Chapter 3

At the gates of the estate, Daisy feigned surprise. "But… what about Alicia?"

Rex's gaze flickered briefly, then hardened again. "She hurt you so deeply. And now she's chosen this pathetic downward spiral instead of coming back. This is her punishment."

"Why?" My voice trembled with anger. I stood there, drenched, in front of everyone.

"Is that Alicia?"

"It's really her? I thought she would be too embarrassed to show up."

"Please, she was exiled and didn't even flinch. You really think she's worried about being embarrassed?"

"To think he raised a slut who seduces her own brother-in-law and frames her sister. Elder Jaxon must be rolling in his grave."

I froze on the spot.

Rex yanked me under an umbrella. "If you're hurt, stay at the healing center. What are you doing here?"

I shook him off and squared up. "Why are you giving the estate to her? I'm the family's biological daughter, while she's just adopted. What right does she have—"

A loud smack echoed, and my cheek flared with a sudden, stinging heat. I covered my face and stared at Rex in disbelief.

He stood in front of Daisy, shielding her. "Your father entrusted both of you to me before he died. Daisy has never been an outsider to me! You've framed her too many times. You don't deserve to be Elder Jaxon's daughter. What right do you have to oppose this?"

At that moment, everything felt absurd.

I remembered when Daisy first joined the pack at ten years old. I had offered her a toy, which she ignored. But the moment I turned away, she fell down the stairs.

"Alicia, why did you push me? Do you not like me?"

Dad trusted me. But from that day on, her tears became the sharpest weapon.

Mom would lose her necklaces, and Dad's vase would get broken by accident. Every time, she looked pitiful, and I couldn't explain myself.

But no matter what, Rex had always stood by me. "I know Alicia better than anyone. She would never do that. She has a bit of a temper, sure, but I'm the one who spoiled her, and I'm happy to keep doing it."

I had naively believed that Rex would protect me forever.

"You've disappointed me."

His cold figure slowly overlapped with the memory of the werewolf I thought would be my lifelong guardian.

For a moment, I froze.

"Alicia, this is your last chance. Apologize to Daisy, and I'll still have your back."

I looked at their intertwined hands and laughed. "No thanks. Give me the 100 grand, and we're done."

Silence fell like a blade.

Rex's gaze turned dangerous as he ground his teeth at me. "What did you say?"

For a brief instant, he seemed stunned by my stubborn gaze, as if he had lost something.

"Alicia!"

Noticing something was off, Daisy ran forward and fell to her knees before me.

"Blame me! It's my fault I came into this family. Everything is my fault! I don't want the estate. I'll leave today and return everything to you!" she screamed through her tears and dashed into the pouring rain.

But then a car came out of nowhere and struck her.

"Daisy!" Rex ran toward her at once.

When he saw the blood pooling under her, his voice changed. "Healer! Get an ambulance! Now!"

He glared at me. "Restrain her now! If anything happens to Daisy, she won't get away with it!"

I watched as Rex looked at me with a murderous glare, and a cold, derisive smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth.

I'd been through this scene before.

The werewolf who had trusted me unconditionally had died three years ago.

But I was no longer the same Alicia from back then.