Chapter 22 LILITH 288 Vouchers I arched a brow at her demeanor , but didn't say anything - curious to hear what she'd say . " But do you really think he sincerely loves you as he claims ? " she said , turning slightly and pointing at Brandon . " Claire ," Brandon snapped , his voice low and laced with warning . But she ignored him completely , her eyes locked on me . " Then let me tell you the truth - he doesn't . And he never will ." I already knew that . Yet the certainty with which she delivered it stirred a flicker of curiosity in me . More than that , she looked ... expectant . As if she was waiting - hoping - for me to ask . So I humored her . " Why are you so sure ? " " Because I told him the real reason you wanted to marry him . " Ah . So that's what this was about . I felt my interest immediately wane . I had suspected as much for a long time . Brandon suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Claire's forearm . " She's just upset . Don't listen to her , " he said quickly , trying to pull her outside - likely to shut her up before she said more . 0.00 % 08:53 Chapter 22 But Claire slapped his hands away and sneered . " Just a while ago , your mother slapped and insulted me - called me names in front of everyone - and you didn't say a single word in my defense . " " But now that I try to reveal Lilith's real intentions , you suddenly come running to stop me ? " Her voice turned cold . " You really take me for a fool , don't you ? " Meanwhile , four pairs of eyes turned to me . " What exactly is this ' true intention ' she's speaks off ? " Marissa asked slowly . I didn't answer right away . Instead , I looked at Brandon and Claire . Their expressions were identical - calm and confident . They didn't believe I'd say it aloud . And honestly ? The old me wouldn't have . I wouldn't dare - not in front of everyone here . But that Lilith was long gone . I held their gazes and smiled - slow and deliberate . " Oh , it's nothing much , " I said lightly . " Just that I was desperate to marry him so I could leave this house for good . " The air instantly turned quiet . I watched their expressions twist into disbelief . Especially Claire's , which practically it ? screamed : You actually dared to say " Is this still about what you mentioned this morning ? " Julian asked , his voice low and conflicted . gave a small nod . 14.26 % 08:53 Chapter 22 My mom looked visibly shaken . Her hands trembled as she covered her mouth . " So ... you were eager about this match not because you loved Brandon , but because you saw it as a way to escape from home ? " " Yes , " I said simply . Then I turned to Brandon . " I never loved him . And I never will . " His face darkened . Honestly , his reactions were starting to bore me . I think I'd prefer it if he completely lost it . " But I was wrong , " I continued . " Naïve . I thought marrying out would free me , but I never realized all I was doing was trading one cage for another by placing my future in someone else's hands . " I caught tears glittering in my mom's eyes , and felt a slight twinge in But then- my heart . " Well said , " Claire clapped , slow and mocking , stepping forward . " You really said it well . But her smirk soon twisted into something uglier . " But why couldn't you have realized that sooner ? " " You didn't even want him , but you stubbornly clung to the engagement like a lifeline , while we were forced to hide like criminals . Your selfishness ruined everything . " I narrowed my eyes and stood up . Before she could react , I reached out and slapped her across the face . In the web novels I used to read , the reborn heroines always slapped first and reasoned later . But I suppose I was wired differently - because even after being reborn , I still preferred words 08.53 Chapter 22 over violence . 288 Vouchers Still , maybe those predecessors knew better . Some people ... simply weren't meant to be reasoned with . " You hit me ? " Claire asked , touching her cheek in disbelief . I rolled my eyes . " Obviously . " My palm stung slightly , but I'd be lying if I said it didn't feel good . Like some of the heaviness I carried from my past life had finally been shaken loose . " Are you back to your senses now ? " I asked , gently blowing on my hand . " Then let me make a few things clear . First , I'm not responsible for your lies or your choices . Second , the engagement between Brandon and me was never a romantic fairytale . It was a transaction between our families , nothing more ." " I simply played the role I was given ." " So tell me - how is it selfish to follow through with something that was never my choice to begin with ? " I stepped closer . Claire instinctively backed away . " How is it selfish to make the best of a situation I never had a hand in ? " " But if you really want to point fingers- " I turned to Brandon . " Then blame him . If anyone failed to play their part , it was him . No one forced him into this . He could've walked away at any time . " 08:53 Chapter 22 He had his head lowered , making his expression unreadable Coward . " He reaped all the benefits of the engagement while sneaking around with his so - called true love , " I said , my voice like ice . " In the end , it boils down to the fact that he knew you weren't worth the cost of walking away . He couldn't afford it . " Claire's eyes flared with anger as she raised her hand to slap me , but I caught it mid - air without so much as a blink . " The truth hurts , doesn't it ? " " You know , " I said , tone deceptively calm , " if you'd just told me you fancied him ... back then . when I was still pathetically naive - I would've stepped aside without question and done everything to help you two be together . " I took a step closer . " But you chose silence . You chose betrayal . You made a fool of me behind my back ... and you enjoyed it . " " So don't act like a victim when you were the one holding the knife . The choice was always yours . " Then I gripped her chin - gently , but firmly . " If you had the courage to be the mistress , then have the courage to admit it . Stop blaming everyone else just to feel better . It's pathetic . " Claire slapped my hand away , eyes burning with anger and indignance . " You think you're better than me . But don't forget - you only get to say this because you're a Caldwell ! " she hissed . " Since the day I moved into this house , I've envied you . The rich , pampered daughter who didn't even know how good she had it ! " 66.36 % 08:53 Chapter 22 " All you ever did was complain ." Her voice rose , trembling with self - righteous fury , " You always complained - axed your parents , your cold siblings , your lack of freedom . And I had to listen . Every day . Do you know how painful that was ? Listening to you whine about a life I would've killed to have ? I stared at her , stunned - not by her fury , but because I finally saw the root of it all - of our if fated relationship . It turned out that when I confided in her , thinking I'd found someone who understood me- what she really saw and heard was arrogance . She thought I was bragging . All along , she thought I was showing off . I laughed softly . Bitterly . " The fact that I once called you a friend , " I said , shaking my head , " is the most humiliating thing I've ever done . " I looked her straight in the eyes , my voice dropping to a quiet calm . " People like you will never see the good in others . Your heart is too twisted for that . " " You don't deserve my friendship - or anyone else's . " Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!