Akira's eyes scanned the room, her gaze lingering on her adoptive family's faces. Her mother, Marcella, and father, Edgar, sat with fake smiles, while her adoptive siblings, Hannah and the twins, looked at her with a mix of disdain and superiority. Akira's expression was cold, her eyes flashing with a hint of anger and resentment.
Her gaze settled on her adoptive parents, and her voice was laced with venom.
"What is it that you want? You've made it clear how you feel about me, so I doubt it's anything important." Akira's tone was icy, her words dripping with disdain. She didn't bother to hide her feelings, and her grandparents stood behind her, their presence a silent show of support. Marcella's smile faltered, and Edgar's eyes narrowed, but Akira didn't back down. She was no longer the timid, scared girl she once was. She was a strong, confident woman, and she wouldn't let her toxic family walk all over her again.
"It has been seven years now dare you come back! Terry is our real daughter!" Edgar said coldly and Marcella also crossed her arms.
"How much do you want? How can you bother my mother and father are you that disgusting? Seven years ago got yourself pregnant and now you come back to beg for money, Butler Keo come here and give us a check speak." Akira looked at them with disgust and she took a deep breath.
"What makes you think I want your money?" Akira asked.
"Who this woman? Where is the ugly adapted daughter of ours?" Grandpa Zion slammed his cane on the ground.
"This is your adapted daughter."
The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Akira, who stood tall, her head held high. Grandpa Zion's cane echoed through the room, and Marcella's eyes widened in shock. Edgar's face turned red with rage, and he took a step forward, his fists clenched.
"You dare to bring her back here? She's nothing but a shame to our family!" he spat. Marcella's voice was laced with venom as she turned to Akira.
"You're just a pathetic woman who got herself pregnant with some unknown man's child. You're not even worthy of being part of our family." Akira's eyes flashed with anger, but she didn't back down. She took a deep breath and spoke, her voice calm and steady.
"I don't want your money. I came to see my grandparents, not to beg from you. And as for who I am, I'm the woman who was unfortunate enough to be adopted by you, but I'm also the woman who was lucky enough to have grandparents like them." She nodded towards Grandpa Zion and Grandma Rae, who stood behind her, their faces proud and supportive.
Akira's words cut through the air, and Marcella's face turned white with rage.
"How dare you!" she spat, taking a step forward.
"You ungrateful child! We took you in, raised you as our own, and this is how you repay us?" Edgar's face was red with anger, and he raised his hand as if to strike Akira. But before he could, Grandpa Zion stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Enough!" he thundered, his voice echoing through the room.
"You will not speak to her like that. She is our grandchild, and she deserves respect." The room fell silent, and Marcella and Edgar's faces faltered. They looked at each other, then back at Akira, before finally turning and storming out of the room. The door slammed shut behind them, and the room was silent once again. Akira let out a deep breath, her shoulders sagging in relief. She turned to her grandparents, a small smile on her face.
"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Grandpa Zion's face softened, and he reached out to take her hand.
"You're welcome, child," he said.
"You're always welcome here."
Akira expression was still cold and indifferent but she nodded her head at her grandparents.
"I want to break off the engagement with Liam," Akira said when Akira took off her hat her beautiful hair fall down and showed her delicate face. Liam couldn't believe it the once ugly girl is now a beauty goddess so beautiful! Not just it was the woman he meant few hours ago before he meant his Uncle Azriel. Liam frowned he might not be able to marry Akira but he can make her his mistress that disgusting idea popped in his head and Zara Akira cousin became so jealous. What is this bitch doing back!?
Liam's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Akira with a mixture of surprise and desire. He took a step forward, his voice low and smooth.
"I'm afraid that's not possible, Akira. We have a contract, and I won't let you break it that easily." Akira's expression remained cold, her eyes flashing with warning.
"I don't care about the contract. I want out." Zara's voice cut in, her tone venomous.
"Yeah, right. You think you can just waltz back in here and expect everything to go your way? You're not even worthy of being part of our family." Akira's gaze flicked to Zara, her eyes glinting with disdain.
"And what exactly do you have to do with this, Zara?"
Liam's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger.
"You think you can just use the Great Great King's agreement to get out of this? That's not how it works, Akira. You're not just any ordinary woman, you're a member of the Frost Family, and you have a duty to uphold." Zara's voice cut in, her tone dripping with malice.
"Yeah, and what about the scandal? You think you can just ignore the fact that you're a fallen woman, a woman who got pregnant out of wedlock? You're not fit to marry a royal family member, you're not even fit to be part of our family." Akira's expression remained calm, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"I'm not part of the Frost Family, Zara. And as for the scandal, I'm not ashamed of my children. They're mine, and I love them. And as for the Great Great King's agreement, it's binding. You can't do anything about it, Liam."
Akira's voice was firm, her eyes flashing with defiance.
"I'm not going to marry you, Liam. And there's nothing you can do to stop me from leaving." She turned to her grandparents, her expression softening.
"Grandma, Grandpa, I think it's time for me to go."
"I Akira Nevaeh Rose is no longer part of your family, Zara you can have him his just a sloppy second," Akira said.
"Akira!" Edgar shouted angrily at this adapted daughter of his.
"What?"
"How dare you be rude his a prince and how did you get the Great Great King Sean to agree to this!?"
"Why bother I have my ways."
Akira's smile was sweet, but her eyes were icy.
"I'm sure you'll find out soon enough, Edgar. But for now, let's just say that I have my ways of getting what I want. And what I want is to be free from this family and this engagement." She turned to Liam, her expression dismissive.
"And as for you, Prince Liam, I'm sure you'll find another woman who's willing to put up with your... extracurricular activities." Zara's face turned red with rage, and she took a step forward, but Akira just laughed.
"Oh, Zara, you're so predictable. You think you can take my place? Please, be my guest. I'm sure Prince Liam would love to have a replacement."
Liam's face darkened, and he took a step forward, his eyes flashing with anger.
"That's enough, Akira," he growled.
"You're not going to insult me like that and get away with it." Akira just raised an eyebrow, her expression unrepentant.
"Oh, I'm shaking with fear," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Please, Prince Liam, do tell me what you're going to do to punish me for my insolence." Zara's eyes widened in shock, and Edgar's face turned purple with rage.
"How dare you speak to the prince like that!" he thundered. Akira just shrugged.
"I'm not afraid of him. And I'm certainly not afraid of you, Edgar. You're just a weak, pathetic man who can't even control his own family." The room fell silent, and the tension was palpable. Akira's words had struck a nerve, and it was clear that she had gone too far.
Akira felt a harsh slap from her adaptive mother. Akira softly touched her cheeks but her eyes were indifferent and cold.
Akira's eyes didn't flinch, nor did she react to the slap. She simply touched her cheek, her expression remaining cold and indifferent.
"You're getting old, Marcella," she said, her voice low and even.
"Your strength is waning." Marcella's face turned red with rage, and she raised her hand to slap Akira again, but Grandpa Zion intervened, his voice firm.
"Enough, Marcella. You'll not lay a hand on her again."
Grandma Rae's expression turned cold, and she glared at Marcella.
"Shut up, Marcella. You have no right to question our decisions. Akira is our granddaughter, and she deserves our love and support. Hannah and Terry may be your biological daughters, but they have never been kind to Akira. They have never shown her the love and acceptance that she deserves." Grandpa Zion's voice was firm, and he looked at Marcella with disgust.
"You have always been a selfish and heartless person, Marcella. You only care about yourself and your own interests. You have never put the needs of others before your own. Akira, on the other hand, is a kind and compassionate person. She deserves our love and support, and she will inherit our shares and the Apothecary's Art Shop." The room fell silent, and Marcella's face turned red with rage. She looked like she was about to explode, but she couldn't say anything. She knew that her parents were right, and she had no right to question their decisions.
"Still mother father you can't do this! What your other two kids! Jacob and Mary!"
"Mary and Jacob agreed to this!" Grandma and Grandpa Zion responded in unison.
Grandma Rae's face turned red with anger, and she took a step forward, her voice firm and authoritative.
"That's enough, Marcella! You will not speak about Akira or her children like that! They are our family, and we love them just the same. And as for what people think, we don't care. We're not going to let the opinions of others dictate how we feel about our own family. Akira is a good person, and her children are innocent. They deserve our love and support, and they will get it." Grandpa Zion nodded in agreement, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Yes, Marcella, you would do well to remember that family is not just about blood ties. It's about love, acceptance, and support. And Akira and her children have all of that from us."
Akira's eyes never left Marcella's face, her expression cold and unyielding.
"And as for my children, they are not bastards," she said, her voice low and even.
"Their father may not be known, but they are loved and cared for, and that's all that matters. And as for me being a wild woman, I'd rather be that than a heartless, selfish person like you, Marcella." The room fell silent, the tension between Akira and Marcella palpable.