CHAPTER 3: Turning down the engagement

BELLATRIX...

Shock rippled through the room after I suggested canceling my engagement to Neil. It even silenced Florence. It seemed she hadn’t expected me to give up so easily.

“What?” Mom reacted first, breaking the grave silence. “Did you get screwed before your engagement? Just how much have you had to drink to spit this nonsense?”

Her words stung, but I was nothing but a huge disappointment to them. I tightened my fists, nearly breaking the skin in my hand with my nails. But that pain didn’t compare to the anguish in my heart. “I mean it, Mom,” I said firmly.

“That’s enough!” Dad stepped forward, standing beside Mom. “We’ve heard enough of this, Bellatrix. Stop it at once, and behave. You’re going to ruin our family’s reputation with this nonsense. Now,” he said, pointing at my arm without a hint of compassion, “take care of that bleeding and get to the event. Most of the guests have already arrived.”

“Take care of that bleeding?” I repeated, barely able to believe his blasé attitude. Everything they said pierced my heart like the sharpest needle.

Did they have to make their preferences between me and Florence so obvious? She got all the affection, and I got nothing. Yet, I was hurt too, even more than her. Considering my mother gave birth to me, one would expect she’d defend me.

Instead, she supported Dad, saying, “Your father is right; you should obey. And don’t you blame anyone for your wound either. If you weren’t so unruly, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

Even after everything, it still surprised me that my family cared more about their reputation than me. Meanwhile, I had been trying to impress them. How foolish of me.

I broke into a sarcastic smile and fixed my gaze on Neil. “What about you, Neil? Do you want to go through with this?” I had never truly revealed my wildness before, and it felt somewhat satisfying.

Meanwhile, he was taken aback by the question and hesitated for a moment. But then he said, “Your father is right. It’s about our families’ reputations. ‘No’ is not an option here.” His eyes raked over me in judgment. “A Ryder woman must be presentable, and not so feral. You clearly need to be tamed. But that can wait. For now, we must attend the function.”

His words were a slap in the face. The man I admired and looked forward to starting a new life with had somehow vanished. He was not the Neil I knew. What had changed him so much? It couldn’t have been Florence alone.

I scoffed and then nodded. “You’re right,” I said, moving to my dresser. I picked up a cotton scarf and spoke as I wrapped the wound with it. “I’m too much for this well-mannered society. To think I spent years wondering about my parents. The word ‘family’ had excited me. But not anymore. I want out now.”

Scowling, I turned to face them with a sneer. “Your opinions are worthless to me; I am not a Ryder, and your reputation is no longer my concern. You are free to figure it out yourselves. I’m not a pawn in the game like your”—I darted my gaze back to Florence—“beloved marionette.”

If they wanted to treated me like an outsider, so be it. I had to stop fooling myself. They would never consider me one of them.

“Bellatrix! Watch your words!” Mom yelled. “I won’t mind slapping you until you learn your manners!” She grabbed my unhurt hand, pulling me with her. “You’re lucky you have an event to attend. Otherwise—”

“I said no!” I wrenched my hand away. “Leave me alone!”

Tears threatened to spill, yet I held them back. “I should never have returned. Father wishes I died. So do me a favor, just pretend that’s what’s happened. Consider me dead, and live with the daughter you want!” I stormed out of that suffocating place, not caring about the chaos I left behind. My tears of rage finally flowed free. I was leaving this goddamn hell!

But then my long gown caught on something on the floor, nearly making me trip. Annoyed, I grabbed the lower part, tore it off, and tossed it away with trembling hands. My tears knew no bounds. Harshly, I wiped them away and ran outside as Mother called after me.

If they caught me this time, they would use force to save their reputation. I couldn’t let that happen, so I ran toward the main entrance, glancing behind me to ensure no one was going to catch me. I crossed the threshold of the villa in a full-blown sprint and hit what felt like a human wall.

It threw me back, and I thought I was going to fall. But then a strong arm wrapped around my waist, holding me up and pulling me toward him.