Elle dug her fingers into the ground, anger vibrating through her small frame.
She bared her teeth, ready to curse the old man who'd been in her way but a voice tore into her ears faster than her fury could rise.
Roanna's scream crashed through her head.
"You foolish daughter! How could you let Sarah be defeated like that?!" the Matriarch roared.
Elle froze. Her lips trembled. "I—I'm sorry, Mother…" she murmured.
"Sorry?!" Roanna barked. "I only have you now as Lucien turned into a lost cause!"
"You are precious, and yet you are nothing but waste! I spent more than a decade perfecting you, and you keep disappointing me!"
Her mouth went dry. Elle's eyes burned red; the scold felt like acid in her gut. Tears threatened, hot and humiliating.
Being mocked by her mother twisted her stomach into knots. She had never meant to disappoint her so badly.
