ra's

d, his eyes burning with a

for everyone to hear. "You've always been mentally dark, full of

but I stood still, meeting

spoke was twisted into malice. Any p

facts. Only about keepi

ween us, her voice shaky as she

whispered, though her eyes darted an

e, but not for my sake, it

ed. "Aurora, if you were coming home today, why didn't yo

ht of their hypocrisy was so hea

leased from prison today?

. "If we had known, we would hav

across them. "Oh? That's strange. Because Keith

ring, everyone turning to

party, no one said anything about a welc

lips quivered. And Keith? Keith's face draine

here was never any welcome party for me.

ow in the corner of Helen and

tal didn't even deserve a side mention at this

inside me finally snapped

e alpha daughter of

ly. Not

for a place in this family, they ha

ave this stage, this house,

, Helen appeared, her ti

me in her haute couture gown, her glitterin

second skin, reminding everyone of wh

red leg, I couldn'

me off balance. My foot twisted beneath me,

ground, the sharp stab of my elb

the hall, b

ith rushed toward Helen, surrounding her like pani

ight?" Luna Melissa asked, her vo

d on Helen's shoulder, inspecting

d, blinking rapidly, as if trying to h

t sharply. "Can't you watch

elbow burning, my injured leg throbbing beneat

Helen bei

w her s

of them s

them even as I was

he guests locked on the sc

pretending to look away while devouring eve

floor. I could have stayed down. I could have let them act

t this

so much, then I wouldn't prot

My arms trembled slightly from

olled up my dress i

oed acros

scars. Angry red lines

tings, silver burns, and restraints f

f everything t

their eyes wide wit

pers gre

look at h

from restraints..

live like this

ir gazes didn't b

em see everything th

ale now, beads of sweat

tears pooling again, but now her fac

ight with frustration, unable to stop th

nald family standing proud on stage. Th

otions st

hem, I had nothi