Selene suddenly felt something cold on her cheek.
She turned her head and saw her mother, Grace, pressing ice gently against her skin.
The moment Selene realized what was happening, she grabbed Grace's hand and stood up abruptly.
"What are you doing, Mrs. Sinclair?"
Hearing her own daughter call her Mrs. Sinclair pierced Grace's heart.
With a hint of hurt and anger, she said,
"I am your mother… and for outsiders, I am Mrs. Sinclair."
Selene gave a bitter smile.
The word mother stung her like a blade.
She remembered—when she was Tessa, reading the original story—how Grace, Selene's real mother, never cared for her even when she was sick.
Grace would spend all her time with Mia, while Selene was left under the care of the maid.
The memory burned inside her.
"My mother?" Selene said sharply.
"My mother left me when I was ten.
The woman standing in front of me right now… she's not my mother.
She's Mrs. Sinclair."
Her eldest brother, Ryan, shot up angrily.
"What kind of disrespect is this, Selene? Apologize to Mom. Right now."
Selene turned to him, her voice cold.
"Mr. Young Sinclair, what exactly did I say wrong?
Why don't you ask your mother where she was every time I fell sick?
Every time I got hurt playing, why was it the maid who bandaged me?
Why did she never come herself?"
Her voice sharpened.
"And whenever Mia and I fought—even over the smallest thing—why was I always the one blamed?
Why was I always the one wrong in your eyes?"
Selene exhaled shakily.
"When I needed a mother, a father, a brother… none of you were there.
Not when I was sick,
not when I was hurt,
not even when I cried alone at night.
So please—stop pretending now."
Her words stabbed the three brothers straight to the heart.
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
Kevin looked away silently.
Just then, her grandfather Victor spoke softly—
"Child… what wrong have I done?"
Selene's expression softened.
She walked to him, held his hand gently, and said,
"Who said I won't speak to you?
You are the only one in this family I can truly call mine."
Victor cupped her head lovingly.
"I'm always with you, my child.
My blessings will always stay with you."
Selene's eyes glistened.
"Grandpa… I don't want to stay here anymore.
I feel suffocated in this house.
I've already found a place for myself.
I want to move there."
Everyone stared at her in shock.
Grace's tears rolled down instantly.
"What are you saying, child?" she whispered.
Ronald snapped,
"What new drama is this now?"
Selene's look turned icy.
"Drama?
That's what I used to do earlier—
beg for your love… crave your attention… hope my brothers would see me too.
But I was foolish.
I was running after people who were never worthy of my love."
She continued,
"And don't worry—after today, you won't have to see my face again.
The very face that irritates you all so much."
Selene turned to leave, but Victor's voice thundered—
"Stop, child."
She froze.
"If you want to leave this house, you may…
but only after crossing my dead body."
His voice trembled, yet remained firm.
"As long as I am alive, my grandchildren will stay under one roof.
This is my final decision."
Victor walked away toward his room.
Selene looked at everyone one last time and then walked toward her own room.
Grace collapsed into the chair, shaken.
The brothers, Mia, and Kevin surrounded her.
Ronald muttered,
"Mom… you're worrying for no reason.
When Daniel arrives tomorrow, she'll be back to her old self.
Just wait and see."
But even he didn't believe his own words.
A strange fear had taken root inside him.
Because if Selene truly decided to leave…
They all knew nothing could stop her.