A loud slap hit Poppy's face. Her head turned to the side, and her skin stung, but she didn't wince.
Instead, she slowly turned back to him.
Richard Highland. Bella's father.
His eyes were full of anger and disgust.
"You should have died in that hospital. At least then, you wouldn't shame this family. If you want to ruin yourself, fine. But how dare you disgrace the Highland name in front of the Langfords?!"
Poppy stood in silence.
"Do you even know what you've done?!" he shouted.
Grace folded her arms. "Everyone was staring at us like we were crazy, Dad. Mrs. Langford even sent us out after Mom begged! I don't blame her. Not after Bella attacked James and Sarah like some madwoman!"
"I don't know how we'll face the Langfords again," Evelyn said, frowning. "Claudia was furious. This stupid girl is going to destroy everything we worked for! How could she attack her husband's nephew the moment she steps out of the hospital?!"
Husband's nephew?
Poppy's head spun. James once told her he had no family left. Just his mother and Sarah, his so-called sister.
Her head throbbed as fragmented memories pushed to the surface. It wasn't clear but she frowned at the truth that pieced together.
Bella was forced into a marriage. And even worse, into the very family that betrayed and killed her!
How could this happen?!
Her stomach turned, but outwardly she remained calm.
"Bella!" Grace snapped. "Why are you just standing there? Father is talking to you!"
Poppy blinked.
"She's gone crazy," Evelyn sneered. "I didn't want to believe it, but that accident must've broken her brain!"
Richard's face hardened. "Crazy or not, you will apologize when we meet the Langfords tomorrow. And you will accept whatever punishment they give," he said, then he walked out.
Evelyn followed him, but Grace took her time.
She studied Poppy from head to toe, still unable to believe she was Bella.
In just a year, she had grown thin, almost unrecognizable.
Grace knew her mother had told the doctors to cut her food while she was in coma. Some days, they were even instructed to not give any at all.
She wanted Bella to at least lose a little weight before she woke up, so that her husband wouldn't be disgusted. Now Bella looked different.
If she knew things would turn out this way, she would've kicked against that idea.
Her eyes zeroed on her facial features. Has she always been this pretty?
Jealousy stabbed Grace's chest, but she pushed it down.
So what if Bella was pretty now? She was still married to a mad man. All this beauty was going to be locked away with him.
Who knows, he might even disfigure her while they are locked up together.
She scoffed and left.
When Poppy realized she was alone, she fell to the floor.
Her mind was finally clear. She now understood what was happening.
Once again, she was trapped in a marriage. With the relative of the man who had destroyed her in her past life.
Poppy laughed hysterically. How cruel could the universe be?!
But her laughter suddenly dissolved into a frown, and rage consumed her.
If the universe wanted to mess with her again, then she was in for a treat. This time, she would fight back!
Her insides burned with mischief.
She couldn't wait for tomorrow.
...
[Greenville Estate; 5:00 PM]
The Highland family arrived right on time. They knew the Langfords hated lateness, and Richard, more than anyone, wanted to impress Old Mrs. Langford.
This was supposed to be the first time he'd meet her face-to-face. Everyone said the old woman decided everything in the family. If she disliked you, you were finished. Richard couldn't risk that.
The garden they walked into looked like a dream. It was beautifully decorated, and at the center, a long table was set with silverware and flowers.
But the moment the Highlands stepped in, the warmth of the garden turned cold.
The Langfords were already there.
Claudia sat in the middle with James right beside her and Sarah leaning close to him. Opposite them sat Isabel and Monica with their husbands, Claudia's sisters-in-laws.
Every existing member of the Langford's were present, everyone except Old Mrs. Langford, Claudia's grandmother-in-law, and James's great grandmother.
"They're here," Claudia said coldly. "And right on time."
Poppy frowned slightly as she stared at Claudia, James, and Sarah. Her blood boiled, but she tried to stay calm.
Richard forced a smile. "We wouldn't dare keep everyone waiting. It's such an honor to be here, Mrs. Langford. Thank you for having us."
"Sit."
They walked to the long table. Richard, Evelyn, and Grace slid into the seats beside Isabel's husband, leaving just two seats unoccupied — the one meant for Old Mrs. Langford, and the other right beside Sarah.
Poppy's eyes narrowed at the setting. She felt her self-control slipping, but the unmistakable horror that flickered in Sarah's eyes calmed her.
Smiling softly, she walked slowly to the table and sat down.
Sarah flinched when she sat down, but she forced a smile and pretended something wasn't wrong. After all, she had to keep up her appearance as the good, calm, and lovely daughter-in-law.
James's eyes, however, never left Poppy. His jaw twitched as he stared at her. The other Langfords also stared at her scornfully, but Poppy didn't care.
The tension in the room grew thick.
Then the sound of slow footsteps broke it.
Old Mrs. Langford had arrived.
At once, everyone rose to their feet. No one dared remain seated.
The old woman walked in, leaning on a cane. Her presence alone carried a commanding weight that was impossible to ignore.
Behind her followed a man in an impeccable black suit. He guided her with care until she reached the head of the table and helped her sit.
"Grandma, you're finally here," Claudia said with a small smile. "We thought you might skip this gathering too."
Old Mrs. Langford tapped her cane lightly on the ground. "And why would I skip it? Don't tell me you're still so narrow-minded, Claudia. I would never miss something so important."
Claudia's smile froze for a second before she forced it back.
But Poppy caught it.
Her heart stirred at the conclusion that the old woman and Claudia weren't on the best terms. That was something she could use later.
Old Mrs. Langford's eyes swept slowly across the table until they stopped on Poppy. Her gaze sharpened. "Who are you?"
"She's Bella, Granny," Monica, the first granddaughter of the family, said quickly with disgust.
The old lady raised a brow.
"The mad girl who attacked James and Sarah at their baby shower, humiliating us all."
Isabel sneered, "If it wasn't for the NDA we forced on the guests, we'd have probably been all over the news. She nearly destroyed our reputation in one night!"
Old Mrs. Langford frowned. "If she's this much trouble, why is she here in our home?"
The room went still. Then the man behind Old Mrs. Langford bent and whispered something into her ears.
Whatever he told the Old woman only made her frown deepen.
Her eyes narrowed on Poppy's face. "So... you're Alaric's wife."