Scarlen’s POV

I looked toward the sofa but didn’t see Ronan, nor Riley anywhere around.

Just as I was wondering, Ronan appeared from the far end of the first–floor corridor.

I froze for a moment–why would Ronan go that way?

Then it hit me.

The storage room at the end of the hall was Riley’s “room.” Could it be….

A dark thought rose inside me, a sharp and bitter hatred bubbling up.

Riley, you shameless bitch. How dare you seduce Ronan right under my nose? Seems like I haven’t taught you a proper lesson

yet.

Thought my face wore a sweet smile, my words were sharp and poisonous when I called bout/b, “Ronan, where have byou /bbeen?”

He answered casually, “Just wandering around. It’ste, I’m heading back.”

His expression was calm, unreadable.

I tried to persuade him, “Why not stay for lunch?”

“No, thanks.” Without another nce, he left the Vale pack house.

My eyes followed his retreating figure until bhe /bdisappearedpletely.

Then I nced at the closed door at the corridor’s end, my eyes narrowing. Jealousy slithered inside me like a venomous snake.

Turning to Mom, I said cheerfully, “Mom, it’s almost mealtime. I’ll go bupstairs /bto call Riley down.”

Mom nodded with a contented smile, watching me run upstairs bwith /ban indulgent gaze.

But my real goal wasn’t to call Riley for lunch.

I needed to check if she was actually in Kael’s bedroom.

I pushed the door opch–and as I expected, Riley wasn’t there.

The room was decked out in high–end princess style decor.

I clenched my teeth in fury.

Since Riley was hospitalized, Kael had immediately hired people to renovate the room.

I’d underestimated Riley. She’d only been home a few days and already stolen Kael’s attention away from me.

A cruel light shed in my eyes.

If she bwasn’t /bin Kael’s room, then she must be in the storage roofn.

The thought of what might be happening between her and Ronan in that cramped, dark space nearly set my sanity aze.

Kael’s affection belongs to the

Ronan belongs to me too.

Riley, you shameless wretch. You’re trying to snatch what’s mine. You deserve to die.

Hatred zing like wildfire, I had my n in an instant

I stomped down the stairs.

Mom bsaw /bI bwas /bbalone /bband /basked, “Scarlett, where’s your sister?”

I put on a disappointed face. “She’s not bin /bKael’s room. Probably back in her own room.

Mom’s expression stiffened.

She already knew Riley was living in that windowless, damp storage room.

When Kael took Mom there, her heart almost shattered.

She couldn’t bear the thought of Riley bliving /bbin /bsuch a dark, cold ce for three whole years.

So when Kael renovated his room in that princess style to surprise Riley, Mom fully supported it, hoping to mend their mother–daughter rtionship.

But since Riley woke bup/b, she bhad /bneither thanked them nor shown bany /bgratitude.

And now she’s gone back to that storage room, like she’s deliberately stabbing a knife in Mom’s heart, refusing to let her rest.

Mom looked sad and angry, frustrated by Riley’s stubbornness and cold attitude..

She was about to head for the storage room when I stopped her.

“Mom, I should go,” I said, “Since Riley and I are closer in age, it’s better if I talk to her.”

Mom nodded and sat back down. She agreed–why should she, as the elder, bstoop /bto beg a rebellious junior?

I turned, but the moment I faced the storage room door, my expression hardened like stone.

Without bknocking/b, I pushed the door open.

“Wow! Sleeping soundly in broad daylight, aren’t you lucky, sis?”

Riley’s cold eyes snapped open, icy as ever.

b“/bbGet /bout!” she said tly.

Iughed, scorn dripping from every word. “Get out? As if you have the right!”

Crossing my arms, I looked her up and down with utter disdain.

“Don’t think being Mom and Dad’s ‘real‘ daughter gives you the right to boss me around. Take a look–who do they actually care about?”

“Born with a bsilver /bspoon or bnot/b, you’re bstill /ban unwanted bastardb./b”

I lifted my chin high, bas /bif Riley were some worthless dust beneath my feet.

“Listen carefully. Ronan’s mine. Not some trash like you.”

Riley sat bup /bslowly from the fold–out bed, then stood band /bfaced me calmly.

“Yoursb? /bbYou /bbcan’t /beven keep him.”

“If you could, Ronan wouldn’t be chasing me all the bway /bto the storage room–and I wouldn’t be stopped from marrying the prince of the Stormridge pack.”