Return of The Alpha Heiress Chapter 31: Clarissa – Wounds That Leave No Marks

I lifted my head, staring at every adult in the room one by one as I spoke my sentence.

"What does all of that even an?!" My voice cracked with disgust at their hypocrisy.

Alpha Will looked furious. Luna Eileen’s expression was wounded, while Darren... he just looked tired.

"Seeing Arlisse completely fine, dressed beautifully and attending the party, makes doubt she was ever slapped by her father after hurting ," I added, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

Alpha Will’s gaze sharpened.

Suddenly I couldn’t breathe. My heart felt like it was being crushed.

He used his alpha’s power to pressure . Is he really my biological father?

"—ghk!" Blood spilled from my mouth.

The pain hit like a tidal wave. My body crumpled to the floor, too weak to even open my eyes.

"Father, enough. Clarissa is still young. She still can’t tell what’s right and what’s wrong. As the eldest, this is my fault. I’ll teach her properly."

I heard Darren’s voice, blurred and distant, but I couldn’t make sense of any of it.

I can’t tell what’s right and what’s wrong?

"Where... did I go wrong... exactly?" I whispered, barely audible, drowned completely by Luna Eileen’s crying.

Why was she crying? What hurt her?

She didn’t defend . Then why...?

Just when I thought I would die from the suffocating pressure, it suddenly disappeared along with the sound of Alpha Will’s footsteps walking away.

"Clarissa!"

Soone lifted my body. Luna Eileen’s scent, usually warm and comforting... now felt disgusting.

This pain was worse than the ti Fani and her cronies tortured .

I was tired...

I shouldn’t have been in this house at all.

...

I didn’t know how many hours had passed. My eyes felt heavy, but I forced them open.

I wanted to leave this house. Right now.

Luna Eileen, Darren, and Edwin were still in my room. They rushed to the mont they realized I was awake.

"Clarissa, you don’t need to go to academy tomorrow. Just rest for now," Luna Eileen said anxiously.

But did she really deserve to look worried, after watching get punished like that and doing absolutely nothing?

I stared at her with cold eyes before turning to Darren.

"What exactly happened with Arlisse? Didn’t you say you’d teach her a lesson?"

My voice ca out firm, sharper than I expected.

Darren held my hand, but I yanked it away.

"Just answer."

He nodded. "Alright... Actually, Lisse did nothing wrong, Clarissa—"

"Nothing wrong? After everything she did to , she’s not wrong?" I snapped.

Darren nodded again, unfazed.

"This is our fault for not informing Beta Charles that you were the Alpha’s biological daughter, or the adopted daughter. From Lisse’s perspective, she was protecting the Alpha’s honor... And she didn’t touch you at all, right?"

I froze.

So that’s their logic? That’s why I deserved all this?

My hands balled into fists. My wounded body trembled as every muscle pulled tight.

I closed my eyes for a mont, steadying myself, then glared at Darren.

"Do you know why I slapped her?"

"Because you were angry—"

"Because she threw the water inside a flower vase at my face. And she threw the vase too, but I dodged."

Luna Eileen and Darren both stiffened, shock flooding their expressions.

"...do you know why my makeup at the party was ruined? Because she threw that water at ."

"That damn Lisse! How dare she—! I’ll make sure she pays for this," Edwin growled.

I grabbed Edwin’s hand, the only one who truly defended from the start.

Even when I woke up, his eyes weren’t only worried; he looked guilty, like he blad himself for not being able to protect .

"Don’t go against the Alpha," I whispered.

He breathed harshly, anger still simring.

Then I turned back to Luna Eileen and Darren. "What’s wrong? You don’t believe your precious Lisse could do sothing that cruel to ?"

My words hit them like a slap.

Guilt poured into their eyes. But it was aningless now.

"I’m sorry, Clarissa. I’m a terrible mother. Then and now, I still can’t protect you," Luna Eileen said, grabbing my hand and crying into it.

Her tears soaked my skin.

"I’m a terrible brother too," Darren added quietly. "I’ll speak to Father. I’ll explain everything. And I’ll make sure Lisse receives punishnt."

"I’ll talk to Alpha too," Luna Eileen said, lifting her tear-stained face. "No one will ever hurt you again, dear."

I pulled my hand away and turned my face from them, no intention to respond.

Because if I said what was really in my heart, they wouldn’t be able to lift their heads ever again.

"Please leave. I want to rest," I said coldly.

Just seeing them made my chest tighten painfully.

They had made so many promises, happiness, protection, but the mont I was hit, they didn’t even ask for my side of the story.

When I stayed silent, they finally left.

Edwin followed a mont later.

"Call through the com orb if you need anything, okay?" he said softly before stepping out.

I nodded and gave him a small smile.

...

I didn’t return to class for three days. The aftereffects of Alpha Will’s pressure were too much for a weak oga like .

During those days, Darren and Luna Eileen repeatedly tried to apologize.

Luna Eileen personally prepared all my als, brought them to my room, and made sure I ate.

She also made sure I took my dicine and changed my bandages.

From the servants, I heard that she and Alpha Will fought several tis because of .

I was really confused. She accepted as her daughter, yet she couldn’t even trust .

"Clarissa, this sumr we should have a family vacation at the beach. My late father, your grandfather, owned a coastal property with a beautiful shoreline..."

I only replied with a faint hum.

"Clarissa..." she continued. "For seventeen years, as your biological mother, I’ve never given you a birthday gift. So I want to give that beach to you."

My head snapped toward her. "A beach?"

Luna Eileen nodded happily. It was the first ti since that incident, I’d reacted to anything she said.

"Yes. The land will be yours. We can take a family trip there or if you want to go alone, that’s fine too."

...