EPISODE TTS
EPISODE 118
My pulse rang in my ears. I felt the heat rising in my face.”
That scandal five years ago had indeed sparked criticism among the public, especially since both Lucas and Lilith were prominent figures. But it had been swiftly suppressed by both clans.”
Still, it remained known, and every now and then, I would catch whispers behind my back. As if, in their eyes, I was nothing more than a substitute.
Catelyn looked at me with a smirk, giving me a long, slow glance from head to toe, her lip curling as though my very presence offended her.N
“I’m just curious about what kind of arrangement this is. Why would someone like you show up in Ulysses’s house? As far as I remember, there’s no connection between you and him… not even through your family,” she said, pretending to be genuinely puzzled, but the venom in her voice was unmistakable.
Veronica let out a sharp noise of disapproval beside her, clearly mirroring the sentiment. Her stare was piercing.”
“What are you doing here? And state your intentions,” she demanded, her hostility increasing with every word. “Are you here to climb into my son’s bed?“N
She laughed dryly, a humorless, cutting sound. “For your information, my son and Catelyn are already in a relationship. Their engagement party is next week. So, if you have any wild ideas about inserting yourself where you don’t belong, I’ll tell you now, you don’t stand a chance.”
“Or maybe we misunderstood something,” Catelyn added in an exaggeratedly thoughtful tone, her voice dripping with mockery. “Maybe she’s here as a… charity case. Something must’ve happened to her husband’s company, and now she’s been reduced to working in someone else’s house. A tragic fall from grace.“}]
Her words were sharp, cutting enough to flay skin if left unchallenged. Her eyes didn’t even bother to hide the disgust they carried.”
Veronica stepped forward, folding her arms across her chest like royalty expecting a bow. Her lips curled into a saccharine smile.”
“You’re right,” she said to Catelyn. Then, turning to me. “Woman, clean up this mess and prepare something decent. Anyone seeing this would assume we can’t afford a Michelin–star chef. If cooking isn’t your strength, then I suggest you at least make yourself useful with a broom.“N
She waved me off with a flick of her fingers, as if I were some insect that had dared enter her palace.”
But I wasn’t the type to remain idle while others tried to grind me beneath their heel. Even if my position in this house hadn’t yet been defined, it didn’t mean I had none. After all, I’d stood my ground against Lucas. How much easier would it be against people like them?”
“I think you didn’t hear me earlier,” I said, my tone polite but sharp enough to draw blood. “I said, I’m not your maid, and I’m not your chef. I’m here because Ulysses invited me.”}
Veronica narrowed her eyes. “Then I’m telling you to leave.”
She no longer bothered to mask the contempt in her voice. She glanced toward the butler nearby, her expression that of a woman
used to blind obedience.
“And you, why did you even let someone like her inside? Do we allow just anyone to walk into this house now?” she barked, waving a hand at me as if I were filth.
The butler looked uneasy, but before he could respond, I met Veronica’s glare head–on.”
“Am I really the low–class one here?” I asked, my voice still calm. “Because unlike you, I wasn’t told to stay in the guest lounge.”/
Veronica stiffened. Her mouth twitched, and for the first time, she had no immediate retort. That struck something in her, her pride, her place, her control. But I wasn’t done.”
“Ulysses asked me to stay here. I was brought here willingly and openly, and I’ve been given the freedom to go wherever I want in this house. Including this kitchen. If you find that questionable, I suggest reviewing the CCTV footage.“}
There was a moment of silence so thick, it felt as if the air might snap.”
“You’re twisting things,” Catelyn spat, her voice hardening, jaw clenched. “You act like you’re someone important. But you’re not his wife–you’re not even-”
“-his fiancée?” I said, arching a brow. “Exactly. And yet, I’m here. And you’re still standing there, waiting for someone to give you permission to sit. Funny how that works, doesn’t it?”
Catelyn’s face froze. Veronica’s lips parted slightly in shock before tightening into a scowl.”
“You have no idea what circles you’re stepping into,” Veronica said, her tone cold enough to freeze a flame. “We are not equals.””
“No, we’re not,” I said without hesitation. “You’re here based on your assumptions. I’m here because Ulysses wants me to be.”
Veronica inhaled slowly. Her face turned pale with rage, and her fingernails dug into the fabric of her sleeves. Catelyn’s expression flickered, between annoyance, confusion, and something bitter simmering underneath.”
“Then enjoy it while it lasts,” Catelyn snapped. “Because I know Ulysses. He’ll never want someone like you, especially not someone who already belongs to another man.””
THE
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11:23 AM
I didn’t flinch. I stood firm. I knew where this was heading, and I wouldn’t let them steer it. “Excuse me?” I asked, my voice dangerously level. “What exactly are you implying?”
“You’re married,” Catelyn said with a triumphant glint in her eyes. “Everyone knows it. You’ve been marked by another Alpha. And now you’re here… What, trying to decide who offers the better wealth? The better bed?“}}
Veronica’s face twisted in revulsion. “A married woman living under my son’s roof? What kind of woman drifts from one man’s house to another? Are you here trying to juggle two men at once?“}
“She’s not just shameless,” Catelyn sneered. “She’s indecent. Maybe you should be thankful Ulysses even allows you to stay. Most people would throw out a woman like you without a second thought.“}
Veronica took a step forward, her tone jagged like shattered glass. “You are a disgrace. Filth like you shouldn’t be allowed near respectable people. You strut around as if you belong here, like you deserve respect.“}
She turned sharply to the butler again. “I want her out. Now. I don’t care if Ulysses let her in. Who knows, maybe she drugged him. Maybe she used something to twist his mind. But I will not allow someone like her to taint this household.“}
But I didn’t budge. Not an inch. My spine remained straight, my voice cold and unyielding.”
“I never begged to be here. But I was invited, given this space. And I won’t be ordered to leave just because you think your name grants you authority.”
“Your arrogance is laughable,” Veronica snarled. “As if someone with your past, your scandal-”
“There is no scandal,” I snapped. “In the end, wasn’t I the one chosen by the Alpha? Yes, I was the substitute, but even so, I still claimed the position. And what about you?” I turned to Catelyn with a smirk.
“What else do you have to show off besides the fact that you’re about to be engaged? What’s there to be proud of in something that isn’t even legally binding?“}
They flinched. I stepped closer, letting my voice rise just enough to silence them both.”
“You know nothing. You hear whispers and cling to them because it’s easier to believe I don’t belong. But you’re standing in his house. And I’m not leaving until he says so
The tension was suffocating. Veronica trembled with fury. Catelyn looked like she was about to explode, but held herself back.” Then, footsteps echoed from the hallway. The door creaked open.
Ulysses stepped in.
He paused at the threshold, his sharp eyes scanning the room seeing me standing firm, Catelyn clutching the counter, and Veronica visibly trembling with rage. He seemed to sense the air heavy with unspoken conflict.”
His gaze locked onto mine first.
Without a word, he walked to my side, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. When he finally looked at them, his voice came out like thunder wrapped in velvet.
“What’s happening here?
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