Ashley
The slap.
I knew I should have expected it when I got home. During my entire ride back, my phone had been blowing up with calls from my family, Owen, and a flood of texts and social media notifications.
Since Owen had involved the paparazzi, I knew the news would have spread online, and the only person who would sympathize with me was my grandfather—the only one who truly cared about me.
The rest wouldn't even understand why I turned down Owen's proposal.
I was right, because as I walked in, Phaedra was already in my face, slapping and yelling at me.
My father, as usual, sat there with his head lowered, just like he always did whenever Phaedra and Ariana started harassing me.
I knew he wouldn't say a word. I had dealt with his silence for years, enduring it until my plan to marry Owen finally happened.
"Have you decided to drag this family through the mud?" Phaedra kept yelling, pushing me backward with her hands. "Are you trying to destroy this family's reputation?"
Ariana suddenly burst into tears, standing up from the couch where she had been sitting beside my father. "That's not all," she sniffled, pointing an accusing finger at me. "I saw her leaving with Christian, and she didn't even bother to stop!"
A grin formed on my face when I saw her in pain, crying over me being with someone she liked. "Why would I stop when you're sleeping with Owen?" I accused her, even though I wasn't sure they were together yet. But since it had happened in the future, it stood to reason that it might have already begun in the past. Somehow, they had found a way to grow their relationship.
Phaedra stopped shoving my shoulders and turned to my father. "Can you hear what your daughter is saying?" she yelled. "She's accusing her sister of sleeping with her boyfriend—again! Not only did she humiliate her sister in front of the media, but she's doing it here too!" She began her typical dramatic crying, putting two fingers on her forehead. "Why does my daughter deserve to be treated this way?"
I frowned and folded my arms, waiting to see if my father would say anything. I knew what would happen—he would side with Phaedra, just like always. He never listened to my side of the story, always supporting Phaedra and Ariana.
"Aren't you going to say something?" Phaedra yelled at him after the silence dragged on, her eyes narrowing when he didn't respond. "Are you going to keep letting her do whatever she wants just because she's the legitimate daughter?"
My eyes widened at the mention of legitimacy. It was the first time I had heard it said aloud because, in my past life, I was the illegitimate daughter. This time, fate had made me the legitimate one, yet Phaedra's hatred for me remained unchanged.
"She accused her sister of sleeping with her boyfriend and dragged this entire family through the dirt! What will people say?" Phaedra stomped her feet like a petulant child. "Are you still going to condone her attitude because—"
"Enough, Phaedra!" my father shouted, startling me for the first time. "I never said I would condone her behavior." He cleared his throat and stood up as he walked toward me.
In the past, I would have stepped back, afraid he might hit me in his anger, but this time I remained unfazed, meeting his gaze and waiting for his reaction.
When he reached me, he took a full twenty seconds before speaking. "I don't know why you're spreading rumors about your boyfriend and your sister, but you're going to announce to the world tomorrow that everything you said was false—including the proposal between you and Owen!" His expression was cold, and his tone was devoid of emotion.
When he stood and shouted at Phaedra, a flicker of hope had stirred within me—maybe he would stand up for me for once. But that hope was shattered when he proved he was still the same, ready to ruin my life just to satisfy his wife.
"Do you understand me, Ashley?" he yelled, his voice booming and causing my heart to race as my body reacted with a shiver. "I want you to speak like a properly trained lady when I address you!"
I clenched my fists tightly, my voice low but steady as I spoke. "No."
His face fell, and a low gasp escaped his lips.
"I told you she's changed and will bring trouble upon this family!" Ariana said, tears streaming down her face.
"This is exactly what I warned you about!" Phaedra added. "You've been too lenient with her! Now she doesn't even respect her father. This family is heading for ruin!" She was hysterical, stomping her feet like a spoiled child.
"Enough!" I shouted, glaring at her.
My fists were clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, drawing blood. Anger bubbled up, ready to explode, but I couldn't do anything. I was powerless. No matter how hard I fought, I would never win. I needed something stronger, something powerful enough to crush them.
"Are you refusing to do what I told you?" my father asked, disbelief etched in his voice. "Do you think you have a say in this? I am commanding you as your father, and you will—"
"No," I interrupted, my heart pounding as if it might burst. "I will not do what you ask because I don't want to be with Owen. And yes, Ariana has been sleeping with—"
Before I could finish, a sharp slap landed on my face, cutting me off.