My decision to walk away landed harder than either man expected. Mason’s jaw locked, and Adriel’s expression tightened.
Adriel’s voice cut through the air, taut with anger. "Luciana, what the hell are you playing at now? Mason's been worried sick, and Elianna's the one who got hurt. They're handing you a chance to own up, but you're too ungrateful to take it!"
In the past, I would've swallowed my feelings, slapped on a smile, and done everything to smooth things over with my brothers. But not tonight. Tonight, my gaze was colder than theirs, and my resolve was forged in iron.
Sensing the rising tension, Elianna stepped in as the peacemaker, all wide-eyed innocence as she gently tugged Adriel's sleeve. "Adriel, please don't be harsh with Luciana. She stepped in for me with Jonathan, and I don't blame her for it..."
Her words were gracious enough, but her face was a carefully crafted mask of mild grievance and quiet endurance.
"A swap is a swap, and taking someone's proposal is stealing. How can you even compare the two?" Mason cut in, his tone authoritative. "Besides, you chose to agree to Mom and Grandma's request to take her place. Elianna didn't know a thing, so it's not her fault. Elianna, you've got a heart of gold. Don't let Luciana walk all over you."
Adriel turned to comfort Elianna, his voice soft and reassuring. He reached out to pat her head, treating her with a tenderness that stood in stark contrast to the venom he'd just spit at me.
Elianna's face lit up with a winsome smile. "Adriel, I'm so glad you're here." Then, with a hint of hesitation, she added, "But Luciana is still family. She's just having a rough day."
Mason looked at Elianna's understanding demeanor, then shot a glance at my calm, defiant stance. Our eyes locked, and his displeasure was written all over his face.
"She's not having a rough day—she's just spoiled by her too-gentle little sister."
"Rude, bullying her own sibling, and talking back to her brothers—Luciana's completely lost her grip on decency."
"Luciana, no matter what, you're handing over Elianna's proposal USB today, or you're not setting foot out of here."
"Did you come back to pack your things?"
"Nothing here belongs to you. You won't take a single thing with you!"
Mason’s jaw tightened, disdain and simmering fury written across his face. He wasn't necessarily looking for a brawl; he just wanted me to lower my head and admit I was wrong. Wrong was wrong, and someone had to face the consequences.
But I couldn't be bothered with their drama. "Move it. Stop blocking the way like a pack of dogs!" I snapped, turning to head upstairs.
"Luciana, maybe you should just apologize to Mason? We're family, after all. Let's keep the peace..."
Seeing me move, Elianna hurried to grab my arm.
But I was already walking fast, and the hem of her long tailored silk dress caught under my step. She stumbled, and before she could hit the floor, Mason caught her.
Elianna let out a tiny gasp. "Ah! It hurts..."
"Luciana, I'm sorry—Mason and Adriel didn't mean to be harsh with you. If you're going to blame anyone, blame me..."
Adriel rushed over, crouching beside her to check her sprained ankle, his face tight with worry. "Elianna, I'm getting a doctor right now!"
He shot me a look full of pure venom, the so-called "troublemaker," and barked, "Luciana, haven't you done enough?"
"Apologize to Elianna!"
Elianna whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks as she played the victim, yet still managing to look pitifully noble. "Adriel, don't be mad at Luciana. I wasn't careful and twisted my ankle on my own."
"She's just still upset... she didn't mean it."
Her words grew more heartbreaking, and her act was flawless.
Adriel's fury spiked. He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist hard. "I said—apologize!"
I shook off his grip coldly, making him stumble back a step, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"Apologize for what?"
"Is Elianna's sprained ankle my fault?"
A playful smirk tugged at my lips. I sauntered closer to Elianna, who was still being supported by Mason, a mischievous glint in my eyes.
"You brought this on yourself."
Then, right in front of everyone, I gave her ankle a sharp, deliberate kick.
A clean, echoing snap sliced through the air.
"That one's on me."
I smiled, calm as ever, my icy mask dropping to reveal a raw, audacious confidence and sheer defiance.
That kick set Mason and Adriel's blood to a boil.
Mason, who was closest, raised his hand to slap me, fury blazing in his eyes.
But before his palm could reach my face, a strong hand caught it mid-air.
Mason's hand froze just an inch from my cheek.
Then he was shoved backward with enough force to send both him and Elianna tumbling to the ground.
"Mrs. Perez, are you all right?"
Ahmir Oliver stood beside me, unshakeable as solid rock.
His imposing frame—nearly six foot three—was sculpted by years of boxing, his strength seemingly without limits.
He surveyed the room with a menacing glint in his eyes. "Mrs. Perez is part of the Perez family now. The Kellys don't get to push her around."
The intensity rolling off Ahmir made Elianna cling to Mason in fear.
Mason scrambled to shield her, his face pale with frustration.
Adriel's anger cooled a notch, but he still glared at me with barely concealed resentment, his eyes nearly bloodshot.
"No worries—accompany me upstairs to grab my sewing kit."
I replied coolly, not giving them a second glance.
My frame was slight, but it carried a rigid dignity. Even with blemished features, there was an undeniable, mysterious allure about me.
I might have looked delicate, but I stood there unshaken—self-possessed, isolated, and completely beyond their control.
Mason stared at my back, sensing something suddenly unfamiliar in the way I moved.
Adriel attended to Elianna's ankle, bitterness written all over his face.
Elianna watched me head upstairs, her light brown eyes darkening as realization began to sink in.
Upstairs, I found my room had been rummaged through.
My sewing kit lay sprawled across the bed, needles bent as if someone had set a careless trap meant to hurt me if I lay down.
Outside, housekeepers were watching suspiciously, led by Mrs. Harris—a woman who'd always fawned over Elianna. Her smug smile was a taunt in itself.
"Luciana, didn't you just get married? You tied the knot with that scarred, disabled loser."
"What, couldn't wait to bring another man home for fun on day two?"
Mrs. Harris sneered. She'd been waiting in the loft since the Perez car pulled into the Kelly estate.
She was relishing my downfall, having loved the days I sought approval from the Kellys and treated her well.
Now her mockery knew no bounds.
My gaze darkened. I closed the distance and clamped my hand around Mrs. Harris's neck, shoving her onto the bed—the one loaded with needles.
"Ahhhh!!"
Her scream tore through the Kelly mansion like a siren.
My smile thinned, all warmth draining from it. "Say that again."
"Jonathan Perez—what about him?"
My eyes gleamed with unsettling clarity. I leaned over the bed, my smile growing sweeter.
But Mrs. Harris's scalp prickled with pure dread.
In just one night, Luciana had changed.
