Broken Family After Betrayal Chapter 03

Broken Family After Betrayal Chapter 03

I looked up just in time to catch the flash of joy in Dad’s eyes.

Cassie slid a pregnancy report across the table, her face a mask of conflicted hesitation.

“I know you only married me to help me get that quota. I’m not keeping it.”

“I just came so the baby could meet his father—at least once. The doctor says it’s a boy.”

Tears rolled down Cassie’s pale cheeks and slipped onto the pearl necklace around her neck.

It matched Mom’s earrings—except hers was more expensive.

Cassie covered the necklace awkwardly with one hand.

“Jonathan bought it for me after I won the competition.”

“If it bothers you, Delaney, I can take it off.”

Panic flickered through Dad’s eyes too.

He opened his mouth to explain, but Mom cut him off. Calmly, she took off the earrings.

“You wear my things and stay by his side now.”

“If you like secondhand things that much, you can have the earrings too.”

The smile on Cassie’s face froze for a second before widening into something even brighter.

She took the earrings without hesitation and put them on as she spoke.

“That’s big of you, Delaney. No wonder Jonathan chooses to stay with me.”

“You think so? At least I’ve got curves that can actually hold his attention.”

“Besides, he already told me that no matter how wild I’ve been, at least I never had inappropriate ties with my stepbrother.”

“In that regard, I’m a lot cleaner than you.”

“Cassie! That’s enough! Get out!” Dad roared, stepping in front of Mom.

Cassie’s eyes welled up. She turned and fled.

Dad hesitated for a moment before forcing a casual explanation.

“It’s getting dark. She’s not safe out there alone.”

“You two wait here. I’ll be right back.”

Under the table, Mom’s nails were digging into her palms so hard her fingertips had turned pale.

I never imagined Dad would turn Mom’s deepest trauma into gossip for Cassie.

And I never imagined he would choose to protect Cassie again—leaving her behind all over again.

Mom watched Dad’s retreating figure disappear into the distance.

Then silently, she packed our clothes.

After she locked the door, I kept looking back.

Mom took my hand and gently shook her head.

“Don’t look anymore. He’s not coming back.”

Snow had already begun falling by the time we walked toward Millbrook Station.

Suddenly, Cassie stepped out and blocked our path, a smug smile on her face.

“I knew you’d leave. So I waited here just for you. See? I know you better than anyone.”

Mom didn’t want to engage. She picked me up and tried to walk around her.

Then several rough-looking men suddenly appeared and surrounded us.

Cassie stared at Mom provocatively and stepped closer.

“Remember them? You’re the one who rescued me from these men.”

“They forced me into terrible situations and ruined my life, and you still brought me into your home. Made me your little sister.”

“Compared to you, I’m the wicked one here.”

Mom stared at her, guarded. “What exactly do you want?”

Cassie’s expression turned cold as she let out a mocking laugh.

“I want you to become the same kind of woman I am.”

“That way Jonathan will never think about you again.”

She tilted her head, amused.

“What do you think Jonathan will say when he shows up and finds you like that—with your clothes torn off?”

Then her gaze slowly dropped onto me. Her smile became strange and unsettling.

“Olivia’s just a little thing, but no one here can escape their schemes.”

Mom clutched me tightly against her chest, her eyes turning red-rimmed.

She pulled out the dagger she carried for protection, her hands trembling nonstop.

“Stay back! Don’t come any closer, or I’ll fight back fiercely!”

The dagger had been blessed long ago—the very first gift Dad ever gave her.

Buried in Mom’s arms, I sobbed in terror.

The men laughed, closing in.

In my panic, I felt a greasy hand brush across my face.

Mom let out a terrified cry and waved the blade to defend us.

Several men were wounded and cried out loudly.

Mom didn’t dare stop. She kept dodging and stabbing wildly in every direction.

Then her back slammed into something solid.

A familiar voice barked above us.

“Delaney! What are you doing?”