Page 118 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

I could barely see from the tears pooling in my eyes and ran straight into Alexander’s father.

“Liberty.” His voice was alarmed, his eyes watching me. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” I choked on the air I was breathing. “Yes.”

Behind him, the room was full of people, strangers I didn’t recognize. I needed to get out of here. I quickly turned around to leave when a voice stopped me.

“Well, well,” Elizabeth’s voice reached me. “If it isn’t the gold digger. Are you going to move on to Alexander’s father now?”

I was starting to hate this woman. Alexander Sr. never moved away, his hands on my shoulder protectively.

“Do you have to be everywhere we are?” The words left me before I thought better of them. I didn’t want to talk to her or anyone else. I turned to leave when her question stopped me dead in my tracks.

“What’s the matter?” she sneered. “Past catching up to you?”

My head snapped to her, now my full attention was on her.

“It is kind of ironic you are being held by the very man that murdered your father.”

I glanced around in confusion. What was she talking about?

“Alexander’s father killed yours,” she mentioned casually, but there was so much venom in her voice.

“He was never convicted,” an elderly woman with familiar hazel eyes spoke softly, her voice shaking. “Lily told us Alexander Caldwell Sr. was innocent. Our daughter never lied to us.” An older man held her as her hands visibly shook, her eyes never wavering from me. I knew it instantly! Those were my mother’s parents, my grandparents.

They were right, my mother never lied. Although I still didn’t understand why she told me it all started with last name Smith.

“What… what are you saying?” My mind was spiralling out of control, I couldn’t understand any of this.

“Alexander’s father stabbed your father to death. What is there to understand?” Elizabeth was getting satisfaction out of all this. “Your mother was a whore, sleeping with Alexander’s father. Must run in the genes. You should be grateful you have a son not a daughter, otherwise there’d be another whore in the world.”

“Shut your mouth, Elizabeth.” My grandfather, I just saw for the first time in my life, defended my mother. He glared angrily at Elizabeth, and my heart softened towards my grandparents. “And don’t speak ill about our grandchild. You have no right even mentioning our granddaughter or our great-grandson.”

My grandparent’s eyes came back to me, deep sadness and age wrinkles edged in their faces.

“Yeah, right,” Elizabeth scoffed.

Each word out of Elizabeth’s mouth angered me more by the second. Rage and hate boiled in me. I had enough, this was my breaking point. Finding myself in front of Elizabeth, I pictured myself putting my hands on her slim neck and just wringing it till I wiped that sneery, mean smile off her face. The only thought running through my head was getting her to shut up.

I raised my hand and threw it forward as hard as I could, whipping it across her face. The crack of skin on skin contact echoed off in the silence of the room. Vibrations of pain started in my palm and spread all the way to my fingertips.

In shock, I stared at my red palm. I had never hit anyone in my entire life. Raising my eyes, I saw the same red mark on her cheek. She stared at me with her eyes wide as her hand slowly made it to her red cheek.

I felt absolutely no remorse.

“Don’t ever mention my mom again,” I spat angrily, my rage making me shake. “And stay away from Brandon, Alexander’s and my family. If you ever say anything bad about my family again,” I gritted through my teeth. “I’ll be sure they are your last words ever spoken.”

Before I had a chance to leave, Elizabeth started laughing maniacally. The woman was crazy!

“You think you know it all,” she screeched. “But you know nothing.”

“That’s enough, Elizabeth,” Alexander’s voice reached me from behind and I whipped around to watch his hard face, no emotions reflected. Those blue eyes that could burn with desire were cold and detached. His grandfather stood there, too. All the while Alexander’s father stood protectively next to me.

“Oh, this is fun, darling,” she answered him. “She is defending you and your family. Does she know how your family destroyed her mother and then you finished it off by taking her mother’s publishing company? Now that is hilarious!”

I looked at her confused and then back at Alexander.

“What is she talking about?” I spoke softly, my own voice sounded strange to me. While a storm brewed inside me, my voice portrayed calmness. Maybe it was the shock?

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