CHAPTER FIVE

JELENA

My heart still hurts even though it has been a whole week since I caught Alice and Aaron tangled together at his house and the tears have not stopped since that day.

You would think catching them cheating would make it easier to let go, easier to hate him, easier to move on, but somehow the pain cuts much deeper than betrayal, its inside my chest like something alive, clawing at me every second of the day.

Aaron was the first person who ever felt like home to me, I lost my mother the day I was born and life never even gave me the chance to know what her voice sounded like or what her embrace felt like. All I ever had were faded photographs, stories from the old house staff, and the tiny memories father occasionally shared whenever he was drunk enough to remember she once existed and that was when I was younger

Father remarried almost immediately after her death.

Vanessa came into my life while I was still too young to understand the difference between a real mother and a woman simply playing the role. For years, I genuinely believed she cared for me too and I was stupid enough to think her coldness was normal discipline.

Then I grew older and old enough to notice how differently she treated Alice compared to me, enough to understand why Alice always got the prettier dresses, the softer punishments, the warmer smiles, and the affection I spent my whole childhood craving.

Vanessa made sure I never forgot my place in this house and nomatter how wealthy father became, no matter how luxurious this mansion looked from the outside, I remained nothing more than the unwanted reminder of the woman he loved before her and somehow, despite all that, I survived because I had Aaron.

Aaron, who looked at me like I mattered, who held my hand under the table during family dinners when Vanessa's insults became too much, kissed my forehead and promised me that once we got married, I would never have to cry alone again.

God.

Thinking about those promises now makes me feel physically sick.

“My lady,” Sarah whispers softly from the doorway.

Her voice pulls me away from my thoughts, but not from the ache sitting heavily in my chest.

Sarah found me that night.

After I ran out of the house like a madwoman, unable to breathe, unable to process what I had seen and I honestly cannot remember how I even made it back home. My legs simply carried me to the only place that had ever brought me comfort.

Mother's grave.

I spent hours there, kneeling in the dirt, crying until my throat burned raw and my body shook violently from exhaustion, I remember clutching the cold marble headstone and asking over and over again why nobody ever chose me.

How do I tell father there will be no marriage anymore?

For once in my miserable life, I thought I had finally done something that would make him proud. Aaron came from a powerful family, the wedding preparations were already underway, and father had looked genuinely pleased when the engagement was announced.

The first time he smiled at me in years was when I said I was engaged to Aaron, for a mere weak wolf, getting to bag a powerful Alpha like Aaron is a big deal and after dad did his background check, he seemed satisfied

He didn't do it because of me, he doesn't really care that much, more of  didn't want to bring shame to the family's name so and I had foolishly believed things would finally change for me but now everything is ruined.

Aaron has been calling nonstop since that day.

At first, I ignored the calls because I was too shocked to even function and then the shock turned into anger, afterwards, then came the feeling of humiliation.

Now?

Now I simply feel empty, I still have not found the courage to confront him.

Every time I think about answering his calls, my mind flashes back to that horrible moment and my mother's favorite green dress scattered across the floor.

Alice's laughter filling the room and the shameless look of pleasure on her face as she moved on top of him without an ounce of guilt, that was my first time of ever seeing his dick, glistening and so engorged and that was inside my stepsister

And Aaron—

God.

The memory alone makes bile rise in my throat and a broken sound escapes my lips as I bury my face into the pillow again.

“Uuhhhnnnnnggg…”

You would think Alice would at least feel ashamed but no.

Every single morning since then, she hums loudly outside my room like she won some grand prize and sometimes she laughs loudly on purpose whenever she passes my door, just to remind me that she took something else from me again.

As usual even though I am the older daughter, Alice has always found a way to make me feel small inside this house.

“When does it end, God?” I cry out again, my voice muffled against the pillow.

“My lady, breakfast is ready. You should come downstairs now,” Sarah says carefully.

The concern in her voice only makes my eyes sting harder and I wipe at my swollen face and shake my head weakly.

“I'm sorry, Sarah, thank you, but I'm not hungry.”

That would be the understatement of the century, I have barely eaten anything in the past week and every time I try, my stomach twists painfully until I lose all appetite, nothing tastes right anymore or even feels right anymore.

Sarah hesitates by the door before speaking again.

“I'm sorry, my lady, but your father is around and asked that you join everyone for breakfast.”

Her tone changes immediately after mentioning father, panic slipping into her voice, I freeze.

Wait.

Father is home?

A curse nearly slips from my mouth.

Why so soon?

Father rarely comes home these days unless something important is happening and most times, he stays buried in work meetings, business trips, or political gatherings and the atmosphere in this house always changes whenever he returns.

Everyone becomes tense and very careful.

Calculated wouldn't be far fetched

Even Vanessa starts pretending to be a loving wife instead of the venomous woman she truly is, I force myself out of bed slowly, ignoring the heaviness dragging down my limbs and my body feels exhausted from days of crying, but I cannot avoid breakfast if father specifically requested my presence.

That would only create more problems, so I drag myself toward the bathroom and try to look somewhat presentable.

Ten minutes later, I am walking down the hallway toward the dining room, though each step feels heavier than the last and as I pass one of the large glass windows, my reflection catches my attention.

I stop briefly.

God, I look terrible with dark circles sit heavily beneath my eyes, my skin looks pale, and the dull expression staring back at me barely resembles the woman I used to be and not that anyone in this house would notice.

Especially not father.

Still, seeing myself like this sends another painful stab through my chest, I inhale shakily before forcing myself to continue walking and the closer I get to the dining room, the louder the voices become.

Vanessa's fake laughter and Alice's annoying giggles, the clinking of silverware against plates.

For a second, I consider turning around and locking myself back inside my room but it is already too late.

A maid opens the dining room doors before I can retreat and every conversation immediately quiets.

“Hi, Dad,” I murmur politely with a small nod before taking my seat almost immediately.

Father barely glances at me.

“Jelena.”

Just that, no warmth or concern or even some sort of acknowledgment of the fact that I clearly look like I have been dragged through hell.

Typical.

I reach for the glass of water in front of me, hoping nobody notices how badly my hands are trembling and Vanessa suddenly clears her throat loudly, that is when I finally look around properly and my stomach drops.

We have guests, because seated comfortably across from father, Alice, and Vanessa is the one man I desperately hoped never to see again.

Aaron.

He looks perfectly put together in a crisp black shirt with neatly styled hair and that familiar charming smile sitting effortlessly on his face.

As though he did not completely destroy me a week ago, he did not sleep with my stepsister where I caught them at his house

Rage burns through my chest so suddenly that I almost stop breathing but what hurts even more is the fact that he looks fine.

Perfectly fine, while I have spent the last seven days crying myself to sleep, Aaron's eyes finally meet mine and for one brief second, guilt flashes across his face, then Vanessa starts speaking again, practically glowing with excitement while Aaron nods along politely at whatever nonsense she is saying.

Alice sits beside him looking smug and satisfied, occasionally sipping from her juice while avoiding my eyes entirely, typical coward bitch

I wouldn't say that outloud though, I couldn't dare or I pay the price when dad isn't around

My pulse begins to pound loudly inside my ears, something is very much wrong and judging from father's cold expression, I know this breakfast is not happening by coincidence.

Cold dread slowly creeps into my chest as terrifying possibilities begin forming inside my head because suddenly, I am no longer wondering why father came home early.

I am wondering what the hell is about to happen next.