8

Sloane's POV

What is she talking about?

Mrs. Thorne’s face was twisted with pure contempt, the kind that left no room for questions. “I knew from the very start that you’re nothing but a snitch! You even betrayed your own family just to be my son’s wife. What kind of woman are you?!” she snapped at me.

“Mrs. Thorne, what are you saying? What did I do again?” I asked with a shaky voice.

“Don’t you dare play the victim!” Kaelan’s father stepped forward, his tone thick with disgust. “As a man, I’m ashamed of you.”

Then the crowd started staring and three figures stepped into view.

Lark. My mother. My father.

My jaw dropped. A single tear slipped down my cheek before I could stop it.

Lark? How did she get here? She was supposed to be with her lover and she ran away. She begged me to help her.

No. It can’t be Lark. I shook my head hard, refusing to believe she would turn on me like this.

“Sister, you’re shocked, right?” Lark’s voice was calm, almost sweet. “Well, I guess it is what it is then. I’m free from your bondage.” She looked straight at me. “You kidnapped me, told everyone I ran away with my lover. Sloane, I never knew you were this wicked.”

My lips parted. Shock locked my throat for a second.

“Lark, who asked you to lie? You begged me to…”

“Shut your mouth.” My mother’s voice cut across mine like a blade. “Why would she even lie about a thing like that? How could you do a thing like that to your sister? That’s so cruel.”

“From the very start I knew she was lying.” Kaelan said from behind.

The words hit me harder than the slap. He knew. He had known the whole time, and he still took me to bed. He still used me while whispering another woman’s name. The stupidity of it almost made me laugh, but nothing about this was funny.

“I’m not lying,” I said, forcing the words out. “She’s the liar. She ran away herself and pleaded with me to take her place. I swear.”

Murmurs rippled through the guests. Soft, ugly sounds that filled the decorated hall like insects.

Lark’s eyes filled on cue. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she faced Kaelan who walked to my front. “Kaelan, believe me. She threatened to kill me if I didn’t get inside the van that day. She told her men to beat me up.”

“I didn’t do anything.” I shook my head, the denial weak even to my own ears.

My father stepped closer, his face set in that familiar expression of disappointment he had worn my whole life. “All you could’ve done is tell me you wanted to get married to a rich man. After everything I’ve done for you?”

Did he just say everything?

Something inside me snapped. “What did you ever do for me? Huh? Give me pain and treat me like I was nothing. I didn’t do anything. Your favorite daughter did it. She was the one who ran away, and you threatened to end me if I didn’t agree to marry him!”

I have never spoken back like that. Not to him. Not to any of them. It was too much. I couldn’t just stand there and take it anymore.

My father had treated me like a spare daughter my entire life. I didn’t even want to call myself a maid in that house, because maids at least got paid and could leave. He never let me go. He never saw me as anything more than the extra child who existed to clean up the messes the favorite one made.

“And you’re lying against your father now,” he said, voice flat with finality.

Lark kept crying, the tears looking perfect and practiced. My mother rubbed her back in slow, comforting circles. Kaelan’s eyes were locked on me, dark and hard, like he wanted to end me right there with nothing but his stare.

“I’m not lying,” I whispered. “Believe me.” My voice shook. I hated how weak it sounded but I just have to defend myself.

Kaelan stepped forward. “You still have the audacity to say something while you’re standing in my mansion.” His tone was ice. “I won’t let you stay here another second.”

He grabbed my wrist hard enough to bruise and started dragging me toward the doors. I stumbled after him, the yellow heels clicking against the polished floor.

“Kaelan, please trust me. I’d never do such a thing…” The plea tore out of me, but he didn’t slow down. He didn’t even look at me.

He pulled me all the way to the big front gate of the mansion. It opened automatically with a soft mechanical sound. Then he shoved me through it like I was nothing more than trash he was throwing out.

I hit the ground hard. Tears rolled down my face as I pushed myself up onto my hands and knees, the yellow gown already dirty from the gravel.

“Get lost,” Kaelan said from the other side. “And don’t you dare step in here again.”

“Kaelan!” I scrambled to my feet and lunged for the gate, but it was already sliding shut. The heavy metal closed with a final, solid clang that echoed in my chest.

I banged my fists against it. “Kaelan, I don’t have anywhere to go. Please believe me!”

I begged. I cried. The gate stayed shut. No one came. No one opened it.

I stayed there for a long time, pressed against the cold metal, hoping someone, anyone might change their mind. That the gate would open again and I would be allowed back in somehow. The hope felt stupid even as I held onto it.

Where was I supposed to go? I had no money. No phone. Not a single friend. No one would open a door for me.

The sky grew darker. Thunder rolled somewhere far off, then closer. Lightning flashed. The rain started without warning, cold and heavy, soaking me.

I stood there for one more moment, maybe someone would at least pity me and let me inside or give me money.

But nothing happened, my body was already shivering.

Water running down my face mixed with tears, then I turned and started walking away from the Thorne mansion.