Chapter 6 Cheap Tricks

Evelyn's eyes quickly filled with tears, and her voice quivered as she pointed a trembling finger at me. "I know you don't like me, but couldn't you show some restraint in public? How could you humiliate me like this? My parents got me this dress, and now it's ruined. If they find out, they'll be heartbroken ... Waaaaahhh ... " I stared in confusion. How could Evelyn, a werewolf, cry so easily? The moment she started crying, Lucas and Alexander were by her side, like two towering protectors. They surrounded her, casting hostile glares in my direction as though I were a threat about to attack. Lucas' eyes burned with fury. He snapped his fingers, summoning the werewolf guards with a cold command. "Evelyn invited you to her birthday, and you throw wine in her face? You're bullying her on purpose! Apologize!" "Watch out!" Nova's warning echoed in my mind, but I couldn't react fast enough. Before I even thought of moving, Alexander had shoved me violently to the floor. He loomed over me, his eyes glowing red with rage, his expression a mask of contempt. "Damn you, Alicia. I know your origins are humble, but I didn't realize you were this bitter, this uncouth. You attacked Evelyn? Well then, you'll regret it. Guards! Make her drink it all!" At his command, the werewolf guards pounced. They pinned me down, uncorking champagne bottles and forcing them down my throat. The cold liquid poured down, choking me as it rushed into my lungs. I coughed violently, struggling to catch my breath. I tried to gather my strength, to fight back, but I was too weak. My lungs burned, and I managed to croak out a few words, my voice barely a whisper. "I'm ... allergic ... to alcohol!" Everyone heard me. But no one stopped him. Lucas, meanwhile, was by Evelyn's side, gently wiping away her tears. He ignored my agony, acting as if I didn't exist. The champagne tower emptied a little more, and by then, I was on the verge of collapse. The smell of blood filled my nostrils, familiar and sharp. "No!" Nova screamed inside my head. Her pain mirrored mine, but there was nothing she could do either. It didn't take long before I could feel my skin crawling, like a thousand tiny insects gnawing at me. I knew then—my body was in the grips of a full allergic reaction. "Oh my god, look at her skin! It's covered in bumps!" someone gasped. But no one moved to help. No one said a word as I struggled to breathe, desperate for any relief. I fought to open my swollen eyelids, the pain sharp and relentless. My vision swam in and out of focus. Through the haze, I saw them—Charles White and Elizabeth White—finally arriving. I could barely keep my eyes open, the agony clouding my thoughts, but something deep inside me pushed me forward. My hand reached out, instinctively clutching at their legs, desperate for a sign that they would save me. "Dad ... Mom ... " I whispered, my voice weak and ragged. But they didn't respond. They didn't even seem to notice me. I couldn't understand it. Why couldn't they sense me? Why didn't they see I was here? Hadn't they raised me? Wasn't I their daughter? Charles glanced down at me, his eyes narrowing as he felt my touch on his leg. Without a moment's hesitation, he kicked me hard, sending me crashing to the side. A cold smile twisted his lips as he turned and walked toward Evelyn. "Your mom and I were busy finding you the best gift," he explained with a fake cheerfulness. "That's why we're late. Sorry, my dear. What's the matter? Why are you crying? Did something happen?" They didn't care. My chest ached from the blow, but I couldn't even process it before my body slammed into the champagne tower. The next instant, over a hundred glasses crashed to the ground, shattering on Evelyn's body. Shards of glasses flew, their sharp and jagged pieces sliced through the air and embedded itself into my skin. The pain was immediate and excruciating. I screamed as the glass shards scraped against me, leaving deep cuts that bled freely. The world around me blurred, and the agony was all-consuming. Alexander approached, his face an unreadable mask. Without warning, he grabbed my hair, yanking me upward with brutal force. I gasped as the pain shot through my scalp. "No! Alexander! Let go of me!" I screamed, struggling to break free. "Let go of you? You think I'll let you off that easily?" he sneered. "You ruined my sister's party. You'll pay for this." His words were venom, each one dripping with malice. I shook my head violently, trying to break free. But he wasn't done. He picked up a shard of broken glass from the floor, and with one swift movement, he drove it into the palm of my hand. The pain was unbearable. It was as if fire had seared into my flesh. I had never imagined Alexander would do something like this, especially in front of everyone. My lips bled as I bit down to hold back a scream, but it was futile. My cries filled the hall, echoing in the tense silence, the sound stretching far beyond my control. The pain in my hand, the sharpness in my chest, the nausea that churned in my stomach—it all flooded my senses, drowning me. I couldn't take it anymore. My vision swirled, and my thoughts grew hazy. Nova's presence had vanished, slipping into a deep sleep, leaving me entirely alone. Before everything went black, the last image I saw was the White family, gathered around Evelyn. They were doing everything they could to make her smile. Lucas, clearly annoyed by the noise, gently covered her ears.