Chapter 147: Investigation
"Now I’m going to give you a piece of my fucking mind, Eliot."
Her voice was cold, sharp enough to cut. She took a slow step forward, her gaze locked onto Eliot’s, daring him to look away.
"You are nothing but a spineless, self-serving coward," she continued, her voice unwavering. "A man who let his mistress-turned-wife and her daughter—who isn’t even yours—abuse me while you stood there, watching, pretending not to see. Tell me, Eliot, did you ever once feel guilt? Did it ever cross your mind to step in, to stop them? Or were your company, your power, and your precious reputation more important than your own flesh and blood?"
Eliot swallowed hard, but he didn’t interrupt. Perhaps he knew that nothing he could say would make a difference.
Ephyra scoffed. "Of course not. I was never your daughter, was I? Just a burden, an inconvenience. You tolerated me because you had to, not because you wanted to." She let out a short, humorless laugh. "You know, I spent years craving your approval. I thought if I was good enough, smart enough, obedient enough, you might finally look at me and see more than just a reminder of my mother."
She took another step forward, closing the distance between them.
"But that was a mistake, wasn’t it?" Her voice softened, but there was no warmth in it. "Because no matter what I did, you never saw me. Not really."
Eliot’s lips parted, his face pale. "Ephyra, I—"
"You what?" she snapped. "You regret it? You’re sorry?" She let out a bitter chuckle. "Save it. Regret doesn’t undo the years of neglect. Apologies don’t erase the scars—physical or otherwise."
Without another word, she turned, grabbed her suitcases, and walked past him.
As she reached the door, she paused.