Reborn at Eighteen The Billionaire's Second Chance novel Chapter 170

But then I stopped. Because I wasn’t going to leave without finishing

what I’d started.

I turned back, facing the crowd one more time. Facing Victoria and

Julian and Mr. Vane and all the people who’d watched me grow up in

this house and never once treated me like I belonged.

“I need to say something,” I said, and my voice was quiet but it carried

in the sudden silence. “And I need all of you to hear it.”

I looked directly at Victoria, then at Mr. Vane. “This isn’t the first

time Victoria has tried to hurt me. It’s not even the worst thing she’s

done. But I’m done being silent about it. I’m done pretending

everything is fine just to make this family look good.”

I could feel the weight of everyone’s attention, the phones still

recording, the whispers starting up again. But I kept going, because if

I stopped now I’d lose my nerve.

“A few weeks ago, Victoria hired people to attack me,” I said, my voice

steady despite the tremor in my hands. “They tried to assault me in

an alley near my school. The only reason they didn’t succeed was

because another student–Mason Parker–intervened. And then the

Vane family made him transfer schools to keep him quiet.”

1/4

Chapter 170

The crowd’s murmur grew louder. Mr. Vane’s face had gone pale, but I

couldn’t tell if it was from shock or anger.

“Victoria has spent years making my life hell,” I continued. “She’s

destroyed my belongings, spread rumors about me, orchestrated

attacks against me. And every single time, this family has protected

her. Because she’s a Vane, and I’m just the daughter of the man who

died saving Mr. Vane’s life.”

I turned to Julian then, and this time I let him see the pain in my

eyes. “You asked me once why I couldn’t just accept my place in this

family. Why I couldn’t be grateful for everything you’d given me. This

is why. Because no matter what I do, no matter how hard I try, I will

never be one of you. I will always be the girl you took in out of

obligation, the girl you can use and discard whenever it’s convenient.”

My voice broke on the last word, and I hated myself for it. But I was

too far gone to stop now.

I looked back at the crowd, at all those wealthy, powerful faces. “I’m

telling you this now because I want witnesses. Because if something

happens to me if I’m attacked again, or if my art is destroyed, or if I

end up in an ‘accident‘–I want all of you to remember this moment. I

want you to remember that I warned you about Victoria, and that this

family chose to protect her instead of doing the right thing.”

I turned to Mr. Vane one last time. “You owe me nothing,” I said

2/4

Chapter 170

quietly. “My father saved your life, and you gave me a roof over my

head and an education. I suppose that makes us even. But I’m done

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify