Chapter 8 Two Can Play A Game

• ~Elena~
• The slap
• I knew I should have expected it when I got home. During my entire ride back, my phone had been blowing up with calls from my family, Owen, and a flood of texts and social media notifications. Since Owen had involved the paparazzi, I knew the news would have spread online, and the only person who would sympathize with me was my grandfather—the only one who cared about me. The rest wouldn’t even understand why I turned down Owen’s proposal. I was right because, as I walked in, Phaedra was already in my face, slapping and yelling at me. My father, as usual, sat there with his head lowered, like he always did whenever Phaedra and Ariana started harassing me.
• I knew he wouldn’t say a word. I had dealt with his silence for years, enduring it until my plan to marry Owen finally happened.
• “Have you decided to drag this family through the mud?” Phaedra kept yelling, pushing me backward with her hands. “Are you trying to destroy this family’s reputation?”
• Ariana suddenly burst into tears, standing up from the couch where she’d been sitting beside my father. “That’s not all,” she sniffled, pointing an accusing finger at me. “I saw her leaving with Christian, and she didn’t even bother to stop!”
• A grin formed on my face, seeing her in pain, crying over me being with someone she liked. “Why would I stop when you’re sleeping with Owen?” I accused her, even though I wasn’t sure they were together yet. But since it had happened in the future, it stood to reason that it might have already begun in the past. Somehow, they’d found a way to grow their relationship.
• Phaedra stopped shoving my shoulders and turned to my father. “Can you hear what your daughter is saying? She’s accusing her sister of sleeping with her boyfriend—again! Not only did she humiliate her sister in front of the media, but she’s doing it here, too!” She began her typical dramatic crying, putting two fingers on her forehead. “Why does my daughter deserve to be treated this way?”
• I frowned, folding my arms, waiting to see if my father would say anything. I knew what would happen—he would side with Phaedra, just like always. He never listened to my side of the story, always supporting Phaedra and Ariana.
• “Aren’t you going to say something?” Phaedra yelled at him after the silence dragged on, her eyes narrowing when he didn’t respond. “Are you going to keep letting her do whatever she wants just because she’s the legitimate daughter?”
• My eyes widened at the mention of legitimacy. It was the first time I’d heard it said aloud because, in my past life, I was the illegitimate daughter. This time, fate had made me the legitimate one, yet Phaedra’s hatred for me remained unchanged.
• “She accused her sister of sleeping with her boyfriend and dragged this entire family through the dirt! What will people say?” Phaedra stomped her feet like a petulant child. “Are you still going to condone her attitude because—”
• “Enough, Phaedra!” my father shouted, startling me for the first time. I never said I would condone her behavior.” He cleared his throat, standing up as he walked towards me. In the past, I would have stepped back, afraid he might hit me in his anger, but this time, I remained unfazed, meeting his gaze and waiting for his reaction.
• When he reached me, he took a full twenty seconds before speaking. “I don’t know why you’re spreading rumors about your boyfriend and sister, but you’re going to announce to the world tomorrow that everything you said was false—including the proposal between you and Owen!” His expression was cold, his tone devoid of emotion.
• When he stood and shouted at Phaedra, a flicker of hope had stirred within me—maybe he would stand up for me for once. But that hope shattered when he proved he was still the same, ready to ruin my life for appearances.
• “Do you understand me, Elena?” he yelled, his voice booming, causing my heart to race as my body reacted with a shiver. “I want you to speak like a properly trained lady when I address you!”
• I clenched my fists tightly, my voice low but steady as I spoke. “No.”
• His face fell, a low gasp escaping his lips as Phaedra gasped beside him. Ariana’s sobbing grew louder.
• “I told you she’s changed and will bring trouble upon this family!” Ariana said, tears streaming down her face.
• “This is exactly what I warned you about!” Phaedra added. “You’ve been too lenient with her! Now, she doesn’t even respect her father. This family is heading for ruin!” She was hysterical, stomping her feet like a spoiled child.
• “Enough!” I shouted, glaring at her.
• My fists were clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, drawing blood. Anger bubbled up, ready to explode, but I couldn’t do anything. I was powerless. No matter how hard I fought, I would never win. I needed something stronger, something powerful enough to crush them.
• “Are you refusing to do what I told you?” my father asked, disbelief etched in his voice. “Do you think you have a say in this? I am commanding you as your father, and you will—”
• “No,” I interrupted, my heart pounding as if it might burst. “I will not do what you ask because I don’t want to be with Owen. And yes, Ariana has been sleeping with—” Before I could finish, a sharp slap landed on my face, cutting me off.
• “Who do you think you’re talking to?” he yelled. “I am your father and will not let you tear this family apart!”
• Tears welled up in my eyes, and I gently raised my hand to my cheek, rubbing the stinging spot. I wanted to cry right there, in front of them, but I refused to let them see me break. Crying would mean giving up, and I would never give them the satisfaction.
• “Father,” I spoke, my voice soft but unwavering. “No matter how much you hit me, I will not change my mind. Ariana is sleeping with Owen, and you’re too blind to see it.”
• “You—” he began, but I cut him off again.
• “I’m going to visit Grandfather since he’s the only one who cares about me,” I said, my voice rising as I turned to leave.
• “If you take another step, you will lose your place in this family, Elena. Don’t test me!” My father’s warning hung heavy in the air, echoing the threats he’d made so many times in the past. “This is my last warning, as your father. If you take another step—”
• “Father,” I turned back, my gaze meeting his. “No matter what you do, I will not go back on my word because it is the truth. If you choose not to believe me, that’s on you—just like you refused to believe Mother in the past.” I brought up my mother because her death was in his hands. He would have known she was innocent if he had listened to her and not let rumors dictate his actions. And here we were again, history repeating itself. He wouldn’t listen to me, just as he hadn’t listened to her, siding instead with Ariana and Phaedra.
• Nothing had truly changed except my legitimacy, and it infuriated me to know that even with my mother as the legal wife this time, I still had no place in this household. They still treated me the same way they had in the past.
• “I’ll take my leave now,” I announced, turning away, but Phaedra’s voice rang out, stopping me.
• “Keep running to your grandfather, Elena. One day, even he won’t be able to save you.” Her voice dripped with venom.
• I sighed deeply, not bothering to turn back, and walked out of the house, tears spilling down my face. I cried for all the times I longed for my father’s love but never received it. I cried for the moment I believed I’d married the perfect man, only to learn he was a monster. I cried for the sister I once trusted, who ended up hating me even after I died.
• No one cared about me—except for my grandfather and myself.
• “Elena!” Ariana’s voice rang out as I reached my car, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Wait!” She ran up to me, panting heavily as she stopped before me. “Wait!”
• “What is it, Ariana?” I asked, my voice weary.
• She raised her head, stepping closer as she pulled me into her arms. “I’m sorry your proposal didn’t go well,” she whispered, rubbing my back before bursting into laughter. “But I must admit, you looked pathetic in those paparazzi pictures.” She laughed again, stepping back. “Oh, you haven’t seen them yet?” she asked, a mock pout on her lips. “I’m so sorry for you. Not only did you lose your boyfriend because of your foolishness, but he never even cared about you.”
• I watched her, unmoved, as she continued to talk, her mouth a source of spiteful noise. “If I were you, I’d beg Owen to take me back.”
• “Well, I never expected to hear something so foolish,” I replied, folding my arms. “Owen means nothing to me anymore, and he doesn’t deserve my boyfriend's title. You can have him while I go for better things—including Christian.”
• Her jaw clenched, her face reddening, but I didn’t care. Christian told me to fight for myself so that I would do that. I’d never let them win again. "See you later, Ariana," I smiled at her as I got into my car and drove away from the family estate. Once alone on the road, I pulled over and grabbed my phone, scrolling through the posts. Ariana hadn't lied—I looked awful in the pictures. Whoever posted them was clearly on Owen's side; they made me seem like the villain. Memes about me being "evil" were circulating, and the comments were nasty. Not a single person seemed to be on my side.
• As I scrolled through the hateful comments, one caught my attention.
• Christian Royal.
• He had commented nice things about me. "Trust me, she is an angel."
• Under his post were thousands of replies, most speculating about our relationship. As I liked the post and clicked to follow him, an idea sparked.
• With that simple action, I had planted a rumor—and I was taking another step closer to Christian Royal. If Ariana wanted him, then I would go for him, too.
• Also, I had to take care of my health, so I scheduled an appointment with a hospital, and out of the thousands in the country, I picked the one that would create more rumors.
• The Royal Hospital.
• Two could play this game, but only one would win.