Chapter 68
“why would Dad bring something as disgusting as you here?” A sharp female wice cut through the stillerss, laced with disdain and Inathing
“You’re nothing but a waste of space,” a man added mockingly, “you don’t deserve to be part of the Rehneider ally. You’ll never be worthy. You should’ve died, just like your
mothe
I wasn’t planning on getting involved, but couldn’t stand their
wwwm words. 1 dragged my heavy skit behind the and approached the source of the noise.
A man and woman dressed in expensive clothing were sneering at a young man in a sample white shirt and a bow the. They even prodded and shoved the man while they spoke. “what are you doing? 1 demanded, my voice sharp with anger.
“Who are you?“” the woman snapped. “His lover?”
“Watch your mouth!” I shot back, glaring at her.
Judging by her outfit and the caliber of people attending this gala, she was clearly the daughter of some wealthy family. Yet her words were as vulgar as an uncouth woman. “You” The woman stepped forward, clearly intending to vent her frustration on me, but she stopped abruptly when she got close enough to see me clearly. Her eyes narrowed Wat Why are you wearing that necklace?
Instinctively, my hand moved to touch the necklace resting on my collarbone
“Are you Alex’s date?” she asked, disbelief flashing across her face
Her words caught the man’s attention, and his hostile demeanor faltered. Both of them suddenly looked uncertain
1 frowned, wondering how she had recognized me as Alex’s companion. I didn’t recall meeting anyone with the last name Schneider during the earlier introductions.
Bar this wasn’t the time dwell on it. I nodded and said firmly, “Yes, I’m Alex’s date. And who are you?
“Imena Schneider from Jershore. This is my brother, Henry,”
“Even if your from the Schneider family, that doesn’t give you the right to bully people,” I said, dragging my skirt past them and toward the young man they’d been tormenting. Au I approached, I noticed bruises on his face and a fresh cut at the corner of his mouth.
“Miss, you don’t understand, Henry said, stepping forward with a sneer. This boy is Lucas, the bastard of our family. He’s an embarrassment. Tonight’s gala is full of people we want to impress, and he had the nerve to show up here, invited, and disgrace us. We were simply teaching him his place.”
His words made my blood boll. “Have you ever heard of basic decency? He’s not a child. You could’ve spoken to him instead of attacking him. And don’t you dare blame him for being a bastard. If anyone’s fault, it’s your father.”
Henry opened his mouth to retort, but Xena pulled him back.
“Mas, you don’t understand our family’s situation, Xena said coldly. “But let me give you some advice–stay away from him. Lecas is a mad dog. Don’t let him sink his breth into
With that, she dragged Hery back toward the ballroom
Turned to Latas. His defiant gaze followed their retreating figures until they disappeared from sight. He couldn’t have been older than 20 He was possibly even younger than me. I pulled a tour from my bag and held it out to him.
He looked at now, stered, but made no attempt to take it
“There’s dirt on your face and clothes,” I said grally, extending the tissue closer “Clean yourself up, ”
After a moment of hesitation, Lucas took the tissue. The defiance in his eyes softened, replaced by uncertainty. He looked at me with a vulnerable expression.
“Aten 1 you afraid of me? l’un just a bastard,” he said tentatively.
Ichuckled softly. “What’s there to be afraid of? No matter your circumstances, you’re still human, aren’t you?”
He lowered his head and whispered, “You’re the first person to say thial.’
My heart ached for him, and I admired the strength it must’ve taken to endure such treatment. Qubtly, I slipped back into the hotel, found a tray of desserts, and suck back out to the garden to bring them to han
