The Wicked Stepmother

Clara James POV

"Oh my God, I think I'm lost. How unlucky can I be?"

I tried calling my dad, but he didn’t pick up. I sat on the ground, hugging my knees.

It was already ten at night, and I was still sitting there, waiting for my dad to find me. I couldn’t stop crying. I was terrified.

"Why aren’t you answering?" I whispered, staring at his number as tears ran down my face.

"I have to find a way before midnight comes."

I got up and started walking. The deeper I went into the alley, the darker the streets of New York became. I saw a faint light at the end and ran toward it. Just as I was about to reach it, I bumped into someone and fell.

"Damn it! Are you blind?"

I looked up at the man in front of me, my foot throbbing. Blood was seeping through my shoe.

I turned on my phone’s flashlight and looked at the cut. Luckily, it was shallow. I lifted my phone toward his face and was about to speak when I froze.

He was handsome, with sharp, cold features. One hand in his pocket, slightly long hair with a couple of strands falling on his forehead, the rest tied in a low ponytail. His dark eyes looked at me with icy calm.

"What is a little girl doing in this alley so late?" His husky voice made my heart skip a beat.

I straightened up, glaring at him, and said with annoyance, "I’m not a little girl, and it’s none of your business what I’m doing here."

He raised his left eyebrow, clearly irritated.

"As if I bumped into a wall, not a human… My bones hurt."

I held my body in pain. He smiled briefly, but it disappeared so fast I wondered if I imagined it.

"I don’t have time to waste on this nonsense."

He said sharply and turned to leave. His steps were firm and fast. I stood there, unsure what to do. Then I grabbed my bag and ran after him.

"Sir! Wait… Sir!"

I ran up to him, but he kept walking with cold indifference.

"Please, sir… help me. I’m lost."

I begged, but he ignored me. I didn’t know what to do. I grabbed his hand and started sobbing.

"Please help me! I don’t know this city. I just moved here a week ago. I was at school, and when it ended, I got lost on the way home!"

I clutched his shirt. He stopped for a moment and looked at me.

"Please, sir… help me. I don’t know what to do."

I stood in front of him, holding his big hands in mine. He looked stunned. He tried to pull away, but I held on tighter.

"Please… don’t be stingy. Help me."

I looked at him with my wide, pleading eyes. He studied me for a long moment, then pulled his hands away and said coldly as he started walking again, "Follow me."

I didn’t understand immediately, but I ran after him, feeling relieved.

"Thank you so much."

I lightly tapped his back. He shot me a sharp look from the corner of his eye. I withdrew my hand immediately and stayed quiet.

We walked together until we reached a black Mercedes. He got into the driver’s seat. I stood frozen.

"Get in."

He ordered in a commanding tone. I opened the door and slid in beside him. He started the engine and drove off.

"Thank you, sir. You’re my savior."

I smiled at him brightly.

"What’s your home address?"

"257 Yeongdo-dong," I told him. He raised an eyebrow in surprise. My phone was already dead. I rested my head against the car window, watching the streets pass by.

"I think I went too far from home."

I glanced at him, but he ignored me, focused on the road. My eyes drifted to the sharp line of his neck… dangerously alluring.

I stared for a moment, then he turned and caught me looking.

"Looking for something?"

He said with a teasing edge. My hands trembled lightly from the tension. I murmured, "N… nothing."

I looked out the window for the rest of the ride, staying silent. I felt sleepy but couldn’t fall asleep.

When we entered my neighborhood, I shouted, "This is the neighborhood I live in!"

I said happily, looking at my house. My dad was sitting on the sidewalk, and Emilia stood behind him.

"That old hag looks happy… disgusting witch," I muttered, twisting my lips in disgust. He smiled faintly beside me.

"My wicked stepmother," I said, pointing at her.

The car stopped in front of the house. My dad looked at the car with surprise.

I rushed out, his eyes lighting up when he saw me. I threw myself into his arms, and he hugged me tightly, letting out a deep breath.

"Why didn’t you answer my calls? I was so scared." I cried.

He sighed regretfully. "I’m sorry, sweetheart. I was in a meeting and didn’t notice your calls. I tried calling you too, but you didn’t answer either."

He rubbed my back to calm me. I stepped back and looked into his eyes.

"I thought I lost my precious little girl."

He said with a choked voice, his eyes full of tears. I held his face in my hands.

"I’m here now, Dad… You won’t lose me that easily. I’ll stick to you like glue."

He smiled gently. My gaze shifted to Emilia, who was glaring at me.

"Someone doesn’t seem happy to see me," I said provocatively. She looked furious.

"Don’t worry, Emilia… I’ll stick around. You won’t get rid of me easily."

She was about to speak when the man who brought me closed the car door behind him.

Emilia looked at him, shocked, before she exclaimed in disbelief:

"My… brother? Adrian?!"

Could the man who saved me really be the brother of this wicked woman?