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“There she is,” Noah said loudly, his cruel voice echoing around the room.
“The girl in the black dress looking like a wannabe Goth girl.”
My heart pounded in my chest as I felt everyone’s gaze on me. What was Noah doing? Why was he putting me on the spot like this? What would he gain from this?
My fingers clutched my skirt. I wanted to run away and hide in my room.
The idea took root in my mind immediately.
I turned around but suddenly, a wall of young men appeared in my way.
“You can’t run, Camilla,” Noah’s voice called from behind me. “Come up here, sister! Let everyone take a good look at you.”
“Get up there, bitch,” one of the young men said in a threatening tone. “You’re not getting out without Noah’s permission.”
“Please...” I pleadingly looked at the guys blocking my way but they didn’t move. Instead, they stared back with cold, unfeeling eyes.
“It’ll be worse if I have to repeat myself,” Noah’s soft voice echoed all around me. “Don’t test me, Camilla.”
My whole body trembled at the way he said my name. Waves of cold shuddered through me. He was going to hurt me and this time, it was going to be a public humiliation.
A crack appeared in my heart.
I knew why Noah was doing this.
His father declared Mom as the love of his life, and he was going to make me pay for their happiness.
My throat felt choked and I nearly fell apart.
Mom didn’t sacrifice her life to raise a coward, my mind suddenly whispered. I grabbed onto that thought with everything I had.
Fisting my hands tightly, I swallowed my fear and turned around to face Noah. I looked straight at him, meeting his gaze without flinching.
Straightening my back, I held my head high. He was going to hurt me and humiliate me, but I wouldn’t walk to the gallows looking like a cowardly, weak woman.
I strode forward.
The crowd parted to let me walk without stopping. Everyone stared at me but I kept my gaze fixed on Noah.
I moved up the stage and came to stand beside him.
It was odd how we both commanded the attention of the people in the room. Everyone held their breath, waiting for the drama to begin.
“Let it go, Noah,” I heard Corey’s low voice.
“You don’t have to do this,” said Caleb in a grim tone.
I looked over at them, realizing that they already knew what Noah was planning to do tonight. This explained why they kept me distracted the whole evening.
“Here’s Camilla Brown,” Noah announced, ignoring his brothers completely. “My non-biological but very legal sister.” Glancing at me, he added, “Why don’t you come up here and tell everyone how you and your mom ensnared our father? Tell all the young ladies how they can land themselves a billionaire too.”
Shifting away, he gestured to the standing mic.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward.
“This is all a misunderstanding,” I said. My voice echoed around the room. I swallowed the choke in my throat, determined not to let anyone detect a hint of fear or shame in it.
“Noah is usually so smart but he’s wrong about this one thing,” I said. “If you guys want to know how my mom won over Brian, I’ll tell you. They’ve been in a loving relationship for eight years. Neither of them is an impulsive kid. They worked and sacrificed for their relationship. You don’t form a bond like that in a couple of days.”
