They Cast Me Out—Then Their Curse Began Chapter 04

They Cast Me Out—Then Their Curse Began Chapter 04

Everyone in the room froze.

I turned to Vanessa and Celeste.

“You two have taken plenty of things from the family vault over the years, too.”

“I— I didn’t…”

They denied it, but their eyes shifted nervously.

“Really?”

“You’re smarter than that idiot. Every time you took the real thing, you left a fake. After all these years, you probably can’t tell which ones are real anymore.”

All three hung their heads.

Anyone with eyes could see what they’d done.

But my former parents were blind and selfish.

“Enough!” Father Cedric roared.

“I raised your brother and sisters myself. They’d never do such a thing! You, on the other hand, grew up away from us and only stayed with Grandma…”

“Shut up!”

I cut Cedric off sharply.

“Don’t you mention Grandma!”

Vanessa and the others exchanged looks and quickly made a plan.

If they found anything valuable in my bag, they could blame all their crimes on me.

Carter dragged my suitcase to the side.

Vanessa and Celeste blocked me from getting close.

It was an old leather suitcase with no lock.

The second Carter flipped it open, his proud grin froze.

Inside were only a few of my clothes, some books Grandma had left me, and a few photos of us together.

“Impossible! There’s a secret compartment!”

Carter refused to give up and dug through it frantically.

Soon, he pulled a small clothwrapped item from the lining and smiled triumphantly.

He held it up to me.

“Found it! How are you gonna explain this, Willow?”

Before he could unwrap it, Cedric raised his hand to hit me. I caught his arm midswing.

This wasn’t the first time he’d hit me.

Before, I’d endured it because he was my father.

But now, I didn’t have to.

“How dare you!”

I shoved his hand away and said coldly. “You’re in such a hurry to hit me? Won’t you look at what it is first?”

“What is this?”

Carter stared at the Moonveil Mercy Charm stone glowing with faint moonlight, wrinkled his nose, and threw it on the floor.

“No!”

I was too late.

A sharp crack rang out. The Moonveil Mercy Charm I’d charged with the Moon Goddess’s light every night under Elder Witch Morwen’s teaching split in two right in front of me.

It wasn’t just a normal charm.

It was the second protection I’d left for Blackthorn Pack.

It was the last mercy I gave the Ashbourne family before cutting our blood tie.

Vanessa and the others smiled when they finally saw me lose my temper.

They had no idea.

With that charm, even if Blackthorn Pack lost my blood and faced the backlash, it would have a buffer and not fall completely.

But now!

They’d smashed it with their own hands.

I breathed out slowly, my face calming down.

It seemed even the Moon Goddess was done protecting them.

“Are you done searching?”

I knelt down and picked up my scattered clothes slowly.

Lydia stepped forward then.

“Okay, okay, we’re family. Don’t fight.”

She walked to me and faked a gentle tone.

“Willow, they’re your brother and sisters. They just want what’s best for you, so you don’t go down the wrong path. Stop being upset, put your things away, and go back to your room.”

“When we’re done eating, I’ll send someone to get you for leftovers.”

I looked at Lydia and huffed softly.

“You’re so kind.”

“Why are you talking like that? I’m only looking out for you!”

“Looking out for me?” I smiled slowly. “Is that what you call feeding me scraps? Letting them lie about me?”

“If this is how you look out for me, keep it.”

I picked up my suitcase and walked out again.

“Willow Ashbourne, stop right there!” Lydia screamed behind me.

“If you step out that door today, don’t you ever come back!”

But I didn’t slow down.

“Not come back?”

“Good riddance,” I answered.