Chapter 3

Alora’s cottage had collapsed, and Marin was still in the pond inside.

She stood beside the pond, soaked from head to toe, pointing at Marin as she furiously berated him.

She turned around just as I was stepping out of my cottage, and our eyes met.

Alora let out a shrill scream and pointed at me angrily.

“You did that on purpose just to laugh at me, didn’t you, Yvonne? I’m telling Mother you’re picking on me!”

Normally, I would back down the moment she threatened to tell Mother.

That had changed. I merely crossed my arms and leaned against the doorway with an amused smile.

“Go ahead. I’m not the one whose cottage collapsed, and I’m not the one whose mate rejected me.”

Alora let out a shriek and charged at me.

It was not that I could not beat her. I had only been yielding to her because I could not bear to upset Mother.

But I was done yielding.

My expression turned cold. Before I could even raise a hand against Alora, a black blur shot past me and knocked her to the ground.

I froze. “Ralph!”

A series of low growls rumbled from his throat as he locked his jaws around her throat.

At that moment, Alora could not even scream; she could barely make a sound.

“Alora, my Alora!”

Mother had rushed over at this point.

“Tell him to let her go at once! Are you set on killing your sister?”

Even though I no longer expected maternal love, her anxious expression still left my heart aching with a cold chill.

I had already sensed her presence earlier.

Had I been the one attacked instead of Alora, she would have waited until Alora had vented her anger before stepping out and telling me to be more forgiving.

“Mother, Ralph won’t go too far. This is just siblings fooling around. You don’t need to take it so seriously.”

I lowered my gaze as I repeated the very words she had once used on me.

Mother swung her hand at me, but I nimbly dodged it.

I stared at her. “Mother, if you take another step, I’ll have Ralph end her life.”

In the end, Mother backed down. She was afraid Alora might get hurt.

I could not help but sneer. We were both her daughters, yet she clearly valued us differently.

“Mother, I can get Ralph to release her, but you must promise you won’t hold him responsible or seek revenge. If anything happens to him afterward, it’ll be on you.”

Mother’s face went pale with fury.

“Is this how you speak to your elders? Are you demanding accountability from your own mother?”

I gave a bitter smile.

“I didn’t want this either. But you’ve always favored Alora. She made the first move today, and you didn’t even bother to ask before attacking me. You can do whatever you want with me, but Ralph is my mate. I won’t let him suffer for my sake.”

My expression of swallowed grievance and bitterness was not meant solely for Mother’s eyes.

Alora had caused quite a commotion.

At that point, the students had already gathered around, whispering among themselves.

Regardless of whether Mother accepted my terms on that day, she would still leave them with the impression of favoritism.

Hearing their murmurs, Mother ultimately relented.

Ralph released Alora and slowly walked back to me. His eyes were fixed warily on Mother as he stood protectively in front of me.

I stroked his head gently, calming him down.

Mother was too preoccupied to care about me. She frantically poured spirit elixirs into Alora’s mouth as if they cost nothing.

Alora slowly regained consciousness and pointed at me. “You despicable woman! Just you wait until Marin becomes a lucky carp. I’ll make you regret this. You’ll see. My carp will definitely transform into a lucky carp. When he does, I’ll have him end your life!”

I smirked. “I’ll be waiting.”

Did she really think a carp turning into a lucky carp was a blessing?

I had no obligation to tell her. She could cling to that dream and die with it for all I cared.

After that day, I asked Ralph about it, wondering if he had ever feared that Mother might, in a moment of ruthlessness, kill him outright.