Return of The Alpha Heiress-Chapter 59: Clarissa - Hostility

This was the first time I learned there were rumors about me and Adrian.

From the way she said ’again’, that filthy rumor must have been circulating for quite some time.

I looked straight at Lisse, my gaze cold.

"You accused me of seducing Larry before. Now you’re accusing me of seducing Adrian. Larry is my brother. Adrian is engaged to my sister. Haven’t you learned anything at all?"

Lisse and the girls around her froze. They clearly hadn’t expected me to confront the accusation so directly, especially in front of Adrian.

It seemed like the cat had gotten Lisse’s tongue.

"Next time, don’t speak carelessly," I said sharply. "Or you might face consequences you never expected."

I turned to Adrian and gave him an apologetic look. I knew these rumors existed only because it was me. If it had been anyone else talking normally with Adrian, no one would have said a word.

Adrian nodded, understanding.

Not wanting the gossip to grow any worse, I continued treating the wound myself, even though it took every bit of strength I had to endure the pain.

I lost the desire to tell Adrian about what Lisse and her group had done. They would only twist it into new rumors if I did.

Besides, what good would it do? Adrian wasn’t in a position to interfere with matters inside the Green Pack.

After finishing my treatment, Shannon still hadn’t returned. I went to look for her. Adrian offered to come with me, but I stopped him. I didn’t want any unnecessary rumors.

I found Shannon near the entrance, surrounded by young elites.

As I approached, I overheard their voices.

"Congratulations, Shannon. Your victory in last year’s Rookie Ae-engineers Competition has proven how talented you are."

"The only daughter of Alpha Green truly is gifted. Your family must be very proud."

"You’re definitely going to achieve even greater things in the future."

They were congratulating Shannon for something I, her sister, knew nothing about.

’Did Shannon win something?’

From where I stood, I couldn’t hear Shannon’s replies. Only the praise and congratulations pouring over her.

They were so focused on Shannon that they didn’t notice me approaching.

Just as I was about to ask them to make way, one sentence stopped me cold.

"Everyone will be extremely grateful to you for creating the shifter’s aide and allowing it to be produced for the public. That Ae-device will help so many people."

’Shifter’s aide... Shannon’s? I didn’t mishear that, did I?’

My hands trembled as I forced my way through the crowd. My eyes burned. My heart pounded violently.

"Hey, don’t push!" someone snapped and turned around to scold me, but instantly fell silent when they saw who it was.

At that voice, the others turned one by one.

Their looks were openly contemptuous.

"So not only is her face ugly, her personality is ugly too. Always stealing."

"Alpha Green shouldn’t have adopted her. She even bites the hand that feeds her."

"At least Shannon managed to reclaim one thing that belonged to her, even though there’s still so much more stolen by this shameless adopted child."

"The shifter’s aide has already been released, and the patent is officially under Shannon’s name. That shameless girl won’t be able to claim it anymore."

Their sneers made my ears burn, but I kept moving forward, straight toward Shannon.

When the last layer of people stepped aside, I finally saw her.

Shannon stood there, beautiful and delicate, her expression utterly confused.

"What do you mean the shifter’s aide is being marketed under your name?" I asked, my voice tightly restrained.

Shannon flinched at my tone. Her voice trembled, her eyes instantly filling with tears.

"I... I don’t know."

That answer made me feel completely toyed with.

My voice rose despite myself.

"You don’t know? That’s impossible. You couldn’t not know your name was used. You must’ve signed something!"

Tears streamed down Shannon’s face. Her watery eyes, tear-stained cheeks, and fragile appearance instantly drew sympathy from everyone around us.

I felt sorry for her too.

But my anger was stronger.

I wanted to scream at her. To tell her to stop being so naive. To stop letting Alpha Will and Darren use her over and over again.

But I held myself back.

I couldn’t bear to hurt her any more than she already was.

In the end, I said nothing.

I only watched as Shannon cried and apologized repeatedly.

Her small, pale fingers wiped away her tears.

She looked utterly pitiful.

Just as guilt began creeping into my chest, the people around us started shouting at me.

"Hey, adopted brat! Who do you think you are, yelling at Shannon?!"

"You’re already ugly and now you’re rude too! How dare you snap at Shannon when she didn’t do anything!"

"Shannon, you should tell the Alpha about this shameless adopted girl’s behavior!"

I stared at them coldly. My anger surged back.

"That shifter’s aide is mine," I said clearly. "I have every right to be angry if someone else holds its patent."

At my words, someone scoffed. Others laughed mockingly, and a strong, hostile aura burst outward.

As I searched for its source, the crowd split apart.

Adrian stepped forward, his face flushed with anger.

He went straight to Shannon and gently pulled her into his arms.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly. "What happened?"

Shannon’s tears slowed as she spoke between sobs.

"The shifter’s aide was produced under my name. I didn’t know Alpha Green and Darren did that."

She turned to me, her eyes red and watery. "I’m sorry. If I had known, I would have stopped them."

"I’m going home to talk to Darren," I said coldly, turning away.

There was no point yelling at Shannon anymore. She was just a foolish girl being used.

But I couldn’t forgive her ignorance either.

Behind me, the insults continued.

This time, they didn’t hurt.

Compared to the pain in my arm, they were nothing.

And seeing something you created with your own hands taken away, without being able to do anything, hurt far more.

Outside the ballroom, Larry caught up with me and rode back together with me. He had clearly just learned about everything.

"Darren won’t be home tonight," Larry said once we were inside the car. "He has business outside. But I’ll contact him."

I nodded. If I called Darren myself, he wouldn’t answer.

When Darren finally picked up, I took Larry’s com-orb.

"Darren," I demanded, "was producing the shifter’s aide under Shannon’s name your doing?"

"So you’ve heard," he replied lazily.

"You’re insane!" I shouted. "That shifter’s aide is mine! I created it!"

"Stop acting up, Clarissa." Darren’s voice was so cold I could almost feel his killing intent through the device.

"I don’t know how you convinced Richard to help you. Fortunately, he came to his senses and told Adrian. Out of guilt, he handed over all the documents. Production was transferred to AeRey, and the patent was returned to the rightful owner."

My anger exploded.

My blood boiled. My fist clenched so tightly I nearly crushed the com-orb.

So Adrian already knew. And he did it quietly.

And Richard...

I had come here looking for him. I had searched for him desperately. He was the only warmth I had left.

And he betrayed me.

"I..." My voice scraped through clenched teeth. "I will make you pay."

"That’s enough," Darren said dismissively. "Stop your childish behavior. You’ve already been given more than enough by the Green family. Calm yourself."

He didn’t take me seriously at all.

Suddenly, Larry pulled the com-orb away and ended the call. "There’s no point talking to him anymore."

His words struck my chest.

I lowered my head, gripping my hair, already messy from Lisse earlier.

My hope was gone.

The funding that would have allowed me to leave the Green family for good was gone.

Larry said he would give me his inheritance, but who knew what the future held?

Even something undeniably mine like the shifter’s aide could be sabotaged.

More than that, it was my creation. That Ae-device was like a child to me. A piece of my mind made real.

My tears fell again.

I had promised myself I wouldn’t cry because of this stupid family.

Larry handed me a handkerchief. He didn’t say anything, letting me cry in silence.

Soon, we arrived at Alpha Green’s mansion.

Larry and the driver didn’t rush me out. They waited until I had calmed down and fixed my appearance.

We entered the mansion.

I just wanted to sleep and forget everything, to believe this was all a nightmare.

But our steps stopped when Alpha Will appeared.

And just like before, he slapped me hard.

SMACK!

I fell to the floor, my head slamming against it.

"How dare a shameless brat like you bully Shannon!" he roared.

The pressure he released wasn’t meant just to restrain me. It was meant to kill.

I couldn’t move. My body felt crushed beneath an enormous weight.

Luna Eileen rushed in and grabbed Alpha Will’s arm.

Crying, she screamed, "Don’t hurt Clarissa! She’s your child! Shannon isn’t your child. Why are you hurting your own flesh and blood over someone else?!"

I could only laugh bitterly. Now they were exposing their secrets themselves.

"Larry, take Luna to her room," Alpha ordered coldly.

Larry hesitated.

Alpha clicked his tongue in irritation. "Useless child."

Then he stepped closer to me and wrapped his hand around my throat.

"Do you think I wouldn’t kill you?!"

...