CHAPTER 19: MY AXEL

SMACK!

My head snapped to the side. My cheek stung, and the sound of the slap was much louder in my ears than the noise of the crowd around me.

I staggered back, clutching my face, and looked up, straight into my father’s eyes.

"Dad..." My voice cracked.

But he wasn’t alone because my mother was standing right beside him.

"Mom?" I whispered, feeling my chest tightening.

Instead of comfort, her lips pressed into a thin, disappointed line. Her eyes.... Oh God, her eyes held no doubt, and no hesitation. She believed it; she believed them.

Cassandra rushed to hug them both, speaking in her sugary sweet voice. "Mum! Dad! I’m so glad you came! I wasn’t sure you’d make it."

Charles kissed her forehead, and his voice was full of pride as he replied. "Of course not. I would never miss your big moment, darling, not for anything in this world."

Then he turned on me. As he did, his face hardened, the warmth in his eyes gone in an instant. "And you," he spat, "you disgrace."

The word stung sharper than the slap.

"You’ve brought shame to this family. Do you understand that? Shame!"

I shook my head quickly, my voice trembling even when I didn’t want it to. "No, I didn’t..."

But he cut me off, raising his voice. "Look at your sister, Cassandra. She’s married..."

"To my ex-fiance, excuse me."

But he paid no attention and kept going, like it was a monologue.

"... she’s expecting a child, and successfully running a section in the family business. That’s what a daughter should aim for! That’s what we expect from our firstborn. But you?"

He pointed at me like I was filth. "You can’t lead by example because you’re too busy jumping from one man’s bed to another, chasing favours!"

My head shot up, blood boiling. "That’s not true!"

"Quiet!"

My chest heaved, but the words stayed stuck in my throat.

Cassandra patted his arm. "Dad, don’t be too harsh. If she was lonely, she could have just gotten married earlier instead of this." Her eyes gleamed with malice when they met mine. "Her poor husband doesn’t even know who she really is."

"Shut up!" I snapped, finally finding my voice. "Stop lying, Cass! Tell the truth for once!"

Her lips parted in a mock gasp. Then she simply tilted her head, giving me a look of fake sympathy, as if I were a child throwing a tantrum. She said nothing.

By now, the whispers from behind us were getting louder.

"I had no idea she was this shameless."

"She looks guilty."

"Bringing disgrace to her parents like this? Poor family."

My throat felt tight, and my eyes stung.

I turned to my mother, desperate and filled with disbelief. "Mom, do you really believe that the daughter you raised could do something like this? You know me!"

But she looked away, completely avoiding my eyes.

That was all the answer I needed and something inside me snapped.

"The pictures are fake!" I shouted, my voice carrying across the room. "That man tried to force himself on me! I fought him off! Don’t you get it?"

"Enough!" Charles barked. His face was red with fury. "Look at what you were wearing in those photos. You knew what you were looking for."

I froze, his words slicing deeper than any stranger’s could.

"Seriously? You..." My lips trembled. "You think I was asking for it?"

Daniel cleared his throat, stepping in with a smug grin. "You should listen to your father and take correction! Honestly, I’m so glad I dodged a bullet with you. I always knew you had tendencies. That’s why I had to regulate how you dressed when we were dating. Someone had to keep you in line."

My blood roared. Without thinking, my hand shot up, and I forgot them on Daniel’s face for a second.

SMACK.

His head snapped sideways, and his cheeks turned bright red.

The crowd gasped.

"You bitch!" he roared.

Before I could even breathe, another hand connected with my face.

It was my father. Again.

"How dare you lay a hand on your sister’s husband?" Charles was completely furious. "Have you no manners? No shame?"

I staggered back, clutching my face as tears blurred my vision.

Then he turned to blame my mother. "This is your fault. You raised her. Look how she turned out to be. Useless and reckless! She’s a stain on our family name. Cassandra turned out so well because she spent more time with me."

My mother’s lips parted, but no words came. She looked so horrified as if she couldn’t believe her husband would push the blame to her.

Cass took a step towards me and spoke in a deceptively gentle tone. "Layla, we just want to help you. If you tell us what’s really going on, we can get you the treatment you need."

My chest heaved with fury. "I don’t have a problem. And I sure as hell don’t need help from you."

Her lips curved as she leaned closer, close enough that only I could hear. "This is a lesson," she whispered. "To never mess with me again."

Without thinking, I shoved her away. I knew from the amount of force I applied that it was just a small push, barely enough to move her.

But Cass, ever the actress, gasped dramatically and toppled backwards like I’d hurled her.

"Ah!" She hit the floor with a pathetic cry.

Gasps filled the room and Daniel rushed forward immediately, shoving me hard in the chest.

I fell to the ground, the impact rattling through my already battered body.

He bent to help Cass up, glaring at me like he was seconds from retaliating.

My palms pressed against the cold floor. My injured leg screamed when I tried to move. I could barely breathe through the humiliation.

My voice cracked. "All I ever did was give! Give and give to this family, and this is how you treat me?"

I was met with their blank stares and silence.

I tried to push myself up, but my leg gave out, and I felt a sudden, blinding pain go through me. Tears welled up in my eyes before finally breaking free.

I thought I’d drown in them, thought I’d collapse under the weight of it all, but then, I saw a pair of polished shoes stopping right in front of me.

The world around me seemed to hush.

Slowly, a strong hand reached down, offering me help.

I lifted my gaze, and my heart jolted in my chest when I saw it was Axel.

My Axel.