'Eat as much as you want'
Haven salivated on seeing how many kinds of food was served.
The table stretched wide, covered in dishes—roasts, soups, Chinese delicacies, desserts. More food than Haven had seen in months.
Across from her, Zayden typed on his laptop, expression unreadable.
since he had missed some of his meetings in the afternoon and also had stacks of documents waiting for him to sort out.
When he finally looked up and saw that she was still staring at the food, he frowned
'What are you waiting for?'
His voice pulled Haven out of her thoughts and she picked up the spoon and started eating.
'Eat more. Put on some weight', his voice was cold, but there was a strange edge hidden beneath. "You're too thin."
After eating, Haven rubbed her stomach satisfied with the food,but when she thought of his proposal the thought of thanking him fled.
She didn't want to have anything to do with him.
To her, Zayden was a sicko. Only a sicko would want to marry a girl he slept with… Right?
Her phone buzzed,
The caller was Anne, a maid from the west mansion.
The maid never called unless it was urgent.
'Hello, aunt Anne'
'Haven, Haven, hurry back now. 'Madam and Miss are destroying your mother's room! They've taken everything—her relics, her jewelry—hurry!'
Haven hand balled into a fist,
'What?, I'm on my way'
She jumped down from the bed and rushed out of the room with her purse, without looking back.
Behind her, Zayden's fingers paused on his keyboard. His icy gaze lingered on her fleeing figure.
Narrowing his eyes, he shut the laptop.
________________________
WEST MANSION
Pamela West looked around the room with contempt, 'Change the painting of the room as well, make it look… Proper',
She walked to the dressing table, laid on it was a jewelry box.
The box belonged to Norah West, Haven's mother. Priceless jewelry. Six-figure pieces. Treasures Haven had hidden away.
But she had finally found it.
Slut, you think you can hide it from me!
Kiara entered, smiling viciously, 'Mum, she's here',
Pamela gave a 'hmm' sound and opened the box.
Her eyes gleamed as she pulled out a masterpiece—
A rare pink diamond necklace crafted by Ian, the master diamond designer.
Her eyes narrowed, her contempt almost overflowing from her eyes.
She put it on, 'Let's go receive our guest now'
Kiara smirked and followed.
...…..
Haven burst into the mansion, breath ragged from running. Her face was still pale.
She looked up at the mother and daughter pair, anger burning in her veins,especially seeing her mother's precious necklace on the woman's neck.
She's not even worthy of touching it.
'Aunt Pamela, I heard you're renovating my mother's room?', Haven tried to calm down and ask.
Pamela laughed, lifting her chin as she touched the necklace on her neck.
'Your little sister wanted a bigger room and since your mother's is empty… it's perfect '
Haven was about to explode with anger 'Then why touch her things?, how dare you touch my mother's things!'
Kiara stepped forward and stood in front of Haven, 'So what if she touched your mother's things, what are you going to do about it?'
Kiara stepped forward, eyes flashing. 'So what if we did? What can you do about it?'
'How do you feel after last night?, did you have enough fun because I'll make sure you're completely ruined'
Haven bit her lips in anger, she trembled in anger, rage blurring her vision and her eyes turned red.
'Return my mother's things to me now'
Kiara smirked, lifting a hand to signal the maid to throw her out—
Then she spotted her father approaching. A wicked idea lit her eyes.
She grabbed Haven's arm, pinching hard.
Haven gasped, shoving her away.
Kiara fell to the floor dramatically,'Sister why are you doing this? There's no need for violence, mum will give you back the jewelry'
The proud and jaunty look on Kiara's face changed to a pitiful one, looking wronged and bullied.
Her pitiful face was flawless. Wronged. Innocent. A perfect white lotus.
Benjamin West hurried after witnessing the scene, to his eyes, Kiara held Haven's arm but was pushed away violently.
'Kiara', He called out as he helped her to her feet,
'Dad, don't blame Sister,' Kiara whispered, her lips quivering. 'She didn't mean it.'
Pamela's heart swelled with pride. Her daughter had played it perfectly.
Haven, on the other hand was still dazed with the turnout of event
Her chest heaving. This girl… this cunning snake…
She smiled bitterly and was about to explain
'Dad, it's not what you th… '
SLAP
The sound cracked like thunder.
Haven's head tilted to one side and because she was still weak, she fell to the ground, blood spilling from her bitten lip.
Her eyes widened in shock,
'Dad!, you slapped me'
Benjamin was like an aggressive bull, staring at the fallen girl, 'She's your sister, why must you push her like that?'
Kiara hung her head low in her father's arm, smiling but when she raised her head up, the smile was gone.
'Dad, don't be harsh on her, she didn't mean it', Kiara looked at Haven, who sat on the floor.
Haven's heart shattered. She staggered to her feet, tears stinging her eyes.
Benjamin sighed and turned to Kiara, 'I'm sorry dear, you have been wronged in your home'
Kiara smiled shyly, 'It's okay dad, sister just wanted her mother's things that why she pushed me'
Haven stood up, 'Yes. I want my mother's things, now give them to me'
She shouted glaring at the mother and daughter, her heart ached badly.
Pamela and Kiara's eyes turned cold.
Benjamin was riled up again, he stormed forward—
SLAP!
The second blow rang louder.
"Shut up!" he roared.
Haven's vision blurred. Pain throbbed across her face. Blood dripped from her mouth.
Her heart bled more than her body.
Betrayed. Humiliated. Abandoned.
And in that moment, she realized—
She no longer had a place in this family.