Xo Novel
24
Shadow arrived at the Eden Family Castle in a sleek car, her eyes flickering with annoyance and anticipation as she navigated the twists and turns of the road. She glanced at her silent phone, eager for what was about to unfold. For far too long, she had endured the family’s mistreatment, watching as they took advantage of her. Their sneers when she made mistakes and their laughter at her expense were etched in her memory. But now, the tables had turned, and she was determined to unleash unbridled chaos upon the house.
Upon seeing Shadow’s arrival, the maid immediately bowed her head. “Third Lady.”
She could sense the shift in the maid’s demeanor. Shadow, now married into the Lance family, held a newfound status, while Jessica’s involvement in a scandal had tarnished her reputation.
She couldn’t let them see the satisfaction on her face, though. She knew she had to tread carefully, or risk losing her advantage. So, she played the role of a naive and innocent fool.
“Where are my parents?” Shadow spoke calmly, masking her true emotions.
“They’re all waiting for you in the study, Third Lady.”
The maid’s voice softened, as if empathizing with Shadow’s predicament. After all, despite her prestigious position as part of the Eden family, she had never truly been accepted as a family member. In the shadow of the public eye, she was nothing more than a maid.
“Thank you.”
Shadow stopped at the door of the study, pretending not to enter and eavesdropped on the conversation within.
“Jessica, why can’t you control yourself? If you had something to say, couldn’t you have called her and discussed it privately? Dealing with the reporters is such a hassle! And now that it’s all over social media, it’s even more difficult to manage the situation. What are we going to do now?” Jason’s frustrated voice echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls.
His anger stemmed not from the immorality of Jessica’s actions, but rather from the fact that she had been caught in the act. It was always about maintaining their reputation, rather than the character of their children. The family had become rotten to the core because of it.
Shadow couldn’t help but lean against the wall, eavesdropping on their conversation.
Jessica, bitter and feeling wronged, exclaimed, “How was I supposed to know it would end up like this, Dad? Shadow must have planned it! That’s why the reporter was there. It’s too much of a coincidence that we were caught on camera!”
“Jessica, believe me, Shadow isn’t capable of planning something like this. She’s far too dimwitted to orchestrate such a scheme!” Lisa intervened, trying to defend Shadow. She raised her voice in frustration. “You’ve seen her poor academic performance. She couldn’t even pass a simple exam! How could she possibly do something like this?”
“Dimwitted? Without our father’s connections, she wouldn’t have gotten into Hoover Film Academy. Are you still going to call her dimwitted?”
The Hoover Film Academy was a prestigious institution that countless aspiring artists dreamed of attending. It was known for its rigorous admission process and accepting only the best. Shadow’s successful admission on her first try was a testament to her talent.
“She’s just lucky. Don’t be angry anymore,” Lisa tried to console.
At that moment, Shadow couldn’t help but agree with Jessica. Lisa was truly despicable.
In the scandalous video, Jessica had called Lisa, her own stepmother, a derogatory name. One would expect Lisa to defend herself, being older and the matriarch of the family. But instead of standing up to Jessica, she still tried to please her. Lisa was nothing more than a loyal lapdog, just like Shadow had pretended to be.
But Jessica’s anger was genuine this time. She was too exhausted and panicked to pretend otherwise.
“Shut your damn mouth. You’re mean and useless, just like your daughter,” Jessica shouted.
Shadow was about to push the door open and enter, but she paused upon hearing these words. She wanted to see Jason’s reaction.
The room fell silent. Sighing heavily, Jason spoke in a deep voice, “Enough with the arguing. We need to resolve this matter properly. Shadow Eden will be here soon, so I suggest you both stop speaking and wait for her.”
Shadow’s own father was too weak-willed to even defend his own wife. Pathetic. They were all pathetic.
Although she couldn’t see Lisa’s face through the door, she could imagine the shock and betrayal etched on her mother’s face. Lisa, who had defended this family day in and day out, now faced their betrayal.
“That’s what happens when you reject your own biological daughter,” Shadow whispered to herself.
After Jason finished speaking, silence filled the room once again.
With her expression well-adjusted, Shadow slowly lowered her head and entered the room.
“Dad, Mom,” she said, scanning the room before dropping her gaze. Her voice was meek, reminiscent of a child expecting punishment.
Then, she glanced at Jessica, taking in her disheveled face and fierce eyes. “Sister.”
“Hmph!” Jessica coldly snorted, her expression equally icy. “Why are you standing so far away? Come closer!”
“I…” Pretending to be afraid, Shadow inched closer to Jessica, knowing what was about to happen. She clenched her fists, bracing herself for impact. She gritted her teeth, tired of the cycle of abuse that had plagued her life.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Out of habit, she glanced at Lisa, hoping for a change of heart. After all, Lisa had just been disrespected by the family she had defended. But Lisa turned her head, unable to meet Shadow’s gaze.
Why was she surprised? It was always like this.
Shadow lowered her head, suppressing her disappointment. Nothing would change here.
As she approached the sofa, Jessica suddenly raised her hand and slapped Shadow without hesitation.
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the room, the impact jolting Shadow’s head to the side. She felt the rush of blood to her face, her fingers tracing the numbness on her cheek. She swallowed, tasting the metallic tang of blood. Seconds passed, yet the warmth of the slap lingered. Her skin tingled from the forceful blow.