Scarlett blinked, startled by the venom in my voice.
She cowered into Zara’s arms, tears spilling again. “You’re misunderstanding me… I didn’t mean it like that…”
Zara tightened her arms around her, sighing heavily. “Riley, you’ve got it wrong. Scarlett is a sweet girl. She wouldn’t ever do something malicious. Today is her birthday. Please, just say sorry and let it go.”
Say sorry?
Let it go?
I raised an eyebrow, voice smooth and dangerous. “This isn’t the first time, is it? Are you sure I’m the one misunderstanding, Luna Zara? Or should I remind you what happened five years ago-“
“Enough.” Her voice wavered. She paled.
I smirked. “Thought so.”
There it was again.
That ugly, familiar choice.
Scarlett in her arms.
Me alone.
Like always.
I squared my shoulders and turned toward the door, every step jarring against the pain shooting through my legs.
I’d made it two paces when Kael grabbed my arm.
“Explain it.”
I jerked around to face him, voice brittle with disgust. “Explain what?”
“The dress,” he said tightly. “Scarlett’s gown. What happened to it?”
I followed his gaze.
Feathered white fabric shimmered under the lights-except for one jagged edge where a layer had been torn out.
Fabric like that didn’t fall apart by itself.
“Let me guess,” I said. “You think I ruined it?”
“You were the only one in my car. The dress was hanging there. And now-“
“Now it’s damaged, so it must be my fault?”
Scarlett began crying again, voice cracking. “Why would you do that, Riley?”
Zara sighed. “I know you’re angry. But you can’t lash out like this.”
I let out a sharp laugh.
And then I said the one thing they hadn’t expected.
“Kael’s car has a dashcam.”
Everything stilled.
“If you want to accuse me of tampering with the dress,” I continued, “then pull out your phone. Show everyone the footage.”
Scarlett stiffened beside her mother.
I turned to Kael. “You’ve got nothing to hide, right? I demand you play the video.”
The crowd was already whispering.
Scarlett’s voice came out shaky. “There’s no need to check the camera-“
Zara jumped in, “Riley, that’s enough. Don’t make this any more embarrassing than it already is.”
Alaric finally spoke for the first time, voice low. “This ends here. Go clean your wounds.”
No.
Not this time.
I ripped my arm from Kael’s grasp. My voice rang out like a whip.
“No one touches that video? Why? Because it would prove I didn’t do it? Because it would mean someone else-someone you actually care about-would have to take the fall?”
They flinched.
And I didn’t stop.
“I’m not afraid of the truth. I want it shown. Right now. In front of every person here.”
I turned in a slow circle, meeting the eyes of the entire ballroom.
“Why are you all afraid?”
Riley’s POV
I let my eyes sweep across their faces-one by one.
Alaric. Zara. Scarlett. Kael.
Each of them flinched beneath my stare, unable to meet my gaze. Even Kael, all fire and fury a second ago, broke eye contact first.
I knew what they were doing. What they were hoping for.
That I’d fall silent again.
That I’d back down. Again.
But I didn’t.
“Fine,” I said coolly, my voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “Since none of you will say it, I will.”
I stepped forward.
“The gown Kael picked up was perfectly intact. The dashcam can prove I never
A Broken Alpha Heiress’s Revenge touched it, never even looked at it during the ride. But somehow, by the time Scarlett slipped it on, it was torn.”
I turned toward the guests, toward the room filled with powerful families and polished reputations.
“So tell me,” I asked, louder now, “who really damaged the dress?”
My voice dropped to a quiet, dangerous hush.
“And more importantly-why is everyone so afraid of checking the damn footage?”
No one moved.
Because they knew. If the truth came out, they couldn’t pin this on me.
Couldn’t let me be the scapegoat.
Not again.
“I guess that’s the problem, right?” I laughed bitterly. “If the dashcam proves I’m innocent, then who’s left to carry the blame?”
I looked straight at Alaric and Zara.
“To carry the blame… to take the fall… to take the punishment meant for someone else.”
That last sentence hit like a grenade.
Zara’s tears came quickly, but they didn’t move me.
“Riley… it’s not like that. You’re my daughter too. I’ve always-“
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