I was speechless with rage. Only two words echoed in my mind: Disgusting.
I once foolishly believed I was brought back because of family affection. I was naïve enough to hope. But in the end, I was nothing more than a pawn, a sacrificial lamb to secure their biological daughter's future.
Lauren's eyes swept over me like a vulture circling a corpse.
"You don't look too bad now. Three days ago, you were like a beggar, but now you're wearing Chanel, worth tens of millions. If it weren't for your father and me, you wouldn't even dare dream of this."
I didn't respond. I just stared at her with ice-cold eyes.
Lauren continued, her voice sharp and bitter:
"If you know what's good for you, keep pleasing Captian. Don't provoke him. Otherwise… if you die, you've only got your own stupidity to blame."
I narrowed my eyes slightly. I didn't expect her to curse me to my face so blatantly.
"Don't worry. Even if I die, I'll take a few down with me." I smiled faintly, my voice steady and sharp as a blade.
Lauren's eyes widened in shock. She probably never expected the little 'country girl' to know how to strike back.
"Hey now, watch your mouth..." She pointed a trembling finger at my face. How ironic. Looking at that hand, I couldn't count how many times she'd hit me growing up.
But I didn't blink. My voice was icy and firm:
"If I go back with bruises on my face, what do you think Captian will do? Let you off? And besides…" My tone sank, laced with mockery and disdain, "How dare you call me disrespectful? You barely raised me. Worry about losing your own reputation before you judge mine."
Her hand froze mid-air. I saw anger flare in her eyes, but alongside it hesitation, fear. She was clearly afraid I'd tell Captian.
"Enough! Both of you, stop!"
Tony's voice slammed into the room like a hammer on taut strings. He descended the stairs. Oh, how I thought he might avoid me forever.
Apparently, his words still held some weight for Lauren. She reluctantly lowered her hand, her face twisted with rage.
I tapped my fingers lightly on the table, feigning calm as my heart pounded violently.
"Father," I turned to him, "You're complicit in all of this too, aren't you? You're an accomplice."
Instead of answering, he snapped:
"You dare speak to your father like that?"
I let out a dry, hollow laugh, unfazed by his glare:
"Father? You call yourself that after selling your daughter for money? What a joke."
Tony's face flushed crimson. But I wasn't done.
"I came back today for two things. First: to collect my belongings. Second: to make this clear — from now on, I have no connection to this so-called family."
Silence fell, like they'd both been slapped across the face.
"I've paid off whatever invisible debt you imagined I owed. From this day on, the Baileys are nothing but a filthy part of my past."
"Ungrateful brat!" Tony slammed his hand on the table, his face contorted with fury.
Lauren quickly grabbed his hand, her voice dripping with scheming:
"Let it go. The girl's arrogant now because Captian dotes on her. Let her talk when she gets thrown out, she'll remember her place."
I sneered:
"If I ever get kicked out of Captian's house, I'll walk out with my head high unlike some people, who only know how to lie and deceive. If I were you two, I'd be so ashamed I couldn't look anyone in the eye for the rest of my life. But clearly, your faces are thick, your hearts steady. Impressive."
"You… you…"
Tony and Lauren were boiling with rage. Their polished, fake composure shattered in an instant. The fire in Lauren's eyes burned away the paper-thin mask she always wore. But I wasn't afraid, I found it amusing. They looked like two fires ready to erupt, but unfortunately, where I stand now, they can't touch me.
"What, you plan to beat me like when I was a kid? Too bad. Guess Mom's luck ran thick, she randomly picked a good husband for me. If you dare lay a hand on me now…"
I traced a finger lightly across my throat, mimicking a slicing motion.
"Your whole family won't even have time to scream before you're dead."
Lauren visibly shuddered. I turned to leave.
Behind me, she gritted her teeth, her voice sharp as a venomous snake:
"Enjoy Captian's affection while it lasts. When he's bored of you, he'll toss you away like a stray dog."
I didn't reply, only curled my lips, adjusting the strap of my bag.
"When that day comes," my voice turned cold, "he won't spare any of you either."
Leaving the Baileys' house, I swore I'd never set foot there again.
Outside, Ronan leaned against the wall, a cigarette between his fingers. Smoke curled around his face, the sharp scent stinging my nose.
I frowned. I hated cigarettes, they reeked, ruined your health, and reeked of recklessness I could never stomach.
"Well, look who's back. Done bonding with your beloved parents?" Ronan teased, snubbing out his cigarette on the wall and flicking it away.
I didn't answer, scanning the area. No other guards in sight. If I wanted to run, now might be my best shot.
"Ready to go?" Ronan asked, lazily opening the car door.
"I'm not ready to leave yet," I replied softly, testing his reaction.
He tilted his head, eyes narrowing:
"So, where does the Baileys' little princess want to go?"
"I'm hungry," I said, my gaze drifting across the street to a small, bustling Korean eatery. "I used to have a friend who took me there. I loved it. When I lived with my family, they never let me have simple street food. But now, they have no say. I'll eat whatever I want."
Ronan grimaced like I'd said something offensive.
"Street food? You serious?"
"If you don't like it, stay here." I feigned nonchalance, though my heart was in turmoil. If he stayed behind, I could vanish into the crowd.
Ronan snorted but didn't budge.
"Go ahead. I'll wait here." He lit another cigarette.
I froze in surprise, masking it quickly. Every step away from the car felt like walking on eggshells. Crossing the street, my mind spun planning every possible escape. If I slipped into the crowd, he wouldn't find me. He couldn't shoot recklessly in such a crowd. Freedom was within arm's reach.
But then… a chilling sensation crept down my spine. I felt eyes watching me from the shadows. I stopped in the middle of the road, my heart racing.
Someone was watching. Captian anticipated my attempt to escape? Did he deliberately let me go to test my loyalty?
That thought doused me like ice water. If I ran, would I even make it to the end of the block? Or would I get gunned down in broad daylight?
Captian controlled this city like the back of his hand. Escaping him was suicide.
I sighed, shoulders drooping, turning back. The faint hope that flickered moments ago was snuffed out like a candle in the wind.
Ronan puffed his cigarette, raising an eyebrow as I returned.
"Done already? Did you even eat, or did you shove food in your mouth to spit it back out later like some hamster?"
"Too crowded. Lost my appetite," I replied coolly, climbing into the car. "Besides… I've been out long enough. I… miss Captian."