Page 74 of Sold to Three Alpha Kings

“I hope the child takes after your wife because it’ll be unfortunate to have another Ricky Abernathy walking this earth.” My voice is soft, but the words are venomous.

His expression darkens. “How dare you?”

“Speak out of turn again, and I’ll have your head on a stake.”

He swallows his next words, a glint of fear flashing in his eyes.

Silence. Dead silence.

I can feel Elena’s and Charles’s gazes on me even without turning to look at them.

“You shouldn’t threaten your family just because you’re in a better place than them,” says Elena.

“Really?” I finally face her. “Because if memory serves me right, that’s all you’ve ever done. Threaten me. All of you.” I head toward her, my heels clicking softly on the floor. “You, Elena, have personally threatened to throw me out into the streets where you’ve always believed I belonged. You have threatened to end my pathetic life and put me out of my misery more times than I can count.”

She swallows hard.

I can feel it in my blood, in my bones and in every cell in my body—all the rage I’ve stored somewhere deep inside me.

She chuckles nervously, shifting on her weight. “That’s—that’s all in the past, Charlize.”

“Easy for you to say.” My voice is low and even, my gaze unwavering. “You’re not the one who spent her whole life ridiculed by her own family.”

“But I’m… I’m still your mother.”

“Step…mother,” I correct her. “You made sure I never forgot that.”

There’s so much tension in the room that I can literally feel their nervousness. For the first time in my life, I’m the one controlling the conversation, and they’re the ones cowering.

I lean in and whisper something in her ear, a secret she never thought I knew. Just a simple question.

“Does Charles Abernathy know who Ricky’s real father is?”

Her breath hitches, and her eyes widen in horror. She’s terrified, confused about how I know this.

I savor the fear in her gaze and smile at her before facing my father. “You’ve always treated me like trash…” I approach him quietly. “…never accepted me as your daughter. So, tell me…Charles. Why should you enjoy the benefits of being the father of the Alpha Kings’ fated mate?”

He’s silent, eyes on the floor.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you.” My voice is calm but laced with authority.

He manages to raise his head.

“I asked you a question,” I say. “And it wasn’t rhetorical.”

Charles doesn’t give a reply. He can’t.

“You’re all horrible people,” I say, struggling to maintain the same calmness from before. But it’s harder now because I’m starting to get all emotional.

They lower their heads, unable to look me in the eyes.

My voice breaks slightly. “You’re selfish and evil, and you do not deserve to be anyone’s family. You’re heartless—all of you.” Tears sting my eyes, and my lips are quivering. “Now, please, leave before I do something I’ll regret.”

“Charlize, we can still…” Elena dares to approach me.

“I said leave!” My voice is so loud that it echoes off the walls.

Elena flinches at the sound.