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Chapter 13
That night, as Elowen watched the video, his body shook violently, and he collapsed from anger, unable to bear the truth. Evan quickly shut down the banquet, and the family returned home in disgrace, making a complete fool of themselves. The incident was caught on camera and posted online, quickly going viral.
The comments flooded in:
"Oh my god, that's the daughter of Oscar-winning actress Astrid! If she knew her daughter was treated like this after her death, it would break her heart!"
"I used to think Astrid was cold-hearted, that she hired someone to kill, but now it's all coming to light. I'm so sorry for everything I thought!"
"I get why stepmothers and illegitimate daughters act this way, but how could Narissa's own father and brother treat her like this?"
"Didn't Mr. Sterling love Astrid deeply? But after she passed, he and his son have been treating her daughter this way."
"Imagine the pain Narissa must be feeling, being betrayed by the people she loved the most!"
These comments tore at Drake and Evan, each word like a knife in their hearts. But more than the guilt, there was fear. Since Liora's birthday celebration, they couldn't find Narissa.
When they returned home, they realized that everything related to Narissa was gone. It hit them hard when Drake found Narissa's wedding dress, gathering dust in a forgotten corner. His heart clenched as he stared at it.
Evan's eyes darkened with guilt and anger. "This is your fault! If your affair with Liora hadn't come to light, Narissa would never have left!"
Drake threw a dusty necklace at Evan's face, furious. "You still have the nerve to blame me? If you'd cared about Narissa, if you'd warned me earlier, none of this would have happened. This is on you, all of it!"
Evan's chest tightened, and in a flash, he was on the floor, knocked down by his brother. Filled with rage, he fought back, hitting Drake hard. "You have no right to blame me! You indulged Liora, you let her humiliate Narissa over and over. Don't act like you're innocent here!"
Drake's eyes blazed with fury, his voice slow and deliberate. "I never loved Liora. I only played with her. It's Narissa I've always loved. When she comes back, I'll marry her and make it right."
Evan's cold laugh sent chills through the room. "You want to marry my sister? Not in your wildest dreams."
Drake's fists clenched, the sound of cracking knuckles filling the tense silence. He lunged at Evan, fury driving him to hit again and again. "Shut up!"
The brothers fought like wild animals, and by the end of it, both were lying in hospital beds, nursing their wounds. They spent days recovering, but once they were out, they searched frantically for Narissa, nearly losing their minds with worry.
Meanwhile, Elowen locked himself away in his room. The next day, he filed a lawsuit against Liora and Wilde, sending them straight to the police station. He and his family were devastated. Elowen was unrecognizable, his face aged by years of pain, his expression desperate. "I'm sorry… to Astrid… to Narissa. It's all my fault," he mumbled, lost in a haze of guilt and regret.
He didn't leave his room, drowning himself in alcohol day and night.
Drake and Evan, still desperate, went searching for Liora. When they found her, she was a mess, her eyes swollen from crying.
"Drake, Evan, please, let me see Dad," she pleaded. "I know my mom and I made terrible mistakes, but we love you both so much. We did it all for you. Please, give us a chance to fix this."