Chapter 17 Stepmother’s Conspiracy
Eason’s POV:
I held Susan close, feeling her tiny body tremble the moment she heard Frank’s familiar, menacing voice.
+8 Pearls
Rage boiled within me, and I could barely keep my werewolf instincts in check. My claws dug into my sleeves, a grow! threatening to escape my throat.
My brothers stood behind me, their faces hard and eyes cold. We should have killed Frank the last time–we’d been far too merciful.
I spoke sharply. “There’s no need for more talk. We’re here to get what belongs to us.”
Leaning on his cane, Laurence asked coldly. “Where is Susan’s necklace?”
Tamara’s eyes darted nervously, and she quickly responded, “Oh, it’s here! The old rope broke, so Cynthia is just putting a new one on it. Why don’t you all come in and make yourselves comfortable?”
At Ivan’s signal, a group of bodyguards rushed inside.
Frank cowered, arms over his head, thinking he’d be beaten again. When the guards simply walked past him, his face flushed
with embarrassment.
Ivan smirked, his sharp canines glinting as he sneered. “Afraid now? Where was all that courage when you were hurting Susan?”
Frank’s face tightened. He forced a look of remorse, turning to Susan with an exaggerated sigh. “It’s my fault. Can’t we go inside and talk, Susan?”
I was ready to refuse, but Susan tugged gently at my shirt. “Uncle Eason
She hesitated, her gaze fixed on the Grayclaw villa, a spark of urgency in her eyes.
I understood. Her little friend was still in there–another bond she didn’t want to leave behind.
Seeing the shift, the Grayclaws‘ eyes lit up with a sliver of hope. Beat and Tamara’s faces shone with forced smiles.
“Come in, come in! Make yourselves at home,” they said, ushering us in like everything was perfectly fine.
Ivan’s expression sofiched as he looked at Susan. Whatever she wanted, we’d support her.
We stepped inside coldly, showing nothing but distaste as we took in the rundown state of the Grayclaw villa.
To us, it looked like a crumbling wreck. How had our little Susan managed to live in such a place!
One of the bodyguards soon came downstairs, holding Susan’s luggage. As soon as she saw it, Susan slipped out of my embrace and dashed over, clutching the necklace tightly to her chest.
Her face lit up with a glimmer of happiness, like she had reunited with a cherished friend.
“Mom, I’ve come to take you home, she murmured, her voice carrying a mix of resolve and tenderness.
She quickly added, “And Chirpy, too!”
Though she seemed eager to rush to the backyard, she hesitated, turned back, and grabbed my hand.
Susan’s POV:
I stood at the edge of the umve me as fived on the treetons as I cofilu called out “Chimu!”
Chapter 17 Stepmother’s Conspiracy
I gestured to Uncle Eason to keep quiet and leaned close to him, whispering, “Chirpy’s scared of you.”
I cupped my hands around my mouth like a tiny megaphone, my eyes darting around as I gazed up at him.
+8 Pearls
Uncle Eason bent down to meet my eyes, his expression soft. He lowered his voice and whispered, “Susan, should I call someone to help catch it? We could just take Chirpy home.”
1 frowned immediately and shook my head firmly. “No.”
I glanced around, worried that Chirpy might hear us, and dropped my voice to a hush, “We can’t catch Chirpy. It’s not a bad bird. It’ll feel scared if we try to grab it.”
Uncle Eason smiled, his eyes squinting warmly as he nodded. “Alright”
Gripping his shoulder, I said seriously, “Stay right here, Uncle Eason. Don’t move.”
Then, I took a few cautious steps into the grove, calling out, “Chirpy!”
Chirpy sat on a branch, squawking. There’s a fool! There’s a fool!”
1 looked at it seriously:
explained, “Chirpy, Uncle Eason isn’t a fool.”
Chirpy let out another squawk, “There’s a bad dog! There’s a bad dog!”
I responded patiently. “He’s not a bad dog, either.”
I heard Uncle Eason clear his throat behind me. I stifled a giggle, resisting the urge to turn around.
Chirpy still wouldn’t budge, so I drifted a little further into the grove without realizing it.
Then, a faint sound came from ahead. My head snapped up, and my eyes locked onto a familiar pair of eyes staring straight
at me.
It was Cynthia!
A chill ran through me. I flinched, and as I tried to dart away, her hand clamped around my arm.
“Hey, Susan, you’re finally back.” Her voice was so sweet it made my skin crawl.
“Not happy to see me? Her nails suddenly lengthened, digging painfully into my skin.
I bit my lip hard, the taste of blood filling my mouth. Just as I was about to scream, she covered my mouth.
