Chapter 5
After a lot of coaxing, Ella finally managed to calm Simon down. She gently steered him upstairs to get him out of his wedding si
As they reached the stairs, Ella noticed Calista sitting stiffly in the living room, staring blankly “Calista, why don’t you go freshen up too?”
But Calista didn’t budge, acting like she hadn’t even heard her.
y at the front door. Y
With a slight frown, Ella called over
yn muttered under his breath, “Damn girl’s just like her dead mother–nothing but barl luck. How the hell did I end up with a daughter like
Ella ga räm a nudge up the stairs, but a brief flash of emotion crossed Calista’s otherwise blank face, Her fists tightened ever so slightly.
Just as Ella had promised, Mira and her brother Jason Terell showed up soon after.
fucking embarrassing. I said from the start they were a terrible match.
“What a shitshow,” Mira grumbled as she walked in, kicking off her shoes. “So fuckin Marrying into a rich family? Yeah, see how that turned out
She kept yammering to Jason as they headed into the living room, completely unaware that Calista had gotten up from the couch
Suddenly. Mira bumped into something solid. She looked up and froze. Calista was standing right in front of her, still in her dirty wedding dress, hair a mess, and half her face swollen.
Mira’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes going wide. “Holy shit, you look like something out of a horror movie, she snapped, trying to cover her surprise with annoyance. “What the hell, trying to scare me to death?”
Calista’s voice was unnervingly calm. “Was it you who got me drunk on your 18th birthday and sent me to that hotel? And those pictures at the wedding… was that you too?” Her tone left no doubt that she already knew the answer.
is guilty reaction gave her away. She stammered, unable to meet Calista’s eyes, fumbling for some excuse,
Mira’s
But before she could even form a sentence, Calista’s hand came down hard across her face. The slap echoed through the room, leaving Mira’s head spinning
Jason snapped out of his shock and angrily shoved Calista away. “Don’t you dare hit Mira!” The 14–year–old boy’s push sent Calista stumbling back several steps.
Clutching her cheek, Mira finally processed what had happened. “Dad’s never even hit me! Who d to claw her face. “You’ll pay for this
Calista grabbed Mira’s wrist and slapped her again, her voice icy. “You deserved that
Mira’s shriek of outrage wa
was cut short by another slap.
“Let go of my sister, you mooching bastard!” Jason charged forward, ready to defend Mira.
do you think you are?” She lunged at Calista, trying
But the second he locked eyes with Calista, he froze. At fourteen, the spoiled boy had never seen a gla fear, he couldn’t move another inch
a glare so sharp, so murderous. Paralyzed with
“What the hell is going on here?” Ella yelled, coming down the stairs after changing. The moment she saw her biological daughter being hit, she rushed over, Simon right on her heels.
“How dare you lay a hand on your sister? Simon bellowed. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?” They crowded around Mira, fretting over the red imarks on her face, their eyes filled with concern.
Calista stood there, watching it all with cold detachment. Her heart had long gone numb–pain didn’t even register anymore.
“Fine! I’ll admit in” Mira suddenly screamed, completely losing it. “I got you drunk that night on purpose. Yeah, I had those pictures taken too! I didn’t want you marrying into a rich family–you don’t deserve it”
