Chapter 25: You’d Better Leave
The Family’s True Colors
Zephyr’s call had been unexpected, his tone firm yet laced with an underlying tension.
“Come home, Selene. It’s about your grandfather’s will.”
Though Selene had never cared much for inheritance—after all, she was wealthy in her own right—the idea of her greedy family members getting their hands on Lazarus’s legacy made her blood boil.
She wouldn’t have come back for the money.
But she sure as hell wasn’t about to let them take what wasn’t rightfully theirs.
So, with an irritated sigh, she decided to return.
Ophelia’s Scheming
The moment Selene stepped inside, she overheard Ophelia Vesper’s voice, dripping with fake concern.
“Selene’s a bit reckless, isn’t she? I can see why the Vales want a divorce. How about we set her up with Homer? His business has been booming these past few years.”
Homer Rowe.
Selene immediately recognized the name.
Yes, his business was thriving.
But the man himself?
Short. Overweight. Twice divorced. And old enough to be her father.
Ophelia’s intentions were crystal clear—she was trying to pawn Selene off, securing an alliance while making sure she was out of their way.
Her happiness?
Not a damn consideration.
Selene’s lips curled into a smirk as she stepped into the living room.
“Ophelia,” she said smoothly, “since you seem so attracted to divorced men, why don’t you just divorce my dad and marry Homer yourself? His conditions might be a better fit for you, after all.”
The Clash with Zephyr
The room fell silent.
Zephyr’s expression darkened like a brewing storm.
“Do you hear yourself?” he snapped. “Is this how you talk to your elders?”
Selene shrugged, unbothered.
“Dad, didn’t you just hear her? She’s practically trying to sell me off like livestock. Oh, wait—maybe you’re in on it too. You and Ophelia must be thick as thieves. Aren’t you worried about becoming a joke?”
“How dare you speak to me like that? You ungrateful girl!” Zephyr bellowed.
For years, Lazarus had shielded Selene, allowing her rebellious nature to flourish unchecked. Zephyr had bit his tongue, biding his time, waiting for the moment he could put her in her place.
And now, with Lazarus gone, Zephyr finally thought he could exert his control.
He was wrong.
“I didn’t come here to discuss my love life,” Selene said dryly. “I came for Grandpa’s will. If you want to talk about anything else, I’ll be on my way.”
The Inheritance
A murmur of impatience spread through the family.
One of Zephyr’s relatives quickly interjected, “Wait, wait! We’ll discuss the marriage later. Let’s settle the important matter first.”
Selene rolled her eyes.
They didn’t give a damn about her—they were just eager to get their cut.
Zephyr cleared his throat, feigning authority.
“Dad passed away unexpectedly and didn’t leave a written will,” he stated, his tone carefully controlled.
“But he made it clear that the family house would go to you. Everything else—I’ll take care of.”
Selene let out a soft chuckle.
“So, all I get is the house, huh?”
Silence.
No one spoke.
Not one person had the decency to even look her in the eye.
With a casual nod, Selene said, “Fine, that works for me. Grandpa spent his whole life here, and I like it too. But…”
She let her gaze sweep the room, landing directly on Zephyr.
With a dazzling smile, she said,
“Since this place is mine now, I think it’s time for you to pack up and leave. You’re no longer welcome here.”
The Outrage
Zephyr’s face turned red with fury.
“Selene! Don’t push it!” he roared.
But Selene wasn’t intimidated.
She lifted an impatient brow. “Aren’t you the one pushing it first, Dad? While I’m still being civil, you’d better leave. Otherwise…”
She pulled out her phone and tilted it suggestively in her hand.
“I’ll call Evander.”
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Evander Cruz’s name was enough to send a shiver through the room.
A decorated officer, Evander had been Lazarus’s right-hand man for years. Zephyr knew very well that if Evander got involved, the outcome wouldn’t be in his favor.
“You ungrateful little—!” Zephyr raised his hand, ready to strike her.
But Selene moved first.
She sidestepped smoothly, his hand slicing through the air, hitting nothing.
Before Zephyr could recover, Ophelia grabbed his arm, her voice panicked.
“Just drop it, Zephyr.”
Selene’s lips curled into a sly grin.
“Exactly. You should drop it. If I call Evander, you won’t see a single cent.”
That did it.
The panic in their eyes was almost amusing.
With hurried, hushed whispers, they began gathering their things.
One by one, they scurried out the door like rats fleeing a sinking ship.
The Silence Left Behind
When the last of them had disappeared, Selene stood in the middle of the empty house, surrounded by memories.
The walls, the furniture, the scent of aged wood—everything carried traces of Lazarus.
Her chest tightened, a lump forming in her throat.
The house was hers now.
But Lazarus was gone.
And for the first time in a long while, Selene felt truly alone.
