Chapter 5 Her stupid jealousy

"Sister? Have you lost your mind, Father? My mother only had one child," I sneered, casting a disdainful glance at Nerissa and Eve.

"You know, there's a saying that fits perfectly here... 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.' It describes both Nerissa and Eve, wouldn't you agree? Her mother seduced my father and shattered his mate's heart, and now her daughter is aiming for the same. Ironic, isn't it?" I continued heatedly, my face shadowed by contempt.

A cold silence fell over the hallway as my father, Nerissa, and Eve stood frozen in shock. For years, I had kept silent, but with my life on the cusp of a major change, there was no need to maintain the pretense any longer.

The stunned silence lasted only a few seconds before my father erupted in fury, shouting incoherently as Eve and Nerissa struggled to calm him down. I watched their frantic attempts with an emotionless detachment. It was about time they faced a few hard truths.

"Anastasia, that's enough! You've gone too far! Just look at the state of your father! After everything I've done..." Nerissa snapped, trying desperately to soothe his wolf as she grappled with her husband.

"Everything that you've done?!" I laughed incredulously, unable to mask my disdain.

"Which part should I be thankful for, Nerissa? The part where you seduced my father into breaking his sacred mate bond? Perhaps when my mother finally lost her will to fight and gave up on life? Or maybe I should express my gratitude for the times you pushed me out of this poor excuse for a family, excluding me in favor of your own blood?" I spat, my words dripping with contempt.

Eve tried to console her mother before furiously stalking toward me, stopping just inches from my face. We glared at each other coldly, the animosity between us almost crackling in the air.

"You have no right to speak to my mother that way. But you were right about one thing earlier," Eve snarled, a sardonic grin playing on her lips.

"Oh really? I'm surprised you'd agree with me on anything," I responded, narrowing my eyes warily.

"If there's some truth to what you said, I'll happily admit it. 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree,' wasn't it? You're absolutely right," she smirked, lifting her chin arrogantly, glaring down at me.

I braced myself for the words Eve was about to unleash. If she agreed with something, it was only ever to serve her own agenda.

"You were right about that statement. Want to know why?"

"Not particularly, Eve. Your little dramatics bore me. I have better things to do with my time," I replied casually, turning to leave.

Eve's hand shot out, gripping my arm painfully, her fingernails digging into my flesh as she smiled cruelly.

"Oh, you'll stay and listen, you weak little bitch," Eve hissed quietly, making sure no one else could hear.

"You and your mother are the same. Weak-willed, insipid wretches who can't hold onto their men. When they're taken away, you blame everyone but yourselves. Look at you, you're as pathetic as she was," she sneered, her words piercing with venom.

Before I could stop myself, I reacted purely on instinct, my hand whipping through the air in a swift arc. The sharp sound of the slap echoing off Eve's face resonated in the room. It was like watching something unfold in slow motion as my hand connected with her cheek, causing her head to snap to the side. The force of the impact knocked her slightly off balance, and she released her grip on my arm.

I stood there, breathing heavily, trying desperately to rein in the anger that surged through me. I had never wanted to pummel someone as badly as I did Eve right at that moment. She turned her head slightly, grinning at me from the floor, and the madness in her eyes startled me, sending a chill down my spine as I stared back in disbelief.

"Do you know why Brent chose me over you?" Eve laughed, the sound of her voice tinged with a hint of madness as she drew in a long, slow breath.

She stood up unsteadily and faced me again, keeping just out of my reach this time. Her eyes glowed with a hostile fire as she smoothed down her clothes. "It's because I'm carrying his child," she giggled coyly.

I froze, a chill sweeping over me. It couldn't be, could it? That would mean this had happened more than once. As I wrestled with the conflicting emotions swirling inside me, staring blankly ahead in shock, Eve smirked and began to slowly circle me.

"Such a pity that in all the years you spent with him, he simply couldn't get me out of his mind. You weren't enough, Anastasia. You'll never be enough. When he left you in the evenings, he came to warm my bed. To him, you were just a title, a means to inherit a kingdom," she intoned quietly, her venomous words leaving painful marks on my heart.

All those times Brent hurried away, pretending it was due to assignments, family meetings, or Bloody Crescent Pack business—it had all been hastily concocted excuses so he could be with my stepsister. And I had been ignorant of it the entire time. I felt like such a fool.

Despite the overwhelming urge to scream, cry, and rage, I somehow managed to retain my composure, trying desperately to close off my heart from the pain. I dug my fingernails into my palm to distract myself as Eve continued her taunting.

"Such a pitiful little wretch," Eve sneered. "Don't worry. I'll talk to my father soon enough, and then it will be Brent and me who are married." She smirked triumphantly as she stopped her predatory circling, standing in front of me once more.

She swept her gaze over me, her disdain and contempt radiating from her. Leaning in close, she attempted to intimidate me. "I told you, Anastasia, I will take everything from you, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

I stared at her, feeling all the fight drain out of me. Why should I care now? I had a new plan, one that didn't include ever seeing Brent or Eve again.

As a strange sense of calm settled over me, dulling the ache in my heart, I smiled serenely at Eve and almost laughed at the confused expression on her face. "You can have him, Eve. He's not worth my time or energy. I have bigger and better things to do than play your little games. Good luck with your new child and impending marriage. I hope you don't come to regret your actions."

With that, I gathered my skirts in my hands and turned to make my way up the staircase. The sooner I was out of this ridiculous dress, the better.