CHAPTER 116: "MAYBE I SHOULD TAKE ANOTHER DNA TEST..."

Seraphina’s POV

I didn’t say anything. Just gave the maid a small nod, telling her to leave.

She didn’t deserve to be treated like this. I was the one who’d have taken that slap instead of her.

"Mrs. Lancaster," I said, shutting my eyes for a second, trying to hold back everything boiling inside me. "If you’ve got something to say, then say it to me. Why are you taking it out on people who can’t even defend themselves?"

"Really?" she laughed bitterly. "Let me remind you, if you’ve forgotten... I’m the one paying these useless nobodies."

"Yeah, you do!" I said, trying to hold back, clenching my teeth. "But that doesn’t mean they’re your slaves! They work for you for the money you pay..."

I was so furious that I almost lost control. I could take her hate, I’d been through worse. But hitting someone in my place who did nothing had crossed my bottom line.

"Mom!" Melissa stepped in, her voice all soft and careful. "The maid was right," she said in a concerned tone. "If something happens to Seraphina, people will blame us, even if you have done nothing wrong.

"She dares?" Mrs. Lancaster said bitterly, her eyes sending daggers toward me. "I didn’t even lay a hand on her yet..."

"You can, if you want to." I smiled, even as the blood from my cheek touched my lips and I tasted the blood. "Because I’m done taking your crap."

Her expression twisted at my audacity. "How dare you!" She grabbed my arm and yanked me closer, where there were no shards on the floor. "You went behind my back and dared to ask my sons to take your side?"

I blinked in confusion.

I hadn’t said a damn word about this to anyone, scared to slip this out in front of the duo.

Then who?

Asher wouldn’t do such a thing. He wasn’t the type to snitch, even if he was mad.

So then... My eyes slowly moved toward Melissa.

Her lips were twitching, her eyes shining like she was fighting back a laugh.

’So... It was you,’ I thought.

"Why can’t I?" I shot back, suppressing the pain not only on my body but in my heart. "They’re my brothers. I have every damn right to ask them to be with me."

"They’re my sons," she spat back as her voice was full of venom, "And you are no one. You think you can twist them around your finger? It’s disgusting how you go crawling around men... even your brothers. You’re the dirtiest trash I’ve ever picked up."

My stomach twisted at her words. How could she say such things to me? Her own blood.

"What?" I stared at her. "How could you even say something so filthy about me?" I tried to stay calm as tears threatened to spill out of my eyes, but I tried my best to break in front of them and give them the joy of a winner.

"You think of me like this?" You may hate me, but don’t forget... you’re the one who gave birth to this trash. Whatever filth you see in me... It came from you."

I didn’t even get to finish before her hand smacked across my already torn cheek, and I fell hard.

I hit the floor with a sharp thud, glass digging into my skin, blood warming the cold tile under me, as no one was around me to keep me safe.

"How dare you!" Mrs. Lancaster hissed as she yanked me up by the arm, my legs barely able to hold me. They weren’t just shaking from the fall, but also from the pain and trauma she inflicted on me once again in this life.

"You think you can talk back now just because your precious Second Brother is backing you?" she spat, dragging me across the hall like I was nothing but a ragdoll.

I didn’t fight or beg her to let me go, and I bet that must have infuriated her even more.

She pulled me straight to that same old storeroom, which once was my room, where I used to live.

Fine! Do what makes you feel powerful and satisfied, dear mother.

But just wait till I come back from this.

When I come back, I’d not only burn your precious daughter, but I’d break you into pieces that you’d never be able to stand on your feet.

My heart hurt even by having all those thoughts, but she didn’t even flinch at whatever was she as doing to me.

"Mom!" Melissa stepped in as she held her mother’s hand.

"Shut up!" Mrs. Lancaster scolded her. But it was softer than the moment she had ever talked to me normally.

Even her scolding was different... when it wasn’t me.

I smiled at their little ’sweet’ mother-daughter moment. A crooked smirk slipped onto my face, and of course, Mrs. Lancaster noticed.

Her head turned toward me like she was waiting to catch me in the act.

"How dare you smile?" she barked, her voice shaking with rage, eyes glazing with fore.

"Why not?" I said quietly.

My voice was weak on the verge of breaking... but the smile on my face didn’t leave. Even when my eyes gave up and the tears rolled down, I still smiled.

Because that was the only thing left I could do...

"I don’t understand," I said, laughing bitterly through the tears. "A girl with filthy blood stands next to you like she is your own daughter... while I, your own daughter, am the one who disgusts you?"

I looked her straight in the eyes, my voice was low but sharp. "Shouldn’t I smile, Dear Mother? At the choices you made?"

Then I looked down at the blood, which was still seeping, even if it had slowed. "Maybe I should take another DNA test... just to be sure you’re really my mother," I muttered. "Because the way you are... rotten to the core... you’re no different than your daughter standing next to you."