Chapter 4

Liora Devereux POV

I watched as my father slammed his hand on the table. I flinched, and looked up at him.

“What is this, first you didn't come home to do your chores, second you tried to steal your sister boyfriend?,” my father said angrily

“He was my boyfriend before she stole him!,” I said, finally snapping because of his unfairness. He is my father but he never treated me like his daughter only when he needed my consent to sell my mothers painting…

“How dare you?!,” he slap me across my face, tears roll downy cheeks

“Father… you don't need to blame sister, she is an adult and If I were in her shoes I would surely feel the same but sister I and Victor are in love I hope you can give us your blessings and accept us?,” Camille said softly, as tears welled up in her eyes.

Father scoffed. “You wouldn't talk to Victor again, he is Camille's boyfriend, I don't want to hear you cry about it,” My father said coldly, my step mother walked to her daughter and pulled Camille in her arms not before giving me a deadly look.

I could only cry silently. “Go clean the kitchen, and after that paint Camille her next work, she needs to show them off on the night of the exhibition gala…and we are selling the Rarity in Ruin. You would be coming along…I don't know why we need you anyways,” my step mother said.

I looked up in shock. “No!Father, you promised that you won't sell that painting, it is the only one that makes me feel closer to mum, please…,” I begged..

I reached forward to hold my father but I got pushed away.

I fell hitting my head in the table I

In the room, my father was kicked in the stomach.

“Dont you dare touch me!. You already signed the documents, I can sell them…we just needed you to be there,” my father spat, and walked away.

My eyes get blurry. I could only watch him walk away leaving me on the ground. My step-sister follows him, and my step mother Matilda steps in my view holding my jaw.

“If only I could get rid of you easily but count your days, Liora. You will end up like your mother too,” she said as smiled. I whimpered.

What is she talking about?.

She laughs. “He…lp,”

But all I got was another kick in the stomach, my head hit the table legs. I passed out eventually.

I opened my eyes only to find myself in the dark room, I quickly shrieked to the end of the room in fair.

They usually lock me here so I can beg to be brought out, which only leads to them taking more of my things that my mother had left for me.

I cried, knowing screaming and begging is no use. So I could wait till they remember that I am here.

Then a knock came, the door slowly open me making a light come in the room, I flinched back

“Ma’am and sir want you outside the said you should prepare for the gala tonight,” the maid said, she looked at me as if I was dirt

I squirmed off the ground, not that I wanted to do as they said but I wanted to be put out of the room as soon as possible.

The maid walked out not waiting for my reply.

★★★

I stand in the room, full of people. They gave me an unknowing look, as they shook their heads in shame, and pity. I watched as my father lied to the guest that I wanted to sell everything that reminds me of her…my mother, that I think the painting deserve an owner will cherish it

Two guests pass by me, giving me ‘that look’ . I know what they are thinking, I am fat and didn't take after my mother, instead my step sister had the talent..

I have always heard people say it would have been better if Camille was my mothers real daughter because of the painting.

If only they knew but nobody has tried to hear me, no one even my mother 's close friends.

I just stood there watching as they sold my mother's last painting. The painting that means the world to me.

Camille showed off my painting as hers. I stand there blank with expression, nobody knows she is just a fake.

I excused myself and walked to the balcony, after the painting was bought, it was bought by the usual buyer, an unknown rich man.

“Why did you go after Camille!,”

I turned to the owner of the voice, Victim.

“I didn't,” I said coldly, but I knew he was never going to believe me. With whatever Camille had told him but I was still weak to cry and explain myself.

I looked at Victor with teary eyes, he was the only man I had ever loved but everyone kept choosing Camille, including Victor

“Liar!. You have always been jealous of Camille since you were kids,” Victor said angrily

As if he was there during our childhood. “If you don't believe me, let me be…,” I said, trying to walk away.

Victor stopped me. “You have to pay for what you did to her, since you hurt her hand, I should do the same to you,” he said, holding up a knife in the air with a devious look in his eyes…

I didn't know where the knife came from but I remember the bandage wrapped around Camille's right hand.

I tried to pull away, he forcefully put my hands on the rails and tried to stab me with my right hand.

“Don't you dare try to hurt her!,” a cold deep voice said, the voice sounded familiar…too familiar.

We both turned to the owner of the voice. I blinked, my face turned red.

Damien Black!

How is he here?!