Chapter 4 Cut The Pathetic Act

Valerie's mother, Eunice Todd, let out a huff, her face twisting with irritation. "Jesus, Valerie-use your own goddamn hands! If you're that hungry, cut the steak yourself!"

Valerie slid her gaze toward Eunice, one brow lifting in cool amusement. "Paulina had my fiance cut her steaks for three years. Letting her cut the steak for me isn't exactly outrageous."

A stiff, uneasy hush settled across the dining room.

The submissive girl they all remembered-quiet, dutiful, harmless-had vanished, replaced by someone sharp-tongued and fearless. She didn't hesitate to challenge her own mother, the woman she'd always respected.

And of course Valerie dared.

She'd spent years treating Eunice with respect, measuring every word, all because the Todd family had fed her a lie.

They'd insisted she suffered memory loss after a devastating illness, and that Eunice had sacrificed bone marrow to save her life.

Now that her memories had snapped back into place, Valerie understood everything-Eunice hadn't sacrificed a thing for her.

Back then, when she'd been unconscious in a hospital bed with no guardian in sight, the staff and police had run her DNA and traced it to the Todd family.

Instead of showing up herself, Eunice had sent the butler to drag her back like some misplaced parcel.

Eunice stiffened, blindsided by Valerie's blunt retort-especially the cutting hint that Paulina was involved with her own sister's fiance.

Her jaw tightened, ready to unleash a tirade, but Paulina spoke up first, her voice quivering with well-rehearsed innocence. "Valerie, please don't get jealous. You vanished from the hotel last night. I searched everywhere and ended up with a fever. Kayden only looked after me for your sake. Please don't take it out on him."

After that, she flicked Valerie a bold, triumphant look before pivoting toward Kayden with wide, watery eyes. "Kayden, please don't be angry at Valerie for staying out. I'm sure she didn't do it on purpose."

Kayden's face chilled in an instant. His knuckles whitened around his knife as he glared at Valerie. "Valerie, where the hell were you last night? As my fiancee, do you have any idea how improper that was?"

Valerie met his glare with a steady, frigid stare. "Funny hearing you preach about propriety when you've been cozying up to your fiancee's sister in plain sight. You fuss over Paulina more than you've ever cared about your own mother. Does your mother know that?"

A furious red spread across Kayden's cheeks, betraying the storm behind his silence.

Eunice shot to her feet, fury cracking through her polished facade. "Valerie! You vanished for an entire night and came back picking fights, slandering your sister, and disrespecting Kayden. If I'd known you'd turn into such a disgusting little shit, I would've left you to rot in that hospital."

Valerie let out a low, icy breath. "Disgusting little shit? Are you blind? Can't you see Paulina throwing herself at Kayden? Or are you just used to your husband cheating on you? Is that the misery you want me to swallow too?"

Eunice went stiff, her fingers shaking as the room fell silent. Valerie had landed the blow deep. "Shut your damn mouth! Stop spewing garbage! How did I end up with a daughter like you? Paulina is a million times the woman you are-at least she doesn't stoop to stealing and plagiarizing her sister's work!"

Jason Todd, Valerie's father, finally stepped in, his tone razor-thin. "That's enough. Staying out for a night is one thing, but smearing your sister just to dodge accountability is another. Get your ass to your room right now and don't come out unless you want a punishment!"

In this house, a punishment meant the whip.

When Valerie had first returned to the Todd family, Paulina had accused her of stealing a bracelet and Jason had punished her without a second thought.

Five strikes. Valerie had collapsed afterward, half-dead, stitches ripping open across a body that hadn't even healed from her hospital stay.

As the scolding piled onto Valerie again, Paulina's lashes lowered in a delicate show of hurt, yet triumph shimmered in her eyes like a secret victory.

So what if Valerie finally decided to speak up today? It didn't change a damn thing. The more noise Valerie made, the easier it would be to shove her out of the Todd family for good.

That poisonous thought flickered through Paulina's gaze before she wiped it clean, slipping on a look of concern. She stepped in close and clasped Valerie's hand as if offering comfort. "Valerie, please don't take it to heart. Mom and Kayden only raised their voices because they care about you. Why would you talk to them like that?"

Her lashes fluttered, all fragile innocence, while her nails sank into Valerie's skin with pressure, sharp enough to sting.

"We don't mind you wanting a little fun, but staying out all night? We were scared something had happened. A girl's reputation matters. If you keep acting this way, you'll drag the whole family down."

The words were wrapped in silk, but the undertone was a knife-branding Valerie reckless, shameless, and a walking scandal.

Valerie yanked her hand free, icy contempt flashing across her face. Before Paulina could push the performance any further, the crack of Valerie's palm tore through the room like a thunderclap.

"Cut the pathetic act, you two-faced little bitch," Valerie growled, each word sharp enough to draw blood. "I stayed out all night because you drugged me and tried to feed me to that filthy old bastard from the Wade family. Or did your conscience already block that part out?"