From Cell to Crown- The Disgraced Heiress Returns

Chapter 7

With a loud thud, Narissa was knocked to the ground, the frame holding her mother's photo slipping from her hands. It crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces, glass scattering across the room. The photograph, once pristine, was left torn and scarred.

Tears welled up in Narissa's eyes, her breath slowing as she stared at the broken photo, frozen in place. Desperately, she reached out, trembling, attempting to pick it up from the shards of glass. But before she could move, Drake grabbed her tightly, stopping her. His heart ached as he saw her on the brink of breaking, and he gently cupped her trembling hand, pressing soft kisses to her forehead. His voice quivered with concern. "Narissa, please don't cry. It's too dangerous to touch the glass. I promise, the photo will be okay."

Narissa struggled, her voice choked with emotion. "Let go of me! That's the only photo I have left of my mother. It's mine!"

Drake's grip tightened as he noticed blood starting to seep from her hand. "Stop moving, your hand is hurt." His eyes were frantic, but before he could say more, Evan called for the family doctor. That's when Liora, almost as if in a trance, reached for the photo. A shard of glass sliced through her hand, and blood began to drip.

Drake's face went pale with alarm as he released Narissa and rushed to Liora's side. "Liora, you're bleeding!" he cried, his voice trembling.

Liora winced, looking guilty. "Narissa, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to take it. I just… I always admired your mom's kindness. I kept the photo by my bed, thinking of her every day. I didn't steal it on purpose."

Narissa's mind was a whirlwind of disbelief. How could they? How could they shamelessly keep her mother's photo as if it was theirs? Her anger simmered beneath the surface, mixed with an aching sorrow. If her mother were here to see this, how devastated she would be.

A cold emptiness settled in her heart, but no one seemed to notice. Evan quickly called for the doctor to tend to Liora's wound, while Liora casually dismissed the bleeding with a weak smile. "It's nothing, really. Just a little blood. As long as the photo is okay, that's all that matters."

The room seemed to swarm with concern for Liora's minor injury, everyone rallying around her. Meanwhile, Narissa bent carefully to pick up the bloodied photo. It was soaked, the stains of red bleeding into the image, her mother's face nearly unrecognizable.

The sight of it made Narissa's heart lurch. It was just like the moment when her mother died in her arms—blood staining everything, her mother's face contorted and lifeless. The image was burned into her memory.

Narissa's hands shook uncontrollably, her heart breaking all over again. Her emotions, once held in check, exploded. She couldn't breathe, and before she knew it, the world went black.

When she finally came to, Liora's guilty face hovered above her. But the words that came out of her mouth were anything but apologetic. "Narissa, I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just trying to be kind. You're not mad at me, right?"

Narissa stayed silent, her expression unreadable. Liora dropped the pretense, smirking. "Narissa, you see how easy it is to replace someone? This is just the beginning. I'll make everyone who ever cared about you fall for me instead."

Her eyes glinted with malice. "Evan, Drake—they'll both be mine."

Narissa's gaze grew distant, her mind numb to the cruelty in Liora's words. She didn't respond, though part of her was crushed by the cold reality of what Liora had just said.

Liora's grin widened as she leaned in. "Do you know why Evan suddenly started treating you differently?" she asked, her voice sweet with malice.

Narissa's heart pounded in her chest. "Why?" she whispered, desperate to know. She needed to understand. What had she done wrong? What could she fix so that her brother would love her again?

Liora's smirk deepened as she stirred the medicine in her hand. "I had a priest say that your fate is cursed. He said you bring misfortune to everyone around you. And he even said your mother's death was your fault. Evan believed him."

Narissa's body stiffened, her breath catching in her throat. No wonder Evan had distanced himself from her. He truly believed the cruel words, thinking that her mother's death was somehow her fault.

The pain in her chest was sharp and unrelenting. She wanted to scream, but all she could do was tighten her fist, tears welling in her eyes.

Over the next few days, Drake visited her a few times, but Narissa remained silent. He'd squat by her bedside, speaking gently. "Narissa, the doctor says you're overexerted. Please, don't dwell on this. Liora was only trying to help. I know you hate her because of her father and Wilde, but she's not like them. She's actually a very kind person."

Narissa didn't react until the photo was mentioned again. Drake lowered his head and kissed her cheek. "Narissa, Evan took the photo to get it fixed. I'll come see you when I get back from work."

Evan came later, holding the photo, but it was no longer clear. Her mother's face was a blur. "Even though Liora tried her best, it's too damaged to save."

Narissa stared at the ruined photo, then said softly, "Throw it away."

Evan looked shocked, clutching the photo as though it were sacred. "Narissa, Liora worked so hard to save it."

She didn't care. The photo was no longer important. The damage had already been done, and there was nothing to discuss.

But then, Narissa's voice cracked, hoarse with emotion. "Evan, you think I caused Mom's death, don't you?"

The room was heavy with silence. Evan didn't answer, but she knew. She had her answer.

Memories flooded back of relatives whispering after her mother's death, accusing her of being the cause of the accident. At the time, Evan had fought fiercely to defend her, but now, everything felt like a distant dream.

Just then, Elowen walked in, his face dark with frustration. "Nothing happened while you were away, but now that you're back, it's chaos. When will you ever be as obedient and sensible as Liora?"

Narissa stayed quiet. Elowen's disappointment hung in the air like a suffocating weight.

Finally, Narissa spoke, her voice cold and steady. "I'm moving out."

Her mother had left her a company, and she no longer wanted to stay in this house—surrounded by people who were either indifferent or malicious. Evan seemed to realize what she was thinking. His expression faltered for a moment before he spoke.

"Narissa, I've already asked Liora to start learning and getting hands-on experience with your company."