SOPHIA’S POV
Her words hurt me deeply but I stood up. I let my wolf’s presence fill the room.
"You don’t know anything about me or my marriage," I said. My voice carried alpha authority despite not technically being an alpha. "How dare you interfere? You’re a guest in this house-"
"I’m family," Tasha interrupted. "Damien said so himself. My daughter, my granddaughter Ashley-"
"Ashley is MY daughter, not yours. And certainly not Tiffany’s, no matter how much you all want to pretend otherwise."
"Then why isn’t she here with you?" Tasha’s smile widened. "Why is she out with Tiffany instead?"
The question hit its mark but I refused to let her see how much it hurt.
"Because I’m signing divorce papers tonight and getting out of this toxic situation for good," I said coldly. "Enjoy your time here while it lasts. I’m sure it’ll be very cozy. Right up until Damien gets bored and replaces you too."
Tasha’s expression changed just for a moment, with something that might have been fear.
Good.
"You’re a nobody!" Tasha’s face flushed red. "You’re just a bitter woman clinging to a title that doesn’t mean anything anymore. Tiffany is the real lady here now. She’s the one who takes care of Damien, who makes him happy, who-"
"Who stole another woman’s husband?" I stood up. I felt my wolf pushing at my control. "Let’s not pretend your daughter is some kind of saint. She knew Damien was married. She knew he had a child. And she pursued him anyway."
"Damien was the one who pursued her!"
"Then they’re both to blame." I stepped closer. "But you? You’re even worse. Because you’re enabling it. You’re living off the spoils of a broken marriage and acting like you have the moral high ground."
Tasha’s hands clenched into fists. "How dare you-"
"How dare I what? Point out the truth?" My voice was calm but hard. "You’re living in luxury because Damien feels guilty about your illness. But the moment he gets bored, and he will, you’ll be just as disposable as I am. So enjoy your comfortable stay while it lasts. Because I could make one phone call and have you removed from this property."
"You wouldn’t-"
"Try me."
Something snapped in Tasha’s eyes. Before I could react, she grabbed a decorative piece from the side table. It was a realistic castle made of building blocks that Ashley and I had spent hours creating together last summer.
"You bitch!" Tasha screamed, throwing it at me.
I ducked, nearly, and the castle sailed past my head, shattering against the wall behind me. Pieces scattered everywhere.
My heart clenched. That was Ashley’s favorite creation. It was the one thing in this house that represented a happy memory between us.
And now it was destroyed.
Tasha seemed to realize her mistake immediately. Her eyes widened as she looked at the scattered pieces, then at me, then at the door where voices were approaching.
Ashley’s voice was cheerful: "Grandma Tasha! I got you a present from the gift shop!"
Without hesitation, Tasha dropped to the floor among the broken pieces, letting out a theatrical cry of pain.
"Help! Someone help me!"
I stared at her in disbelief. "What are you-"
The door burst open. Ashley ran in first. Her face lit up but when she saw Tasha on the floor it shifted to horror.
"Grandma Tasha!" Ashley dropped the gift bag she was carrying and ran to the older woman. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
"I’m okay, sweetheart," Tasha said weakly, clutching her arm. "It was just an accident-"
"Accident?" Tiffany rushed in behind Ashley, immediately dropping to her mother’s side. "Mom, what’s going on?"
Damien was right behind her, his eyes scanning the scene - Tasha on the floor, me standing nearby, the shattered castle between us.


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