TRADING MY CHEATING HUSBAND FOR THE LYCAN KING novel Chapter 46

CHAPTER 29: SEVENTEN AND AUCTIONED–2

“Oh, let me do that, darling,” Devika says, plucking the card from my hand before I can stop her. “A gift from mother to daughter. It’s the least I can do.”

She signs the receipt with a flourish, and I wait for her to hand the card back.

She doesn’t.

Instead, she slides it into her Chanel bag with practiced ease, like it belongs there, like it was always hers.

“Mother,” I say slowly. “I need the card back.”

“What card, darling?” She’s already gathering her shopping bags, not looking at me.

“Knox’s card. The one you just used. And put in your purse.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I gave it back to you.” She finally meets my eyes, and her expression is pure innocence. “You must have put it somewhere and forgotten. You always were forgetful, even as a child.”

The gaslighting is so smooth, so practiced, that for a split second I actually doubt myself. Did she give it back? Did I put it somewhere?

No.

No, I watched her. I watched her slide it into her bag. I’m not crazy. I’m not forgetful. I’m not the confused little girl she always made me feel like.

“Give me the card,” I say, and my voice is harder now. “I know you have it.”

“Ember.” Devika’s expression shifts to wounded. “I can’t believe you would accuse your own mother of stealing. After everything I’ve done for you. After I came all this way to spend time with you, to try to repair our relationship-”

“Our relationship?” Something cracks open inside me. “What relationship? The one where you tried to auction me off to the highest bidder when I was seventeen? The one where you disowned me for choosing Gale because his pack wasn’t rich enough for your ambitions? The one where you cut me off and ignored me for four years while I was being beaten by the man you said wasn’t good enough?”

“I called you,” I continue, and my voice is shaking now, tears burning in my eyes. “After the first time he hit me. Do you remember that? I called you crying, terrified, begging you to help me, and you know what you said? You said ‘marriage is hard.‘ You said ‘I warned you about marrying beneath you.‘ You said ‘don’t embarrass the family with your complaints.‘ You told

me to die!”

“I’M MAKING A SCENE?” I’m shouting now, actually shouting, and four years of suppressed rage is pouring out of me like lava. “I was seventeen! Seventeen years old and you were parading me in front of Alphas like livestock! And when I chose someone you didn’t approve of, you threw me away like garbage! I needed you! He was hurting me and you didn’t care! You let me suffer because your ego was bruised that I didn’t marry who you picked!”

Devika’s face has gone hard, the maternal mask slipping to reveal the cold ruthlessness underneath.

“You ungrateful little bitch,” she hisses, her voice low and venomous.

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