Novel Square
76
Alpha Kilian sat silently in his chair, refusing to turn his body towards them. The air was thick with tension as his presence exuded authority.
Shadow, with a mocking expression, glanced at Lisa before turning away to leave. The disdain in her eyes was unmistakable.
Confused by the situation, Lisa watched as Frank approached her. His actions were clear – Lisa was being dismissed. He nodded slightly, gesturing for her to leave.
Overwhelmed by timidity, Lisa clutched the fake recording in her hand. Shame washed over her as she lowered her head and obediently walked away.Exclusive content from NôvelDrama.Org.
As she reached the door, she caught a glimpse of Shadow leaning against it, arms crossed, eyes fixed upon her. Unnerved, Lisa hesitated before speaking, “Shadow, you…”
“Do you mind giving me a ride?” Shadow interrupted, her face cool and distant.
Lisa was taken aback by Shadow’s sudden request, but she nodded nonetheless.
…
In the car, Shadow and Lisa sat side by side in the backseat. The atmosphere was icy, and Shadow spoke first, her voice cold as ice. “Jessica asked you to come?”
Shadow’s tone held a hint of oppression, causing Lisa’s response to die on her lips. She managed a weak “yes.”
“I remember what she said before. Who did she claim was obedient like a dog?” Shadow sneered, her lips curling into a devilish smile.
Lisa’s face paled, desperately attempting to defend Jessica, “She was just angry and confused momentarily. She usually treats me well. Shadow, I can see that Alpha Kilian trusts you greatly. You two must have a good relationship. Don’t go against your sister and make her unhappy. Let her go. She’s been so upset because of you lately that she hasn’t been eating much.”
Shadow clenched her fists, frustration evident in her expression. Suddenly, she yelled at Lisa, “Enough! You’ve said enough!”
Never before had Lisa been subjected to such a heated argument with Shadow. She was left speechless, shocked into silence.
Shadow’s eyes turned red, but not a single tear escaped. This was the first time in her life that she had erupted like this before Lisa.
“Even if you never treated me as your own daughter, at least treat me as a human being! I have feelings, I am not an object that you can manipulate without mercy. I am a human being! I have feelings, and I can feel sadness too!” Shadow’s voice shook with emotion.
“I know,” Lisa replied with fear in her voice, unable to meet Shadow’s gaze. “It hasn’t been easy for me in the Eden family all these years. I just wanted you to help me.”
“Is it easy for me to live all these years? Since I was old enough to understand, you never bought me any clothes. I’m stuck wearing Jessica’s leftovers or the servants’ castoffs. Every time you make cookies or cut fruits for Jessica, I can only have what she doesn’t want. And now, I’m forced to marry Alpha Kilian, and you won’t even let me go.”
Closing her eyes, Shadow looked up, fighting back her tears. She barked at the driver, “Stop the car!”
Lisa saw her intention of getting out and hastily pulled her back. “Shadow, please don’t get out of the car just yet. Please listen to me.”
“Let go!” Shadow forcefully shook off her hand, her eyes full of fury. “Don’t touch me!”
Terrified that another look from Lisa would trigger some reckless action, Shadow pushed her away. Lisa, unable to bear it any longer, retreated and remained silent.
Shadow exited the car not far from the Eden Group and walked towards the company on foot.
Despite being located in the south, the four seasons were distinct in the Herton Pack. The temperature outside was a cold four or five degrees Celsius, and the biting wind stung Shadow’s face.
Yet, the pain she felt from the wind was nothing compared to the pain in her heart. She walked hurriedly, the wind making it difficult for her to breathe. It felt as if she were suffocating.
Arriving at the Eden Group, she headed straight for Jessica’s office.
Jessica’s face had been visibly swollen, concealed under layers of thick powder. She looked up and noticed Shadow’s presence, a flash of disgust crossing her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
But it didn’t take long for Jessica to realize that something wasn’t right with Shadow’s expression.
Before she could react, Shadow reached across the desk, grabbing her clothes and lifting her up from the chair.
“You used my mother against me, and you used her well, didn’t you? A woman like you, constantly scheming, is truly pitiable. Do you really think Alpha Kilian is as foolish as Henry, easily fooled by you? My man, Shadow’s man, is far stronger than him! If you have anything to say, direct it towards me. If you disturb Alpha Kilian again, we’ll see what happens.”
Shadow felt a deep gratitude for Alpha Kilian’s trust in her, but it only fueled her self-blame. She blamed herself for allowing Jessica to manipulate her relationship with Alpha Kilian.
After speaking her piece, Shadow forcefully let go and threw Jessica back onto the chair. The impact of the armrest against her waist silenced her cries of pain. As she stared at Shadow, emitting an icy aura, Jessica found herself too frightened to say anything.
Shadow glared at Jessica’s trembling figure, a sneer playing on her lips, before leaving the room.
Once the door closed, Jessica let out a sigh of relief, finally able to release the tension that had been building. Recalling Shadow’s words, she immediately dialed Lisa’s number.
Lisa quickly answered the call, her voice filled with apprehension. “Jessica.”
But Jessica interrupted her impatiently, “How did it go? Did Alpha Kilian fly into a rage? And did you catch a glimpse of him? I need to know what he looks like.”
Jessica had tasked Lisa with seeking out Alpha Kilian, hoping to provoke his anger through fake recordings and confirm whether he truly was as unattractive as rumors suggested. After all, Shadow had defended him on multiple occasions, implying that he possessed high standards. How could he willingly stay by her side if he were a cripple?
Doubts plagued her mind.
“He had his back to me, so I didn’t see his face,” Lisa answered, aware that she had failed to meet Jessica’s expectations. Her voice quivered as she continued, “And the recording… he didn’t believe it at all. He even said that Shadow is a member of the Lances family, making it none of my business.”
Upon hearing Lisa’s words, Jessica felt her anger surge, threatening to overwhelm her.
“A cripple daring to speak so arrogantly! Once he is stripped of his position as the Lances successor, let’s see what else he has to be arrogant about!”
Filled with regret, Lisa apologized, her voice filled with remorse. “Jessica, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s always like this with you, isn’t it? You never get anything done!” With that, Jessica abruptly ended the call.
Lisa stared at the hung-up phone in her hand, Shadow’s face of hatred and disgust haunting her thoughts. It seemed that she truly couldn’t accomplish anything. Yet, all she wanted was to belong in the Eden family. Was it wrong of her to try to please Jason and Jessica? Shadow was her own daughter, so why couldn’t she have shown more empathy and understanding?
…
After work, Frank parked at the entrance of the Eden Group and waited. He waited for what felt like an eternity, but Shadow never emerged until most of the employees had already left.