Chapter 3

As Kaira entered the house, she was met with a hard slap across the cheek from her stepmother, Claudia. The stinging pain snapped her back to the harsh reality of her life here. She’d been foolish to decline the food offered to her that morning; the slap reminded her that she’d likely be starved today as punishment. Across the room, her sister Evelyn was watching the scene with obvious satisfaction, a smug grin playing on her lips. Julian, her former lover and now Evelyn’s husband, sat beside her, his expression unreadable but his gaze fixed on Kaira.

“What was that stunt you pulled at the wedding yesterday, huh?” Claudia’s voice was shrill with anger as she practically shouted into Kaira’s ear. She threw two newspapers onto the coffee table, and Kaira’s eyes widened slightly when she saw the headlines. It was the first time she’d ever made it into the news—she, the forgotten daughter, had actually captured the public’s attention, and on two front pages, no less. *Wow, I’m quite the celebrity,* she thought darkly.

The first article covered her dramatic exit from the wedding. The second headline made her smile faintly; it had captured her entering a mysterious man’s car later that night. The memory of Sebastian flashed through her mind, and a tiny, rebellious grin crept onto her face.

“Oh, you think this is funny?” Claudia yelled, her hand rising for another slap. Kaira braced herself, closing her eyes against the inevitable sting. But it never came. Slowly opening her eyes, she was surprised to see Julian holding Claudia’s wrist, stopping the blow.

Evelyn’s grin faltered, but she quickly masked her irritation with a look of fake concern. She rose from the couch, her steps slow and calculated as she approached them. She put on her best act, the same one she used to charm the media and anyone foolish enough to believe she was sincere. "Oh, Mother," she purred, glancing at Kaira with mock sympathy. "I’m sure Kaira here has learned her lesson, haven’t you, sister?" Her voice was syrupy sweet, and Kaira fought the urge to scoff at the obvious show they were putting on.

"Yes, Mother. Forgive her, okay?" Julian added, looking at Claudia in a placating way.

Kaira forced a tight, hollow smile, even as resentment simmered beneath the surface. They thought they could manipulate her with these pathetic theatrics, and for a brief moment, she felt a wave of anger so strong it almost choked her. But then the futility of it all washed over her. She had nothing to lose anymore. If they wanted to kill her, she almost wished they would get on with it.

Claudia seemed pacified, and she sat back down, Evelyn and Julian flanking her on either side, both falling back into their roles of dutiful daughter and son-in-law. Claudia launched into a long-winded rant about how hard she worked to make Kaira “respectable” and how ungrateful Kaira was. As the insults and complaints droned on, Kaira slipped quietly upstairs to her room, escaping the suffocating scene below.

Her room was a stark reminder of her position in this household. Small and plainly furnished, it was more like a servant’s quarters than a bedroom in a wealthy family’s home. She’d always worked for anything she needed, taking odd jobs and saving whatever little money she could, even though she had to hide it, lest they accuse her of stealing. There was no luxury here, nothing to remind her of the wealth she supposedly belonged to. The inheritance her mother had left behind had been snatched away by her father and stepmother, leaving her with nothing.

As she lay back on her bed, her mind drifted to Sebastian, the stranger who had saved her from herself last night. His confidence, the commanding aura he had—it was different from anyone she’d ever met. He was clearly powerful, likely from a family as influential as, if not more so than, hers. She could still smell his cologne on the clothes he’d lent her, and oddly enough, she didn’t want to change out of them. A knock interrupted her thoughts, and she wondered who would be visiting her room so early.

She opened the door and found Julian standing there. Surprised and irritated, she stepped outside and shut the door behind her, crossing her arms as she regarded him coolly.

“We’ll be moving out today,” Julian said, his tone flat. Kaira gave him a questioning look, wondering why he thought she needed to know.

“I just thought I’d let you know,” he continued, studying her reaction. When she offered only a slight nod then turned to open her doorknob, he reached out suddenly, grabbing her arm.

“Let go of me, you bastard!” she hissed, yanking her arm away.

“You should be thanking me,” he sneered. “I saved you from your stepmother’s wrath just now.”

Kaira’s eyes flashed. “I didn’t ask for your help,” she retorted. “You’re a bastard, Julian. Worse than I ever imagined.”

Julian’s expression twisted into something ugly. “Pretty bold talk from a whore like you. Already spreading your legs for strange men.” His voice was venomous, but Kaira had heard enough. Without a second thought, she slapped him, hard, feeling a rush of satisfaction as his head snapped to the side.

“Better a whore than a traitor,” she spat. “At least I don’t betray people who trust me.” Her words seemed to strike him, and for a moment, she saw a flicker of regret in his eyes.

“Kaira, I… I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. Please, forgive me,” he said, reaching out to touch her face. She flinched away, repulsed by him entire being. She’d given him everything, trusted him completely, and this was how he repaid her?

“Baby—” he began, but was interrupted by Evelyn’s voice from the hall.

“Is something wrong, darling?” Evelyn asked, glancing between the two of them with suspicion.

Julian’s demeanor shifted instantly, and he plastered on his charming smile. “Nothing’s wrong, my love,” he replied smoothly, wrapping his arm around her. “I was just letting Kaira know about the move.”

Evelyn gave them both a cursory glance, clearly sensing the tension but deciding it wasn’t worth investigating. Kaira bit her lip, her anger barely contained as she watched the two of them playing their roles as the perfect couple. She turned and went back to her room, leaving them behind without a second glance.