A Homeward Path Unknown

: Apologize to Her

Nina Sterling immediately came up to play the peacemaker, grabbing my hand with an innocent look on her face.

"Zara, please don't be angry. They don't mean any harm, they're just a bit blunt."

As she spoke, she turned to the others and feigned annoyance.

"How could you say that about Zara? Apologize to her right now!"

The short-haired socialite rolled her eyes, her tone even more caustic.

"Apologize to her? Is she even worthy? She's a good-for-nothing who can't even find her own parents."

"Does she really see herself as the future lady of the Vaughn family?"

"Say that again!" I was completely enraged. I raised my hand to slap her.

Just then, Nina Sterling caught sight of Silas Vaughn's car pulling up out of the corner of her eye. A cunning glint flashed in her eyes as she suddenly lunged forward, putting herself in front of the other woman.

SLAP—!

The crisp sound of a slap rang out. The blow had landed squarely on Nina Sterling's face.

I was stunned.

Silas Vaughn's car had just stopped. The first thing he saw as he stepped out was this very scene.

"Zara Lowell, what are you doing?!"

He roared and rushed over in a few long strides, pulling Nina Sterling protectively into his arms before shoving me away forcefully.

I staggered from the shove, crashing into the shoe cabinet behind me. A sharp pain shot through my lower back.

But he didn't even spare me a glance. His eyes filled with concern as he cupped Nina Sterling's face and asked softly,

"Does it hurt? Let me see."

Tears welled up in Nina Sterling's eyes. She shook her head, looking utterly wronged.

"Silas, I'm fine. Don't blame Zara. She was just very upset."

Her magnanimous act only made me look more malicious.

Silas Vaughn's expression grew incredibly dark.

He steadied Nina Sterling and looked at me coldly. "Apologize to Nina."

I froze on the spot. The pain in my lower back mingled with the ache twisting in my heart, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

"I didn't hit her. She threw herself in front of my hand."

I tried to explain, but my voice trembled with the injustice of it all.

"Besides, they were the ones who started it! They were cursing me and my parents!"

Silas Vaughn's expression didn't soften in the slightest. If anything, it grew even colder and more severe.

"What could they have possibly said that warranted you hitting someone?"

"Nina came to see you out of the goodness of her heart, and this is how you treat her?"

'He didn't believe me at all.'

'Or rather, to him, Nina's feelings always came first. The truth was completely irrelevant.'

I looked at Nina Sterling's tear-stained face, nestled in his arms, and suddenly found the whole situation utterly ridiculous.

'Yes, this is how he's always been, isn't it?'

'Otherwise, he wouldn't have orchestrated my parents' "deaths" just to keep Nina from being sad.'

I took a deep breath, swallowing the coppery taste of blood rising in my throat, and forced a bitter smile.

"Fine. I'll apologize."

I dragged my exhausted body forward, one step at a time, until I was standing before them.

I looked at Nina Sterling, and I didn't miss the flash of triumph in her eyes.

"I'm sorry." I kept my head down, forcing those two words through gritted teeth.

"I shouldn't have… hit you."

Nina Sterling immediately put on a shocked and flattered expression, shrinking further into Silas Vaughn's arms.

"Silas, I told you I don't blame Zara."

Silas Vaughn gently patted her back, his way of accepting my apology.

"Nina's had a scare. I'm going to take her home."

"You stay here and think about what you've done. All these years... I've really spoiled you rotten."

A jolt went through me, and my eyes instantly began to sting.

'So a decade of my unwavering love and trust was nothing more to him than a bad temper he had spoiled me into having.'

He swept away with Nina Sterling and her friends in tow. From beginning to end, he never looked back at me once, much less asked if I'd hurt my back when I fell.