lphas Second Choice novel Chapter 53

“Hope, stay in the room, okay? Wait for Mommy to come back.”

She nodded, her little brows scrunched.

“Mommy, that lady’s mean. And ugly.”

I smiled faintly and stroked her hair before closing the door.

When I stepped back into the living room, most of the neighbors were gone. Only Skyla and the three men remained.

Her once–perfect curls were coming loose, her lipstick smudged, but the hatred in her eyes burned sharp and cold.

“Paige,” she hissed, voice shaking with fury, “you think you’ve won, don’t you? You must be so proud, keeping them wrapped around your finger, making them look for you all these years.

“I’ve never met anyone as shameless as you. A counterfeit. A parasite. What gives you the right to

seduce them?”

“Skyla! Shut up!”

Cassian’s whole body trembled.

“How long are you planning to keep this up?”

“Let go of me!”

Skyla wrenched her arm from Lucien’s grip when he tried to pull her away. Then she lunged toward Jaxon, clutching at his sleeve.

“Jaxon, after everything we’ve been through together, all those years of suffering, how could you betray me for her?”

Jaxon turned his face aside, guilt shadowing his features.

“Skyla… you can’t have everything. You told me yourself that night, you were drunk. You admitted you hurt her hand on purpose so she couldn’t play piano.

“You faked your suicide to gain pity. And later, you staged that fall just to make it look like she

pushed you.

“You hated her for living the life that should’ve been yours, but she never asked for it. The switch at

birth wasn’t her fault.”

Her eyes widened, disbelief flashing like lightning.

“So it’s my fault, then?” she shouted.

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“Am I not allowed to take back what’s mine? Everything she had belonged to me first! I just took it back, how is that wrong?”

She pointed a trembling finger at me.

“You all think she’s so innocent? She faked her death, secretly gave birth, and now she’s back

pretending to be some helpless single mother just to win your pity.

“She’s scheming to replace me again, and you’re too blind to see it!”

“Enough! Have you completely lost it?!”

Cassian’s voice cracked, his anger finally breaking through. “If I’d known that all my years of trying to make it up to you would turn you into this, I would’ve…”

His voice faltered. “I would’ve never… never switched you back.”

Skyla froze. “What did you just say?”

She turned to the others, her laugh breaking into a sob. “You all think that too, don’t you? You’re just like him!”

Tears streamed down her face, glittering like broken glass. “How could you do this to me? How

could you?!”

I stepped forward. There had been countless times in the past when I’d surrendered to her tears and

let guilt and pity swallow my voice.

They had always told me, Paige, she suffered so much, let her have what was hers.

But this time, as her tears fell, it wasn’t me they looked at, it was her they feared.

Cassian tried again, his tone careful. “Paige, I’ll take you and Hope home. Don’t worry, I’ll handle

this-”

I shook my head.

I walked straight up to Skyla. Our feud had lasted too long; it needed to end somewhere.

I brushed aside the strands of hair falling across her face.

Then the sharp crack of a slap echoed through the room.

She froze, wide–eyed, clutching her stinging cheek in disbelief. “You–you hit me?!”

I looked at her calmly.

“Skyla, I used to let you humiliate me because I really did take your place for over twenty years.

“When I learned how you and Jaxon struggled, living in poverty, I pitied you. I felt guilty. I thought I

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owed you everything, your name, your life, your happiness.”

I took a step closer.

“But four years ago, I gave it all back. I took your life once. You took my hand, my music, and my

future. We’re even now.”

I turned slightly, indicating the three men behind her.

“They’re your brothers, your fiancé. I’ve never wanted them, and I never will. But you came here and frightened my daughter. For that, I can’t forgive you.”

My hand rose again and gave her another slap.

Her head jerked sideways. Her painted lips parted, trembling.

“These two slaps are for my daughter,” I said evenly.

“The debts between us end here. But if you ever dare to touch my child again, Skyla, I swear, I’ll

tear you apart myself.”

She stared at me in stunned silence before turning wildly toward the others.

“Did you see that?! She hit me! She attacked me right in front of you! That’s who she really is! This

vicious fraud you’re all obsessed with! You’re insane if you still choose her!”

Her scream pierced the quiet, but no one spoke. Silence stretched between the four of them like a

wound that wouldn’t close.

“You’ll regret this!” she shrieked, tears streaking her face.

Then she spun toward the door, only to misstep.

A sharp cry, a heavy thud. She tumbled down the stairs, and moments later, a low moan rose from

below.

But this time, none of them moved. They just stood there, watching me.

I sighed softly. “She’s hurt. Go check on her.”

Still, no one moved.

Cassian finally spoke, voice rough. “Paige, I’m sorry. We didn’t know she’d show up.”

“Yeah,” Jaxon added quickly, “we really didn’t know…”

“It’s fine,” I said calmly. “At least everything’s been said now.”

Lucien’s face turned pale; he reached out, panicked

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“No, Paige. Don’t, please don’t say it-”

But I did.

“I, Paige Forrester, have no Alpha older brother, no Alpha younger brother, no Alpha fiancé. My life is peaceful, and I intend to keep it that way.

“I don’t need your pity or your redemption. Your late apologies and misplaced love only disturb the life I’ve finally built for myself.

“The only family I have now is my daughter, and my brother, Zevius.”

Cassian’s lips trembled.

“But, Paige… he’s gone. He’d want someone to look after you. You don’t have to struggle alone…”

I shook my head.

“You’re wrong. He taught me what it means to stand on my own. So no, I’m not struggling. I’m living better than I ever did.”

Jaxon broke down in tears.

“But… we finally found you again. And now you’re leaving us?”

I looked toward the window, where sunlight spilled through like warm glass.

Yes. This time, it’s me who’s leaving.

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