Sometimes, I didn’t want to believe what the other prisoners had told me—that someone had paid them to make my life a living hell. That Marcus Delaver and my own parents had wanted me broken.
I had refused to believe it.
But now, I realized what a fool I had been.
Before I could answer, a furious voice cut through the kitchen.
“Why are you here?”
My father’s voice.
I turned to see him storming in, his face twisted in rage. His glare landed on Marcus, then on the food in front of me.
“And you, Marcus! Why are you giving her that food and wine? Someone like her doesn’t deserve such luxury!”
Gracie's POV
I drained the last drop of wine and set the glass down on the table, my fingers trembling.
"She's still your daughter, Alpha Derick," Marcus said, standing up for me. If I hadn’t seen the truth with my own eyes, I might’ve been foolish enough to believe he actually cared. "She’s thin, she needs to eat. The council admitted there were discrepancies in the evidence. There’s a chance she didn’t abduct or kill Lily."
My father’s rage flared. "Money can make anything look like the truth!" he spat. "No matter how much Gracie tries to hide it, the truth always finds a way out! And it did! I am ashamed to have a daughter who murdered her own blood!"
His glare cut through me like a blade.
"I don’t want to see you when I’m here!" he barked, pointing at the doorway. "Get out of my sight, murderer!"
A lump formed in my throat, but I refused to let the tears fall. I lifted my chin, forcing myself to look him in the eye.
"Alpha—"
I cut Marcus off. "You don’t need to fight my battles, Marcus. I’ll do as he says."
I turned and walked out.
Marcus didn’t follow.
When I entered my room, I froze. My mother sat on the edge of my bed, her posture stiff, her eyes cold.
She stood as soon as I stepped in.
"You shouldn’t be staying in this room," she said flatly. "It doesn’t suit you anymore. A servant will move your things to a new room."
I opened my mouth to respond—to call her Mom—but the memory of her words stopped me. She didn’t want me to call her that anymore.
"Okay," I murmured instead.
She walked to the door but paused before leaving.