From Cell to Crown- The Disgraced Heiress Returns

Chapter 5

The atmosphere at the banquet was thick with tension and discomfort. Elowen, seething with anger, glared at Narissa, his voice shaking with fury. "Troublemaker. As soon as you come back, it's nothing but problems."

Narissa met his gaze, her heart sinking with disappointment.

Liora's mother patted Elowen's back, then shot Narissa a disapproving look. "Narissa, it's your father's birthday. You forgot the gift, and now you've upset him. Please, don't make it worse."

Elowen, already enraged, exploded, "Even Liora brought a gift. After raising you all these years, I've only ended up with an ungrateful child."

Seven months of suffering, abuse, and neglect, and this was all her father cared about—the gift she didn't bring.

Narissa held back the overwhelming pain rising in her chest, forcing a bitter smile as she replied, "To you, I'm less important than a gift."

The slap that followed was swift and brutal, sending her crashing to the floor. The sting on her cheek was sharp, but she met his gaze, her defiance evident. "Dad, if Mom were here, she'd hate you for this."

Elowen froze, momentarily speechless. Wilde, ever the mediator, spoke softly, trying to smooth things over. "Narissa, you're overthinking. If Astrid knew, she'd want your father to be happy."

Elowen nodded, visibly softened by Wilde's words. "You're right, Wilde. Astrid would understand from up there."

He turned back to Narissa, a stern look in his eyes. "Stop embarrassing yourself. If your mother saw you like this, she'd be furious."

With that, they walked away, leaving Narissa standing alone, her heart heavy with disbelief. The stares of the crowd burned into her, but she remained silent, not bothering to defend herself against the whispers.

It wasn't until Drake approached her, a rare gesture for someone who hadn't reached out to her in weeks, that Narissa's numb heart stirred slightly.

She was caught off guard by his sudden appearance, her emotions a tangle of confusion and pain. His words, however, sliced through her thoughts: "Narissa, you made Liora cry. Come with me and apologize."

It hit her, the realization that he was only here because of Liora. Despite her growing resignation to the fact that everyone always prioritized Liora, the sting of the reminder still cut deep.

Drake reached for her, but Narissa pulled away, the coldness of his touch pushing her further into herself. "Narissa, you're at fault here. Liora's been running around all day preparing for this banquet, and it was your responsibility. Can't you see how exhausted she is?" His voice held a note of frustration.

He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes catching the sight of her tears. For a moment, memories of when she last cried—when her mother passed away—flooded his mind. The sight of her tears froze him in place, a pain shooting through his chest.

Narissa's eyes were red with anger, her body trembling with emotion as she asked, each word a sharp bite, "Drake, would you apologize to someone who insults your mother?"

He didn't respond, and she repeated her words, this time firmer. "I won't apologize, not to Liora. She doesn't deserve it."

Drake's expression darkened, the last trace of pity vanishing from his eyes. "When did you become so blind? It wasn't Liora who said those things, it was Bella. Can't you see that? You need to be more rational."

Narissa raised her gaze, locking eyes with him, unwilling to miss the smallest shift in his demeanor. Her voice was calm, steady, but tinged with a quiet fury. "Drake, did you do this on purpose?"

The thought lingered in her mind, that maybe Drake had intentionally kept her from bringing a gift. Maybe he had led her into this trap, making her face a crowd that would side with Bella, knowing how much Narissa despised her.

She couldn't bring herself to believe it, but when she caught the brief flicker of panic in Drake's eyes, it felt like the ground had been pulled from beneath her.

Drake quickly masked his surprise, but a flicker of guilt crossed his face as he lowered his voice. "The incident with Liora... it has to be addressed. That's why I made sure people knew you were released from prison. But once this is all over, we'll stay engaged, don't worry."

Narissa's chest tightened, the raw pain cutting deeper. She fought to suppress it, but every attempt only made her feel more shattered. "How many times do I have to say it for you to believe me? I didn't do it. Liora framed me! But none of you, not a single one, has ever stood by me or believed in me."

Her voice cracked, a bitter laugh escaping her lips, empty of humor. If he had truly wanted to believe her, he would have by now. But he never did.

A mocking smile twisted her lips as she forced out the words, her heart already numb. "Drake, I'm calling off the engagement. You can marry Liora instead."

Drake paused, his face paling, before his anger flared. "Can you stop being so impulsive? We've been together for years! You think you can just end this like that?"

Narissa took a deep breath, her voice unwavering, calm in its resolve. "I'm not being impulsive, Drake. I'm giving you exactly what you've always wanted."

"I only see Liora as a sister…"

Before Drake could finish, his phone buzzed. Narissa glanced at the screen—"Darling Liora" flashed in bold letters. Without hesitation, Drake walked away toward Liora, who was smiling and waving at him from across the room.

Narissa's heart grew colder, her gaze falling to the ground. She took a deep breath, then turned and walked out of the banquet hall, never looking back.