Chapter 4A Mother's Justice

I grabbed her wrist, struggling with all my might. "Who are you?! Don't you dare insult my mother!"

Celia sneered, striking me twice more across the face. "Listen up, you little bitch. My name is Celia Vance. Harrison Vance is my father, and I am his most beloved daughter!"

"You're nothing but a burden he dumped overseas, a nuisance who crawled her way back!"

"It's all your fault! Because of you, my family can't be together openly!"

My eyes widened in feigned disbelief, my voice quivering. "You're lying! My father would never have another daughter!"

Celia roared with laughter, only stopping after she'd beaten me until blood trickled from my nose and mouth. She looked down at me like I was trash. "A daughter is nothing," she mocked. "I have a brother, too. And he is the true heir to the Vance fortune!"

"I'm here to give you a warning. Get out of the country, or you'll end up worse than your mother."

"And to think I brought all these guys to deal with you. You're just as useless as that dead bitch you call a mother!"

Something inside me snapped. "You can say whatever you want about me," I screamed, "but you do not talk about my mother!"

Fueled by rage, I lunged forward and sank my teeth into her wrist.

Celia shrieked in pain. The three thugs immediately swarmed me, their fists and feet raining down on my body. Each dull thud was punctuated by Celia's furious screams. "Little bitch! You dare bite me? Beat her! Beat her to death!"

Someone stomped on my hand, grinding their heel into my knuckles. I felt a rib crack under a savage kick. I bit down hard, the taste of blood flooding my mouth. The world spun, and then everything went black.

When I woke up, it was evening. I was in a VIP room at a private hospital, my body a symphony of pain. My father and Hugh were sitting by my bed.

Seeing my eyes open, my father gripped my hand, his face etched with guilt. "Elara, you're finally awake. You had me so worried."

I winced, my voice a weak rasp. "Dad... is it true? What she said? Do you really have another son and daughter?"

He looked down, sighing heavily. It was a long moment before he spoke. "Elara, I've done you a great wrong. But Celia... she's a sweet, kind-hearted girl. Once you get to know her, I'm sure you'll grow to love her."

Tears of cold fury slid down my temples. "Dad, she beat me like this, and you're telling me she's kind?"

Hugh quickly jumped to her defense. "Celia isn't like that. There must have been some kind of misunderstanding."

I had wanted to give them one last chance, but their loyalties were clear. There was no point in wasting any more words.

Just then, my father's assistant burst into the room, his face pale with terror. "Mr. Vance, it's terrible! The news... it's leaked. About your mistress and... and the two children..."

My father shot up from his chair, his voice cracking. "What did you say?!"

The assistant held out his phone, his hand trembling. "It's a top trending story. I... I don't think we can contain this..."

The battle-hardened businessman lost his composure. "How did this happen?!" he roared. "This is a complete humiliation!"

"It seems... it seems Miss Celia let it slip..." the assistant stammered.

At that moment, Hugh's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and answered immediately. Celia's terrified shriek echoed from the speaker. "Hugh, help me!"

The color drained from Hugh's face. "Celia, don't be afraid! I'm on my way!" He snapped his phone shut and bolted from the room.

My father was frantic. "What's wrong with Celia?!"

No one answered. He chased after Hugh, not sparing me a second glance.

Watching them scramble away, I felt no disappointment. Only a rising tide of dark satisfaction. I had played their game for long enough.

Now, the real show was about to begin.