Audrey's POV
For a second, I was completely stunned. This wasn't right. This wasn't in the book at all. In the novel, it was the female lead's mother who remarried into a powerful family, giving the heroine powerful stepbrothers who would later protect her. From me.
This can't be happening. I can't be wrong.
My mother watched my reaction, a slight, satisfied smile on her lips. "I can't keep my husband waiting," she said. "If you still want to walk, be my guest."
She turned and slipped back into the car. The engine purred, and it drove smoothly up the long driveway, leaving me standing there in the dust.
By the time I reached the grand entrance of the house, my mother and her mysterious new husband had already gone inside. I knocked, and the door was opened by the butler. He recognized me instantly, and his face soured like old milk.
"How did you get in?" he demanded, already trying to close the door.
"I just came to return their property," I said, holding up the bag. "Trust me, I don't deserve to be part of the Blake family."
He wasn't having it. "You need to leave. Now." He pushed the door harder, but I was faster. I shoved my foot in the door and pushed it wider, stepping inside with my bag.
The place was buzzing. I could hear the low hum of chatter and clinking glasses from a nearby room. Everyone was dressed in luxury, silks and suits. And then there was me, in a t-shirt and shorts, holding a giant black trash bag. I stood out. Perfectly.
"I said, get out!" the butler hissed, flustered.
I ignored him and walked straight toward the noise. I just needed to find Spike's parents, dump this dress, and leave. I scanned the room, and there they were, standing by a grand fireplace. They were talking to a tall, imposing man. And standing right beside him, her hand resting lightly on his arm, was my mother.
I walked right up to them.
Spike's parents saw me first. His mother's face twisted into a mask of pure disgust. "You!" she spat. "How dare you show your face here? I wouldn't accept you as my daughter-in-law even if you had managed to go through with the wedding!"
"Fortunately for both of us, I didn't," I said, my voice calm. I dropped the nylon bag on the floor between us with a dull thud. "I just came to return this ugly wedding dress. It's yours."
"You should also check the news," I added coolly. "Your son is making quite the history. It's all over the internet by now."
I finally let myself look at the man standing with my mother. He was tall, with a sharp jaw and eyes that felt like they could see right through me. He didn't look angry or pleased. He just watched, taking everything in.
My mother gasped, her hand flying to her chest. "You were getting married today?"
I gave her a flat, unimpressed look. "Yes. That's one of the many things you would have been aware of if you'd been around. But here we are."
Spike's mother looked back and forth between me and my mother, her anger shifting into stunned confusion. "Patricia... this... this is your daughter?"
My mother straightened her spine, a new confidence in her voice. "Yes, this is my daughter." She then turned to the imposing man. "Darling, this is my daughter, Audrey." She looked back at me, her expression tight. "Audrey, this is your stepfather, Mr. Moreno."
Moreno? The Moreno family? A cold shock ran through me.
I looked directly at Mr. Moreno, meeting his piercing gaze. "It's a... surprise to meet you," I said, my voice even. "But you don't have to acknowledge someone like me as your stepdaughter. Given the life I've lived and the mess you just walked into, I wouldn't blame you."
I turned my attention back to my mother. "I hope I never cross paths with you again."
Then I turned on my heel and walked away.
And then I felt it.
An invisible force slammed down on me, thick and heavy as concrete. It stole the air from my lungs and locked my muscles in place. I couldn't move a single step. My heart hammered against my ribs, a trapped bird.
Around me, the gasps and murmurs of the crowd grew louder, tinged with fear.
Shit. I'd forgotten. I'm not just in a romance novel. I'm in a fantasy romance novel. A world where supernatural abilities exist. I'd read that the Moreno family wasn't just powerful in wealth, they were powerful in supernatural abilities too. And I had just disrespected the head of that family.
I heard my mother's voice, a panicked, syrupy whisper. "My love, I am so sorry for her outburst. She… she wasn't raised with any class."
Duh. I raised myself.
As suddenly as it came, the overwhelming pressure vanished. I gasped, doubling over and sucking in a ragged breath. Before I could straighten up, a hand clamped around my wrist, nails digging in. It was my mother, her face a mask of cold fury as she dragged me away from the staring crowd, out of the grand room and into a quieter hallway.
Once we were clear of spectators, she shoved my wrist away and rounded on me. "What kind of behavior was that?" she hissed.
"What behavior, Mrs. Priscilla?" I shot back, rubbing my wrist.
"You will learn to behave," she said, her voice low and venomous. "Unless you want to suffer the true wrath of Mr. Moreno. That was just a warning."
"I didn't ask for this!" I snapped, the frustration finally boiling over. "I don't want to be involved. I don't want anything to do with you, or your new family!"
Priscilla let out a short, sharp laugh. "You have no choice. I will not have my daughter living in the slums while I live in luxury. What will people think of me?"
My anger crystallized into something cold and sharp. "No one needs to know I'm your daughter. I certainly don't need a mother like you."
She looked at me, a flicker of genuine annoyance in her eyes. "I thought you would have gotten over that by now. I didn't abandon you, Audrey. I went to find greener pastures. And I found them." She gestured around her.
"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" I asked, my voice dangerously quiet.
"I don't care if it makes you feel better," she said, her expression hardening into something final. "I don't care what you want. You will do as I say. Or I will make your life so difficult."
With that, she turned and walked back toward the party, leaving me standing alone in the hallway.
The butler practically shoved me out the front door, his relief at my departure palpable.
I didn't care. I just needed to get away from this nest of vipers. I strode down the pathway.
Coincidence has a nasty sense of timing. Just as I reached the main gates, a familiar sports car screeched to a halt, blocking my path. The door flew open and an enraged Spike stormed out.
"You!" he snarled, his face twisted. "What are you doing here? Do you think coming to beg my family will change anything? That you'll get another chance? Forget it! I will never accept your apology for humiliating me!"
This idiot is so full of himself. He actually thought I was here to beg.
"It's the opposite, actually," I said, my voice dripping with scorn. "I told your parents to check the trending gossip. You should be less worried about me and more worried about the explanation you're going to give them."
I tried to walk away, but his hand shot out and grabbed my arm, hard. What is with everyone and dragging me around today?
"I will make you suffer for this," he hissed, his grip tightening. "I will ruin you."
"Bring it," I challenged, meeting his glare.
Enraged, he grabbed the collar of my t-shirt and yanked. I heard a sickening rip. The fabric tore at the shoulder. My eyes widened. Was he actually trying to strip me naked right here?
My confirmation came a second later. "Guard!" he yelled. "Help me get this trash off my property! Let's see how she likes being exposed!"
He was completely unhinged. As he reached for me again, I didn't hesitate. I put all my weight into a sharp, open-handed slap that cracked across his face. His head snapped to the side, stunned.
I didn't give him a second to recover. I grabbed the back of his head and slammed his face down onto the hood of his own car. A satisfying, metallic thud echoed, followed by his pained cry. "Help! Someone restrain this crazy bitch!"
Two security guards rushed over and pulled me off him, pinning my arms behind my back. Spike straightened up, a trickle of blood running from his nose. He was screaming curses and insults, but I just smiled. I felt a thrilling, savage joy. It was worth it. I noticed another car had pulled up silently.
"Throw her in the dungeon!" he shrieked, pointing a trembling finger at me. "She assaulted me! Lock her up!"
But a new, smooth voice cut through his tantrum. "What a fascinating spectacle."
We all turned.Two men had gotten out and were leaning against the door, watching us with identical expressions of cold amusement.
Spike's rage instantly morphed into panic. "M-Mr. Moreno?" he stammered, wiping the blood from his nose.
Moreno. My stomach dropped. These were the twins. My stepbrothers. The ones I never asked for.