Hours later, I was seated in the backseat of a sleek, luxurious black car as it sped its way to the Norton estate.
Taking in the scenery and the distance of the drive, I couldn't help but wonder how far I had wandered from home last night, how far I was lost.
My fist clenched on my thighs, my heart thudded hard against my chest, my thoughts raced.
Several speculations about what to expect from the Nortons clashed through my mind, though I might be uncertain about other things, but I am certain of one thing—I will always be treated like a servant.
The car rolled to a stop in front of the Norton mansion, and for a long moment, I couldn't move. "We are here, Ma'am," the driver said.
My hands stayed clenched around my small purse as I stared through the window at the house I used to call home.
It still looked the same—grand, polished, and magnificently imposing, yet all I could feel was the coldness I had been treated with over the years.
I know I was adopted and was never their blood, yet I was treated less than a servant in their household even when I bore the title of the second daughter.
With a deep breath, I pushed the door open. "Thanks for the hard work," I said to the driver and stepped out.
"No, no… hard work, Ma'am." He stumbled. With a soft smile on my lips, I closed the door, but the car didn't move forward. I could still feel the gaze of the driver trained on me.
With slow, measured steps, I walked up to the large black gate and knocked lightly. There's no doubt someone must have seen me through the camera and went inside to report.
I waited patiently; just when I was about to lose my patience, the gate was opened, and the car sped off as though it had never been there.
I glanced in its direction and sighed. It seemed he was waiting for confirmation.
The gate opened wider, and I stepped in. Several guards were there waiting, yet not one of the gate guards greeted me. Their eyes slid past me as though I were invisible.
As usual, the spacious courtyard had its varieties of flowers blooming, their fragrance blending into the air, calming my nerves.
I pushed open the double doors; the familiar fragrance of lavender and mint washed over me. It had been the signature scent of the Nortons.
My eyes scanned the living room, which was silent as a cathedral, and yet I could almost hear the ghosts of laughter from years ago, back when I was foolish enough to believe I belonged here.
"You're finally back?" Phina sneered.
The sound of that voice made my stomach twist. I turned slowly toward the grand staircase.
Phina stood there, draped in a silk robe, her perfect hair cascading down her shoulders, her lips curled up into that cruel, mocking smirk I'd grown up with.
"Phina, where's Father?" I asked, my voice soft and unbelievably sweet.
"Oh, so now you remember you have a father?" She descended the staircase like a queen returning to her throne. "You've got some nerve showing your face here after what you did."
"I didn't do anything," I said quietly, though my heart raged, but this time, I had decided to beat her at her own games.
She laughed wildly and unbridled, and when she stopped, she stared at me. "You haven't answered me; where do you think you are going?"
I raised my head to meet her gaze. "Of course, I still have to come back," I retorted softly, so it felt harmless. "Besides, with my sister marrying out, I still have to bear the Norton's name."
Phina's fist clenched lightly as she took slow steps down the stairs, a smile tugging at her lips. "Bear the Norton's name?"
I nodded. "It shouldn't have been so, but with my sister taking my place, what do you expect?" I smirked, meeting her gaze head-on.
Her face twisted with fury, her eyes blazing, but I simply shrugged.
Seeing her expression, a cold smirk tugged at my lips. She had never hidden her dislike for me to bear Norton's name.
She had always felt I was used in measuring her worth. But she never knew I wasn't exceptionally happy to bear that name. It was quite synonymous with pain.
"The Norton family? I dare not continue to bear that name—not now, not ever again," I mused, but it felt quite satisfying seeing her face twisted.
I closed the distance to stand at the foot of the step, my gaze soft and harmless. "Sister, you must remember that a woman is like water thrown away. You can't come back, okay?"
"Stella!" she shrieked.
I raised a brow. "What? Were you planning to remain in your father's house when you are married out next tomorrow?"
Her lips parted several times, yet no proper word escaped her lips as they quivered, her fist clenching.
I smiled at her countenance, though I knew I wouldn't break her at once, but then seeing her furious was already promising.
Years back, I couldn't counter her because I always felt it unnecessary. Later, when I met Bruce, he had always asked me to ignore her tantrums… Now that I think about it, I should have known he was dealing with her behind my back.
"You must have had a pleasant night with some wild man… otherwise, how do you manage to get clothed in such an expensive gown?" she smirked.
I laughed softly. "Shouldn't my sister be more concerned about her fiancé than my gown?" I said, twirling around to give her a better view.
Her gaze narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I didn't mean anything. I just want to remind you what your purpose should be," I said.
Her fist clenched by her side. "Stella, you know what…"
I raised a brow, but then another voice sliced through the tension. "What's going on here?"
I stiffened and then relaxed. I could never mistake that voice for ten lifetimes; it had been etched in my memories deeper than I could imagine.
With a deep breath, I slowly turned around to meet his gaze, taking on the countenance of a daughter who had been wronged.
"Dad," I called softly.
"Are you finally back?" he asked coldly.
I nodded.
"Then I think you should stop embarrassing this family further, and next time this repeats, I will have no option but to strike your name out of the family's record and send you back into the streets."
I glanced at Phina; she wasn't happy with the arrangement, yet I wasn't oblivious to the fact that James Norton always had a purpose for everything.
"I understand."
He turned around to head upstairs but paused in his footsteps. "One of our partners had interest in you… to make you his wife."
"Dad…" I called out in feigned shock.
His cold gaze met mine. "What? After your embarrassment on the family, someone was willing to take you, shouldn't you be grateful?"