Nine months too late: After divorce

"Although, we don't know what really happened, but for Kage to have kicked the pregnant you out of his house, it could only mean you've done a terrible thing-a very terrible thing." "And we heard his family is doing this to us because they're tryna get back at you. It never stops, does it, Sylvie? We always have to pay for your foolishness." Sylvie's face crumpled in surprised as she looked at Beatrice who and spoken last. "My foolishness?" I didn't mess with them. You need to find a way to fix this."

"Yes! Dad wouldn't be in this conected some sort of defense from him, but he seemed as angry as her siste the Looking at her father, Sylvie

"Are you being serious!" She scoffed bitterly, pulling away from the bed. "Why am I even in this condition in the first place? Isn't it because I've been making decisions for this family?" Beatrice and Iris rolled their eyes. "If I hadn't agreed to marry Kage two years ago, the company would've folded up long before now. But if I really hadn't married him," she pointed at her bump. "I wouldn't be in this situation with the Hawkins." She turned to her father. "Every difficult decision I've made was in the interest of this family. Do you even know what I had to do to let Kage take you into the One Trillion Group when you weren't qualified?" She turned to her sisters. "Do I need to remind you of the number of times you needed my help with Kage? How you needed his connection with the embassy and so many others that involved money? Do you have any idea how humiliating it was to ask for assistance from a husband who, back then, didn't care about me? I've made sacrifices that even Beatrice and Iris are yet to make for the family." "Have you lost t your r mind?" Beatrice snapped. Look,"

Eldon called her attention. "I need you to fix whatever is going on, Sylvie. Your sisters and I don't know, but you know best. And it has to be fixed." Hurt filled Sylvie's chest. Despite all she's said, they still saw her as the one who fixed the mess. Since her mother's death, she's grown up to be the tool of the family.

"When can you do it?" Eldon's voice reached her ears.

She balled her hand into fists as she looked away. "I don't know if I can fix this. I'm helpless at the moment."

"What do you mean you're helpless? This is your mess!" Iris snapped.

Before Sylvie could respond to her, her father cut in. "Look, you need to do something about this. The company's tight form every corner, it's obvious they're stronger forces behind this. Whatever is going on with the Hawkins, you need to gulp down your pride and fix it, Sylvie!"

"I am not a tool!" Sylvie shouted. She didn't even know what was more frustrating - her father's words or how he sounded mad at her.

.

Tears glistened in her eyes as she looked at him. "Have you even considered how difficult life has been for me? Do you even care about me at all? Sometimes 1, I feel like I was employed into this family, rather than belong to it." Grabbing her bag, she started for the door.

If you're unable to do this, you're as good as useless to us, Sylvie Eldon's words halted her at the door. Her brows furrowed as she turned back to him, surprise flashing in her eyes. But the man didn't look a bit remorseful. Chapter 104

"You

You think you've been making sacrifices for the family? Well, I'd say I deserve it, considering the fact that I took you in despite what your whore of a mother did." His jaw seemed to clench as he added the last part. "Despite the fact that you were bastard." That was it. That was all it took for Sylvie's heart to come crumbling. It came as though, a glass had been shattered in the chambers of her soul.

She turned fully to him, taking a faltering step forward. "What did you-"

"You heard him right." Iris snapped. "I loved mum, but the one thing she did wrong was bring you into the family when you didn't belong here."

This was getting too real. Sylvie shut her eyes, thinking the dream would vanish if she opened them again. But it was still there, everything stil seeming so real.

It couldn't be the truth. They were only saying this to hurt her feelings as she couldn't help them.

She chuckled, shaking her head. "You're lying to me."

"No. But it's the first time we're being honest with you," Beatrice folded her arms. "I wasn't exactly surprised when I learned the truth. In some way, you were different from us. Whoever your father must have been, you must've taken after him." Sylvie shook her head, words refusing to form on her tongue.

"The worst mistake I ever made was getting married to your mother. But I don't exactly regret it because it gave me my two daughters." He glanced at Beatrice and Iris. "Why do you think we divorced, Sylvie? I leaned the truth, yet I kept you even after she died." His voice shifted to a chilling intonation. "All these years, watching you grow as my child was one of the most difficult things I've had to do. You really thought you had the blood of the Price in your veins?" He snorted. "In the end, however, I'm glad I did keep you, because you turned out useful." Stop it!" Sylvie finally found her voice, but it trembled as she shouted.

Tears poured down her cheeks, her heart hammering violently in her chest. Oh, God.

"It's not possible," she shook her head, still in self-denial. "Mum... Mum would've told me."

"You really think I'd deny my own child?" Eldon frowned. "Recently, I've tolerated you because you were proving useful, but if you can't fix the problem with the Hawkins, then you might as well leave this family like you were meant to twelve years ago." "No..." Sylvie's

e's voice cracked, her knees threatening to give out to the cold floor.

She clamped a hand over her mouth, m***ng her cries.

Despite how painful it was and how much she wished none of it was true, it made sense. This would explain why she's never felt loved by her family.

The only time her father put a call through to her was when he needed her to 'fix' something. Even when she'd helped him get into the One Trillion Group, he never thanked her for it, always making her efforts seem like his right.

Beatrice and Iris never really liked her because from young, she had been their mother's favorite. And after she died, their dislike for her grew.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Sylvie had always blamed it on their nonchalance, but now it was starting to make sense. They never really saw her as a part of them but a 'tool' instead. That was all she ever was.

"You should be grateful to us, you know?" Iris's eyes didn't hold the tiniest bit of remorse. "If it wasn't for us, you'd have been

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"Imagine being kicked out when you were thirteen," Beatrice took over, clicking hee tongue. "You probably wouldn't have survived on the streets, Sylvie. We made you who you are today. Without the Price name, you're as good as nothing." Unable to take any more of it, Sylvie turned on her heels, running out of the place before she completely lost her mind.

**********

I regret the day I met you.' Kage's words. 'I wish you never came to Easton High, because then, we'd never have crossed paths and Marilyn would've still been alive.'

We made you who you are today. Without the Price name, you're as good as nothing. From the people she considered family.

Those were the words that tormented Sylvie as she sat in the bar, staring at the untouched bottle of alcohol in front of her. There were a lot of people in the bar, but their voices sounded distant in her head. She'd successfully shut them out in a way that they didn't even exist. Her whole life, she's never felt more rejected. Alone.

She couldn't believe that for twelve years, her 'family' knew she wasn't a part of them but kept it a secret while using her. They hated her even while she did their bidding. Beatrice and Iris were still her sisters, but they'd clearly chosen their father's side and hated her for a decision their mother made. Like she'd chosen to be born to a different man.

How could her mother even do this to her? She didn't just cheat on her father-or the man she used to think was her father —but she let him raise her, thinking she was his? How could she have done such a thing to her?

She's never been truly lucky. Even from conception, it appeared fate had written her off.

She wrapped her hand around the bottle of alcohol. Few months ago, she'd made a promise to herself not to get drunk no matter how hectic it was, but now, staring at the bottle in her hand, she wasn't sure she could hold onto that promise any longer. She shouldn't be doing this, but Sylvie couldn't think straight. She might lose her mind trying to get through this madness by herself.

So, after a conflicting moment, she brought the bottle to be lips and gulped a good amount.

An hour later, Sylvie's head was down on the bar counter. There were two empty bottles of alcohol beside her, and she was on the verge of ordering more when she felt dizzy and decided to take a little nap.

Afterall, she had all the time to get drunk and return to her lodge when she's done. It wasn't like she had a home to return

to.

Deep in her slumber, she felt a pair of hand touch her. They felt familiar, and with gentleness, they pulled her head away from the counter.

"Kage?" She drawled, her eyes fluttering but staying closed

"This place isn't safe for you, Sylvie. How can you be here at this time?" The masculine voice spoke with concern

Oh, v

was it Kage?

She moaned as he pulled her to his feet. She fought to open her eyes and see who it was-to confirm if it was her Kage. Did he come for her? Had he forgiven her already?

"You came..." She dragged out her syllables as he aided her to walk. She figured they were walking out of the bar.

The male wasn't responding to her anymore, but his hands were still around her, shielding her, supporting her. It was so comforting.

Her Kage...