My Brother's Amberclaw Command

Wesley's face darkened, a flash of surprise and annoyance in his eyes.

"Renee, don't be childish." His voice carried an unmistakable note of impatience. "You're not stable right now. You need someone to look after you. I'm making these arrangements for your own good."

"I said I don't need it," I replied, my voice steady. "I can handle my own affairs."

A murmur spread through the guests. Clearly, none of them had expected me to refuse Wesley's "kindness" in public.

In their eyes, a jilted woman with nothing to her name being offered a place to stay by her ex was a tremendous favor.

"What do you mean by that?" Cassidy snapped, her voice sharp. "Wesley is being kind enough to arrange a place for you, and someone with nothing to her name has the audacity to be picky?"

"I'm not being picky," I said coolly. "I'm refusing."

"Refusing?" Wesley's voice rose, laced with anger. "You're nobody, Renee. Where could you possibly go if you leave New York? Are you trying to ruin my party?"

Those words stabbed into my chest like a knife.

It was always the same insult—that I was just an ordinary girl. A nobody.

To them, that label was my entire identity. It was proof of my inferiority, the excuse they used to justify every insult and humiliation.

"Wesley is right," a sharp female voice interjected.

Cassidy's sister, Veronica Sterling, sauntered over. She was just as arrogant and cruel as Cassidy, draped in an expensive, custom-made gown.

"A gold digger trying to climb the social ladder really thinks she's something, doesn't she?" Veronica sneered, her tone venomous. "What, you think playing hard to get will get his attention? That Wesley will suddenly change his mind? Don't make me laugh."

I clenched my fists, feeling my nails dig deep into my palms. I bit my lip, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

"Veronica," Cassidy said, feigning conciliation, but her eyes glinted with triumph. "Even if her circumstances are unfortunate, we shouldn't hurt her feelings like this."