738 To Be A Happy Family Again
Derek's eye flashed with a dark, unnatural gleam, glowing faintly with malice, "What did you two lack so much that the both of you let a filthy demon touch and corrupt you?" His words were a guttural accusation, as if the mere thought of it disgusted him, "How could you two betray me like this?"
Rachel's eyes widened in shock at his words, her pulse quickening as her grip on her mother tightened. She could feel the dark weight of his words pressing down on her chest, each syllable a hammer striking her heart.
His anger wasn't just at her—it was at them both, and for the first time, Rachel understood just how far gone her father was.
Cecilia's breath caught in her throat, but she gathered every ounce of strength within her as she stared back at Derek, her expression hardening. The words that had been buried within her for so long bubbled up, escaping with a quiet but powerful force, "Betrayed you?" she echoed, her voice steady and filled with an unshakable resolve, "How could you ask us that when you were the one who betrayed us? Not just us, Derek. You betrayed the entire world—the trust and respect people had for you, and still do. You hid so many evil things you did from us, trying to make us believe it was all for our own good when we both know it isn't true."
For a brief moment, Derek's stern expression faltered, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. But then his gaze sharpened, narrowing into a cold, unforgiving stare, "You foolish woman. You let yourself get used by a demon?"
"Maybe, but I would rather prefer than get used by you like you did all these years," Cecilia said with her fists clenched. Seeing her mother stand her ground bolstered Rachel's courage. She had never seen her mother stand up like this before, and it made her want to be strong too, no matter the consequences.
Derek raised one eyebrow slowly, almost in disbelief, and shook his head with a cold, condescending look, "Look at you," he began, his voice dripping with contempt. "You're talking back to me. I suppose that demon has truly corrupted you." His words stung, each syllable an arrow aimed at their hearts, "If not for me, you would've been married off to some scum from a lowly elite family who would have used you as nothing but a breeding tool, hoping that one of his children might get the attention of the Sterling family. Your life would have amounted to nothing. You would have ended up like your mother. We both know that don't we?"
Cecilia's chin quivered, and for a moment, her strength seemed to falter as his words struck deep into her, a reminder of the deep wounds on her soul. But even in her hurt, she stood tall, knowing that she could no longer stay silent.
Rachel, sensing the pain in her mother's heart, watched helplessly as Derek's words stabbed deep into her. But seeing her mother's trembling hands, she couldn't allow him to continue. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
"That's enough," Rachel said, her voice breaking through the tension.
Stepping forward, she planted herself firmly beside her mother, her gaze unwavering as she looked directly into Derek's eyes. There was no fear in her now—only the resolve of someone who had seen the truth, "You've hurt us enough. So please... stop now. If you truly care about us, you will at least stop now," Rachel knew he didn't care about them, but somewhere, she still held a sliver of hope.
Derek's gaze flickered with an unreadable emotion, his eyes narrowing with disappointment and something darker, "Rachel..." he murmured, his voice soft but filled with a deep, biting regret, "I knew your mother was weak, but I expected you to be better. At least better than her, considering my blood flows through your veins. I had so many hopes for you—hopes that you would be like me or better. You had that fire when you were younger, that drive I had at your age. But ever since you met that wretched Hellbringer, things have never been the same. I admit it was partly my fault for thinking you were mature enough to handle your trauma on your own. But clearly, that left an opening for him to take advantage of you and make you betray your own."
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