Chapter 4
As the reporters gave up chasing Adrian and turned their attention to Calista, her father, Simon Terell, followed behnut.
His eyes scanned the scene until they landed on his daughter slumped on the ground, her luir disheveled. His anger reached a boiling point.
Simon’s face twisted in rage as he hauled Calista to her feet and dragged her toward the parking lot. “You’ve completely disgraced me he snarled. shoving her into the vehicle
Dva didn’t resist, her mind numb, replaying the hurtful words that Adrian and Tessa had hurled at her. The term “replacement kept echoing in laert oughts, and the let out a bitter, silent laugh..
It all made sense now–why Adrian had believed those photos and accepted such absurd slander about her. The trust between them had been as fragile as a soap bubble.
Adrian never truly trusted her. To him, she’d always been a stand–in for someone else. When dealing with a substitute, trust wasn’t the issue—it was all about mood.
She’d spoiled his mood, so he could discard her without a second thought. After all, she was just a replacement.
People always said love turned us into fools, especially women. And that was the truth.
For two years, Calista had been completely taken in by Adrian’s fake tenderness and affection. Even this morning, she’d been daydreaming about a future with him, imagining forever
But now, the lies had come
come crashing down, and the brutal reality was staring her dead in the face: she had been nothing but a stand–in.
As the hurt sank in. Calista realized the red flags had been there all along. The way Adrian would sometimes go blank when he looked at her, like he was seeing someone else entirely
It was a sick twist of fate, and Calista couldn’t help but wonder if this heartbreak was her punishment for resembling Adrian’s first love. The thought alone was enough to make her sick.
Just then, Simon’s angry voice shattered her spiraling thoughts.”
ghts. “You’ve got some fucking nerve crying after pulling a stunt like that!” Calista didn’t have it in her to explain, even if she wanted to. She just squeezed her eyes shut, the tears slipping silently down her face.
In her mind, she couldn’t shake the image of Adrian’s perfect eyes, now filled with disgust and icy indifference as he looked at her. The scene kept replaying, refusing to leave her alone.
As soon as they got home, Simon shoved Calista through the doorway. The moment the door closed, he slapped her hard across the face. Just like Tessa’s earlier strike, it landed on Calista’s left check. A stinging pain flared up once again, but Calissa’s expression remained numb. She had cried all her tears on the way home.
Simon bellowed. “Have you lost your mind? Cheating on Adrian‘ You’ve got some nerve!”
His pent–up anger exploded, and he didn’t even bother asking for her side of the story. His hand went up again, ready for another go. “I ought to knock some sense into you and save the Coles the hassle
Calista didn’t even flinch. She knew there was no point in ducking. The slap rang out, but her face stayed blank as a poker player’s
Her lack of reaction only added fuel to Simon’s fire. His eyes darted around, landing on a shoehorn in the entryway.
“Alright, if that’s how you want to play it!” he snarled, snatching it up. The makeshift weapon came down on Calista again and again, leaving angry red streaks on her pale arms.
The door creaked open as Calista’s stepmother, Ella Terell, stepped in “What the hell is going on?” Her voice feigned concern, but her different story!
eyes told a
“Butt out. This disgrace would be better off dead, Salmon snapped.
Ella wedged herself between them. “Come on now, you can’t talk like that. She’s your daughter.”
Calista’s from
foggy gaze suddenly sharpened as she looked at Ella’s back. “Where’s Mira?” Her voice was rough as sandpaper. Caught off guard. Ella quickly answered, “Your sister and is
brother went for another spin. They’ll be back soon.”
Without a word, Calista spun on her heel and stormed off to the living rooin.
“Can you believe that attitude?” Simon was still fuaming.
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Chapter i
Ella moved in to calm him down, her eyes flicking to Calista’s back as she walked away, not missing a thing
