Chapter 4

Three days until the ceremony.

The whole house was in a frenzy prepping for Stella's grand bonding ceremony.

Maids and designers bustled through the living room.

No one even glanced at the console table by the door, where my invitation sat. The date on it had already been moved up to tomorrow.

Standing alone in the noisy hallway, I suddenly thought of my late grandmother.

She was the only person in this house who didn't favor Stella.

Whenever my parents punished me by making me stand and skip meals, Grandma would always sneak me a warm piece of bread and gently stroke my head.

Before she passed, Grandma left me her quiet apartment downtown.

It was the last safe haven she left me.

I wanted to go see it. I wanted to feel that warmth one last time before leaving this house for good.

Half an hour later, I stood in front of the apartment door.

But my key wouldn't turn in the lock.

I called a locksmith.

After checking the property details, the man gave me a weird look.

"Miss, the registered owner of this property is Stella Hale, not you. I can't open this door for you."

Stella?

The name hit me like a sledgehammer to the back of the head.

I froze.

A memory from last summer suddenly flashed through my mind.

My mother had uncharacteristically brought me a glass of warm milk, holding a stack of dense paperwork.

"Cora, this is a medical insurance policy the pack bought for you and your sister. Just sign here."

I hadn't suspected a thing and signed my name.

It wasn't insurance. It was a property transfer agreement!

I rushed back to that so-called home like a madwoman.

Bang! I shoved the living room doors open violently.

Stella was trying on a pair of sparkly heels while Mother smiled from ear to ear.

"You transferred Grandma's apartment to Stella?!" My eyes were bloodshot as I glared at my mother.

Her smile stiffened, but she quickly went back to her self-righteous attitude.

"Why are you yelling? It's not a big deal!" Mother brushed it off without a care. "Stella's about to start working at that downtown company. The apartment is close to her office. It's just more convenient for her commute."

"Grandma left that to me!" I was shaking all over, fighting back sobs. "Are you going to take away the very last thing I have? Hasn't Stella taken enough?!"

"Are you crazy?!" Blake charged down the stairs and shoved me hard.

I stumbled backward, my back slamming hard against the wall.

A sharp pain shot through me, but I didn't care.

With red eyes, I lunged toward Stella's room to find my property deed.

"Give me back my things!"

Just as my hand touched the doorknob, a strong hand clamped around my wrist and yanked me back fiercely.

It was my father.

Blake rushed up as well, and the two of them pinned my shoulders down on either side.

I struggled desperately, like a cornered wolf. "Let me go! Grandma gave that to me! Give it back!"

Smack!

A resounding slap struck across my face.

My head snapped to the side, and the sharp taste of blood instantly filled my mouth.

Through the ringing in my ears, I heard my father panting heavily, pointing a finger at my nose and cursing.

"You selfish brat! Just for a little thing like this, you have to tear the whole house apart?!"

Father's eyes were ice cold as he delivered his final verdict. "The apartment thing is settled! Your mother and I raised you all these years, and it's just one apartment. Don't ever bring this up again!"

I stopped struggling.

The stinging pain in my cheek was nothing compared to the sensation of my heart being ripped to shreds.

I looked up at these four people—my so-called blood relatives.

My father's fury, my mother's disgust, my brother's viciousness, and Stella, hiding behind them with a smug smirk playing on her lips.

In that moment, the light in my eyes completely died, leaving behind nothing but utter frost.

I didn't cry anymore. I didn't say a single word.

I didn't grab anything. I didn't pack a bag. I didn't take a single thing that belonged to this house.

I turned around and resolutely walked out the front door.

A black SUV pulled up to the intersection. Jasper got out and strode over to me.

He saw the bright red handprint on my cheek, and his eyes darkened dangerously.

"Let's go." I grabbed the hem of his shirt, the tears finally falling one by one. "Take me away."

Jasper swept me up into his arms and carried me to the car.

That night, he checked me into the most luxurious hotel on Iron Ridge territory.

For the next two days, my phone was deathly silent. Not a single family member contacted me.

The day before Stella's ceremony, my bonding ceremony took place.

The hotel room door opened.

Jasper, looking sharp in a tailored black suit, walked toward me with eyes full of unwavering, gentle resolve.

I stood up and threw myself into his arms without hesitation. He caught me steadily.

From today on, that old house had absolutely nothing to do with me anymore.