Return of The Alpha Heiress-Chapter 54: Clarissa – Home or...

They looked shocked... and unbelieving, exactly as I had expected.

Up until now, every time I crossed paths with Edwin, he would call me ’Sis Clar’ in that indulgent tone.

He had even come to my class several times, asking whether I felt comfortable or not.

There were plenty of witnesses. Enough for people to assume the Green siblings treated me exceptionally well.

And now I was saying that Edwin had slapped me so hard I ended up wearing an arm sling?

A bewildered Mira muttered to no one in particular, "She avoided us because of Edwin. So why would she end up fighting with him?"

So they had noticed that I kept my distance because of Edwin.

I studied their faces one by one.

Tessa fixed her expression back into its usual cold mask, though there was a trace of sympathy lingering beneath it.

I must have looked truly pitiful, to be pitied by Tessa of all people.

Rylas, who rarely showed emotions, had already returned to his neutral expression.

Only Kellan was different. His gaze had hardened, firm and resolute, as if something inside him had been stirred and decided.

"I believe you," Kellan said.

"Huh?" This time, I was the one caught off guard.

"There are a lot of rumors about you," he continued calmly, eyes steady, "but as someone who sees how you behave in class, it doesn’t make sense that you’d do the stupid things described in those rumors."

I had to admit it. Among best class’ students, only this dark blue-haired boy had a functioning brain.

I looked away. "But everyone believes it. They also believe I’m just a stupid girl who’d do stupid things."

After saying that, I didn’t wait for Kellan’s reply and walked away.

I wasn’t there to make friends. I only wanted information.

...

I was still looking for Richard. One of the ways was through his younger brother, Adrian.

But apparently, the Black siblings weren’t as close as the Green siblings.

"I don’t know why Richard didn’t attend the graduation," Adrian said. "He hasn’t come home for days. I don’t know where he went."

"Didn’t you try looking for him? What about his com-orb?" I asked urgently.

"He’s an adult. He doesn’t need to be searched for. And his com-orb is broken. He can’t be contacted."

Those words shattered what little hope I had left of meeting Richard.

If Richard had been at the Black Alpha’s mansion, I might have swallowed my pride and gone there myself.

But even his own brother couldn’t find him.

My shoulders slumped as all strength drained from my body.

"You’re really close to Richard, huh?"

I felt a pat on the top of my head. I looked up quickly. Adrian was smiling, trying to cheer me up.

I nodded and stepped back when he didn’t remove his hand.

Just then, Shannon exited the classroom with her usual bright smile, accompanied by several best class students.

Their expressions immediately turned sharp and unpleasant when they saw me.

I didn’t care. I turned to Shannon instead.

"Let’s go home, Sis Clar," she said, hooking her arm through mine.

She waved goodbye to our classmates, and we walked away together. Adrian followed behind us.

Larry had already graduated, and Edwin clearly wanted nothing to do with me. So it was just the two of us going home together.

At the Green family mansion, my presence barely existed.

I refused to eat together with them and didn’t speak to anyone.

I was only here until my device was officially marketed and until I turned eighteen.

When we arrived home, Luna Eileen stopped us. More precisely, she stopped me.

"Clarissa, the Alpha and Darren will be joining dinner tonight. You’ll come too, right?"

She reached for my hand, but I immediately stepped away.

"No," I replied coldly and continued walking.

Luna Eileen didn’t give up. With her pleading expression, she kept begging.

Even Shannon joined in, unable to bear it. "Just this once, Sister Clar."

"That’s right, Clarissa," Luna Eileen added softly. "When else can we gather together as a family?"

"Family?" I laughed bitterly. "I don’t have a family."

I turned around and walked away quickly before they could chase after me.

Did they really think I wanted to face that bastard Alpha?

If I stood in front of him, I’d just get hit again. This time, it might not just be my arm that needed a sling.

Unfortunately, no matter how much I tried to refuse, after I finished showering, Luna Eileen was already waiting in my room, still begging.

My peace was completely ruined.

In the end, I agreed to go down for dinner.

Afraid I would change my mind, Luna Eileen immediately escorted me downstairs the moment I agreed.

All the Green brothers were already in the dining room, seated on the left side.

From the head of the table downward sat Darren, Larry, and Edwin.

The right side was still empty.

Luna Eileen sat at the far end across from Darren, then pointed to the seat beside her for me.

Without looking at any of the brothers, I sat down in silence.

"Mother, can we really eat with this kind of disgusting smell?" Edwin suddenly spoke, his tone filled with revulsion.

"There’s no smell, Edwin," Luna Eileen replied, clueless.

"Isn’t that unrecyclable trash sitting next to you?" he shot back, glaring at me.

I already knew he would mock me. I returned his stare with a sharp, unflinching gaze.

Luna Eileen looked shocked. Darren grew irritated.

"Edwin, watch your words at the dinner table," he said firmly without turning his head.

That was enough to shut Edwin up, though he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Then Darren turned to me, his gaze cold. "Stop causing trouble, Clarissa."

The anger I had been suppressing finally overflowed.

I stood up abruptly, the chair scraping harshly against the floor. "I won’t eat—"

My words were cut short by the sound of the dining room door opening.

Alpha Will and Shannon entered together.

My gaze met Alpha Will’s.

The smile that had been on his face while talking to Shannon vanished instantly, his eyes narrowing at me.

"What is she doing here?" he demanded unpleasantly.

Luna Eileen immediately stood and approached the bastard Alpha.

"You and Darren rarely have dinner at home. At times like this, the family should gather together, right?"

She gently rubbed his arm, hoping her mate would calm down.

But I knew better.

Alpha Will would never be calm when it came to me. To him, seeing me was no different than seeing an enemy.

I once wondered what he would do when my inner wolf awakened and I was proven to be his biological child.

Would he apologize for everything he had done to me?

Would he pretend nothing ever happened and suddenly change his attitude?

Or would he remain just as cold and cruel as he was now?

My thoughts shattered when his furious shout rang out.

"Luna! Do you want to leave with her?!"

...