

I wasn’t saying all that just to let Xavier leave me.

I wanted to use him.

I needed him to take pity on me and on my situation and help me escape this hell. I needed to fill his mind that as long as I was bound by Derek and his family, we would never be anything to each other.

And if he was desperate enough to get the inheritance, for which he ended my life… He must comply with me.

He. Must!

“What’s going on here!?” Derek’s voice echoed in the hall as he walked out with his wife and instantly greeted Xavier.

“Mr. Hunter, please to have you here,” he said as he glared at me, probably telling me to fuck off!

“Do not give me that humbleness!” Xavier turned toward him with a furious look on his face. “Is this how you treat your people? Beating them until they bleed?”

Derek was taken aback by Xavier’s reaction, while I was smiling in my head as I had successfully manipulated this bastard to dance to my tune.