Chapter 268: The Counter Strike
The corridor fell silent.
Nurse Davis had turned away. Monica stood frozen, her hand still raised, her face a mask of fury and shame. The envelope lay crumpled on the floor between them.
I stepped out from behind the counter.
"Monica."
My voice was calm. Steady. It surprised even me.
She turned. Her eyes were wild, red-rimmed. "Oh, here she is. The girl who stole everything from me."
I didn't flinch. "I stole nothing."
"You stole my family. My father's attention. My brother's loyalty. Even Grandmother's love." Her voice cracked. "You walk into our lives like a hurricane and leave nothing but ruins."
"A hurricane doesn't rebuild." I stepped closer. "I'm not here to destroy. I'm here to build."
"Build what? Your own kingdom?"
"My own life. My own family. My own future." I stopped a few feet away. "The same things you want."
"Oh, come on. I've gotten everything. I'm the daughter of Halton."
