Chapter 410: Chapter 410

With her hand on the door that led out of the room, Samatha couldn’t help but stop once more. A myriad of emotions flickered across her face as if she was trying to suppress whatever was going on inside of her; she turned slightly, just enough for Aliya’s face to enter her peripheral vision.

’She’s not bothering to hide it anymore, huh?’ Samantha thought just as the faintest flicker of hope, so subtle she hadn’t even known it existed, crumbled in that instant. Her chest tightened, and she felt herself being dragged into the cruel memory of the day her world had collapsed.

It was that day when they had visited their mother in the hospital. Over the past weeks, Samantha had asked herself several times why she had to leave her phone behind. Just how clumsy was she?

She still remembered her relaxed state when she was in the lobby with her siblings and how she had run back up the elevators, her mind occupied with trivial thoughts. But as she neared the slightly ajar door, she froze at the sound of low voices—voices she knew more than her own heartbeat.

Samantha still had no idea why she had slowed down and not barged into the private ward that day. Maybe she already had her doubts or whatever. To this day, she was grateful that she had heard that from the horse’s own mouth because despite whatever misgivings that Samantha had against Aliya, she would have never believed it if anyone else had told her.

"Why did I even bother taking her in? Ah!"

The sound of skin tapping against skin was heard. At first, Samantha was not even sure what was being talked about, but what struck her as odd was the energetic voice that Aliya was using. She did not sound like someone who was sick and had been in a coma for years. Aliya did not sound like she was recuperating, but the sinister elements in her voice were what took Samantha aback the most.

"That Samantha girl... she was just a convenient pawn. I mean, why would I go out of my way to adopt a child to take care of? That is against my very nature to do so!"

"So, why then did you do it?" The second voice asked.

At that time, even though that voice was unfamiliar, Samantha had been too shocked to question herself, who that was.

"It was a necessary evil. Tyler wouldn’t shut up about having a child, but how would I let my precious body go through something like childbirth?"

"Oh... you are unfunny and funny as usual!"

"Just look at how she had turned out later. It became too tiring to keep up with how much she was expecting love, as if we owed her any. She thought that we would replace her useless parents who had left her.... but as long as she served her purpose, I kept up with Tyler to keep up the charade.... But, useless things like her.... she’ll never truly belong. She’s a tool—nothing more."

Samantha gasped. The words tore through her like jagged glass. She may have had her reservations about her adoptive mother and thrown her love to the new one, but that did not mean that these words did not hurt! To hear that her adoption had no foundation, and she was never loved, was too much of a blow for her!

Her knees buckled, and her trembling hands clutched anything but the doorframe for support. Tears streamed silently down her face as the air in her lungs turned to lead. A pawn? A tool? The words replayed in her mind, each repetition a hammer blow to her fragile heart.

Samantha didn’t remember much of what happened after that. Only that something inside her shattered irreparably.

Oblivious to the fact that Samantha was outside, Aliya and her companion continued,

"What of the other two? You had said that you did not want a child, so why did you birth Ingrid?... and why did you adopt another one then? You are truly unpredictable!"

"Ingrid? I can’t believe... I mean, she w-"

"Someone’s out there! Who’s there!" Aliya asked sharply.

That was what jolted Samantha out of her reverence, and she rushed to find a place to hide.

After that, she did not feel like she wanted to talk to anyone anymore. One can say that night, her teenage rebellion hit its peak. Samantha ran ’wild’ through the city streets of T-Vino Island, visiting all the places that she had frequented with Raye some time back.

However, even sitting in the very warm, almost smoky bar that night, Samantha felt like she was out of place. The things that had brought her comfort in the past, like smoking and strong alcohol, did not entice her anymore. Strangely, no one gave her trouble for her age that night.

Also, per her promise to Shelby, Samantha tried all she could do to hold herself so that she did not tip over the edge of her emotions. She itched to scream to let those emotions out, so Samantha soon found herself in a tattoo artist’s shop. Afterwards, with her pain invisible to the world, Samantha wept.

She sobbed till she couldn’t anymore. It wasn’t until her new parents found her hours later, curled up on a park bench, sobbing uncontrollably, that she felt a shred of safety again. At that moment, Samantha was not even sure whether they had found her, or she had come back home herself.

She was never able to bring herself to repeat the words she had heard to anyone. Samantha still appreciated the fact that her mum, Shelby, had been there for her, providing silent comfort for when she needed it.

She had adored this Aliya woman—idolized her to the point of throwing tantrums even when Shelby had come into their lives. She had thought then that by refusing to let anyone else take Aliya’s place, was the best.

However, it all sounded so ridiculous. She already had an adoptive dad, so whom was she protecting? She still did not understand why she was that angry at Ian! Now, she saw the truth: her "mother" had worn a mask all along - a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

The present blurred back into focus. Aliya stood there, just beyond Samantha’s peripherals, her face unreadable, but to Samantha, it was all clear, so gross with betrayal. Her fingers tightened on the doorknob as tears burned her eyes, her heart breaking all over again. She straightened her back, swallowing the bitter lump in her throat, and blinked the tears back,

’It’s my own internal demons, and it’s her loss that she missed out on me!’ Samantha thought, as her eyes stayed on Aliya, taking in the smirk that had managed to still stay intact.

Samantha pushed open the door. She had other things to do and did not want to stay in the same space as this person!

"Are you coming?" Samantha asked,

All of them knew whom this question was directed at.

"It’s my room, have you forgotten? Ingrid retorted, not moving an inch from her position. They were indeed in her room, but Ingrid was not yet aware of what was going on in the outside world.

She had not read the news, and Samantha had not shared her findings. That did not mean that she was oblivious. She could read the room like the back of her hand and knew something was amiss, especially with Aliya’s sudden change of behaviour.

Ingrid had a calm maturity that was hard for her to ignore. It was sometimes astonishing to remember that she was just nine years old!

"Suit yourself!" Samantha said and finally left without a backward glance!

With the close of the door, the room became quiet for the mother and daughter. One could say that this was the first time that only the two of them were in a room after Aliya had returned.

"Ho-w have you been, my child?"

"What happened to Mummy?" Ingrid asked directly, ignoring the question that had been posed.

Ingrid’s words hung between them, freezing Aliya’s semblance of a smile. It was as sharp and unexpected as a slap. Aliya, standing before her, stiffened, taken aback.

For a brief moment, she was too stunned to respond.

’Why is my daughter calling someone else ’Mummy’ in my presence?’ Aliya’s thoughts raced, and a flicker of fury flashed in her eyes. The insult clawed at her pride, but she quickly swallowed it down, forcing her features into a mask of strained patience. Her hand twitched at her side, and she bit her lip, the metallic taste of blood grounding her. She couldn’t afford to lose control now.

’The children are my ticket to him,’ she reminded herself, repeating the mantra in her head like a lifeline.

’They’re the key to everything. Be patient, Aliya!’

Calming her breathing, Aliya crouched slightly to meet Ingrid’s gaze, schooling her expression into one of concern, though her jaw still tightened faintly. "Sweetheart," she began, her tone syrupy and deliberate, "why do you ask such things?" she closed her eyes, lightly, and when she opened them, the smile was back,

"Hey... I thought that we could have a bit of mum-daughter time toge-"

"Do you know, or you don’t?" Ingrid shot back instead, interrupting Aliya mid-sentence.

Aliya’s mouth dropped slightly open as her mind churned.

’Annoying little brat. When had she turned out this way? This woman really went out of her way to turn all of these three against me! It looks like I have my work cut out for me! What a bother!’

Then Ingrid’s last words re-echoed in her head and her annoyance rose,

’After all this effort, she still dares to challenge me ?’

Aliya’s forced smile remained in place, but her fingers curled slightly, betraying her frustration.

"Leave my room!" Ingrid snapped, turning her head to avoid eye contact with her mother.

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