A glimpse at the other side.

*Yolanda's (Selene's stepmother) POV*

<11:30 pm>

“That's it Selene has returned!”the reporter exclaimed.

I switched the channel.

“And in other news.”the blonde began with a bright smile. “The Selene Foxx has just marked this town as her playground with tonight's latest activities–”

I switched the channel again.This time it was my favourite show;‘The Analysts’,sitting in a circle discussing the exact same thing the other channels were discussing.

I swallow hard and try to give it a chance.Maybe they were seeing it as the catastrophy that it was that she returned.Or perhaps they cared that she had completely stolen the entire point of the Blossom Ball and made it about her.

Oh but I was wrong.

I was so wrong.

“I think Ironclaw should feel particularly blessed that they got to witness this phenomenal women right at their ball.”On of the TV hosts said as he admired the picture of her on the screen.“And they say she is staying for six whole months?”

“She is indeed. She is said to be shooting a new movie.”

“That's amazing.”my favourite presenter added,practically bursting with childlike giddiness. “Do you think she is going to come to the second ball?It would be amazing if she attended all three.”

“No,no,no Karl.Its Selene Foxx we are discussing here,she is not going to make a double appearance,much less three.She is a rarity.”

I frown and clench on to the remote before pressing hard on the red button to shut the television off.

I didn't get an invitation to the Blossom Ball that I organised and have been organising for years,but the moment that bitch steps into town,everyone wants to eat the sand she walks on.

My heart drummed with immense hate,not only was I denied my right because of fear that I would cause a ‘scene’ with her,now couldn't even watch my own goddamn TV in peace. And there was still drama.

I heard a car pull up in the driveway and anxiously rush to the window to see who it was.

I notice the golden symbol of the pack on the vehicle and smile internally.It could be the ex-luna coming to check up on me since I didn't attend the ball. Or maybe even better,Athena Sinclair,the most tolerable member of the family so far.

My smile begins to spread to my cheeks before I see Elais opening the door for Noelle.

I frowned immediately,what was she doing here?

What was I thinking of course she came here.I had raised an idiot. Noelle's head wasn't on her shoulders for thinking,it was there as decoration.I hissed loudly and sat back down in the chair.

Another disappointment.

Eventually,she comes into the house and pauses in the living room when she catches my disapproving face.

“I thought you weren't feeling”she began. “You look perfectly fine.”

I hadn't told her I hadn't gotten an invitation but I told the press I wouldn't attend the first night of the ball due to a mild headache. That's probably where she got the assumption from.

“What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean?”she asks,stepping out of her baby pink heels.

“What do I mean?”I muttered to myself in irration.“She wants to know what I mean…How foolish can you be?”

Noelle stares at me In confusion. “I don't understand.”

“Of course you don't.”I snap at her. “You never understand anything–not even when precious things are at stake.”

“This is about Selene.”she says with a sigh. “Mom,I don't know what you want me to do.”

“It's been four years. Four long years and you couldn't get a man to love you–no like you. He doesn't even like you,Noelle.”

“I have tried Mother,”she begins pathetically. “I have been the perfect wife and Ares doesn't want to see that.”

“Then it's up to you to make him see it!”I yelled at her. “What you couldn't accomplish in four years,Selene came and did it in a night. Do you realize what will happen to us when the truth comes out?”

Noelle rolled her glossy eyes and sat on the couch.

“What do You want me to do?”

“Everything!”

Noelle's eye twitches like she was loosing her mind. “I have tried everything,Ares is stoic and cold and…”she drifts off and shakes her head sadly. “He doesn't doesn't love me and has Made it abundantly clear that he never will.You should have seen the way he was looking at her mom,he has never looked at me that way…ever”

I noticed a sad crack tinged In her tone as she spoke.I narrowed my gaze and slowly walked to her.

“Noelle,look at me.”

Noelle sniffed and gradually pulled her eyes up to meet mine.

Her eyes looked teary already.

“Are you in love with him?”

She hesitated for a moment,weighing her options of telling me. My heart prayed that it was a lie,or that she will at least lie to me so I could sleep peacefully tonight.

But instead,she nodded with another eye bleeding sniff.

I slapped her in the face and she screamed in shock and grabbed her cheek.

“I did not raise you to be this weak.”I spat. “You were supposed to make him fall in love with you idiot.”

“I tried!”she yelled in between sobs.

“And you failed pathetically.”I return,disgust coursing under my skin.Sometimes I wonder of Noelle was truly my daughter. I hadn't committed enough scenes to be cursed with this excuse of a woman.

“How could you be so undesirable?”I asked her. “In my days I made men crawl at my feet and lick my heels.You should learn from Selene. Even as slutty as she is,she is better than you have ever been at seduction.”

Noelle’s teary eyes glistened with anger. “I didn't ask for this,”She said. “You are the one who brought me here,you are the one who planted the evidences,you are the one who paid the witches to–”

I grabbed her by the throat Before she finished her sentence.

“You ungrateful little bug,watch your words.”my nails dug into her skin. “Or I will treat you like I treat my enemies.”

Noelle coughed For air and I released her neck.

“And I will let you know,my darling,”I say with a deep sigh as I head out the room.“I will not be taking the fall alone. If they their bond rekindles and it becomes evidently clear that things were manipulated.I will blame it all on you.”

“Mom–”

“Hush,”I say, raising my hand. “If you want to make the situation better,you know what to do.”