The True Heiress Reborn And Slays (Alicia Delaney) novel Chapter 583

Chapter 583 A Mother’s Resentment

Riley’s brow furrowed, irritation prickling under her skin at the sheer unreasonableness all. “Didn’t I make myself clear already? Whatever happens in your life from now on has nothing to do with me.”

She moved to step past Melissa, but a desperate, resentful hand shot out and clamped a her wrist-nails digging in sharply, leaving faint crescents of pain.

“Riley, I am still your mother by blood!” Melissa’s voice was strained, almost shrill. “Why you so dead set on making my life harder? Does it really satisfy you to watch me struggle

Riley stilled, then slowly turned her head, her gaze dropping to the hand gripping her. Sh turned Melissa’s words over in her mind and found them not just illogical, but absurd.

A cold, humorless laugh escaped her. “So you’re telling me your life is falling apart… becau me?”

“Isn’t it?!” Melissa, struck where it hurt most, only tightened her hold. “If you hadn’t come and schemed to turn your father against me, we would never have divorced!”

The more she spoke, the more convinced she sounded, as if all her misfortunes had finally found a scapegoat. “Is this what you wanted? For everyone in Havenbrook to find out I purposely walked away from you all those years ago? So you could sit back and watch me become the talk of the town?”

The sting on Riley’s wrist was deepening. She studied Melissa’s face, now twisted with bitter anger, and felt the icy resentment she’d buried for so long finally break free.

She yanked her arm back, breaking Melissa’s grip.

“Since you’re in so much pain, let me ask you something,” Riley said, her voice low and chillit in the dim hallway light. “If you resented my existence that much from the start, why didn’t you just prevent me from being born? Why bring me into this world at all?”

Melissa froze. She hadn’t expected Riley-always so detached, so controlled-to voice something so raw.

“A daughter you never cared for–what was the point in keeping her? Just so you could be the one to walk away and prove how heartless you could be?”

Riley took a slow step forward, and Melissa instinctively retreated.

“You messed up. You faced the consequences. And yet here you are, still trying to pin it all on

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over what you did.”

She let out another sharp, cold laugh, her eyes like blades. “You never acted like a mother for a single day. You don’t regret a thing. So why should I listen to you now? What gives y the right to stand here and tell me what to do?”

Melissa had come ready for a fight, burning with grievance.

She’d wanted to dump all the frustration of the divorce and the public humiliation onto but Riley’s piercing, deliberate questions were backing her into a corner. Her breath grew ragged; the feeling of losing control was pushing her toward the edge.

Every time she met Riley’s penetrating stare, she couldn’t help but think of Elsie—always sweet, so agreeable.

“You…” Melissa’s voice cracked into something near a scream, her eyes reddening. “Why couldn’t Elsie have been my real daughter? She’s always so considerate, so obedient! But yo my own flesh and blood-you’re like some kind of creditor, haunting me with the past, ne letting me move on, trying to drive me out of my mind!”

“Considerate? Obedient?” Riley laughed as if she’d heard the punchline to a bad joke. “Melis are you really so sure Elsie’s kindness isn’t just because you’ve given her everything she’s ev wanted? The designer clothes, the luxury cars, the unlimited credit cards-the whole ‘rich man’s daughter’ package?”

Riley held her gaze, dismantling the illusion word by word. “When you were wealthy and we connected, of course she was the perfect, doting daughter. But what if you had nothing left? Do you honestly believe she’d still stick around to listen to you rehash old drama?”

The words hit Melissa like a physical blow.

She’d lived a cushioned life. Even now, divorced from Zavier and with the Blackwood family cutting back her monthly allowance to save face, she was still a Blackwood by birth. She still had her penthouse, her trust fund, her assets.

In her mind, she would never truly be left with nothing.

So she dismissed Riley’s words as pure manipulation.

“Shut up!” Melissa was trembling now, consumed by rage. First Riley had destroyed her marriage, and now she was trying to poison her relationship with Elsie too.

Her hand flew up, aiming a sharp slap at Riley’s face.

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Chapter 583 A Mother’s Resentment

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But Riley’s reflexes were quicker. Her eyes flashed, and she caught Melissa’s wrist mid-air, holding it firmly, immovably.

“Save the theatrics,” Riley said, her tone dripping with disdain as she released Melissa’s arm. “Don’t waste your energy trying to discipline me. If you think I’m wrong, go prove it yourse Even if you have to fake it-test it. See how much you’re really worth to Elsie when the money’s off the table.”

Riley calmly straightened the sleeve of her blouse, then delivered the final blow with icy clarity. “If Elsie turns out to be as loyal as you claim-if she stands by you through thick and thin, rich or poor-then I, Riley, will publicly apologize to you. I’ll stand in front of the pres: and all of Havenbrook and acknowledge you as my mother.

“But… do you even have the courage to find out?”

Melissa’s blood ran hot, then cold.

The defiance rose instantly to her lips.

Why wouldn’t I dare?

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Chapter 584 A Test of Loyalty