Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Get your hands off me ! Joycelyn wrenched away from Cedric , her eyes arctic .
Whats the play here ? First , you try selling me to cover gambling debts , now straight up extortion ? Shed watched this pattern unfold for years her stepfathers gambling her stepsisters endless cosmetic surgeries and designer shopping .
She and her mother were nothing but walking ATMs , constantly filling their financial holes .
Todays desperate grab suggested a deeper debt than usual .
Though caught out , Phineas puffed up with false authority .
Tmill your father .
Joycelyn drew up a dining chair and surveyed the seven vultures on the sofa with clinical detachment .
Lets settle accounts , then Phineas , feeling emboldened by the presence of his brothers family , including his two infamously troublemaking nephews , started putting on grand airs .
He said , Eleven years room and board at about 18 thousand dollars annually makes 200 thousand dollars .
Add 50 thousand for schooling .
Well round down to 240 thousand dollars , ignoring the small stuff .
Pay up and were done .
Phineass face twisted with ugly determination as he named his price .
Joycelyns laugh could have frosted glass .
Since when did you ever earn 18 thousand dollars in a year ? What exactly have you contributed since marrying my mother ? My high school was free , college was loans , and I worked for everything else The audacity of claiming credit Phineass brother Lucian Mercer slammed the coffee table .
Without his charity , youd have starved ! And what about all these years of rent ? The utilities we never charged you for ? Yet here you are , putting on airs after he raised you for nothing Exactly , his wife Lyra Mercer sneered .
After a decade of generosity , and this is how you repay him ? Got yourself a boyfriend now , have you ? If you cant pay up , make him do it Thave no money , Joycelyn stated flatly .

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Then sign an IOU and hand over your paychecks , Octavia drawed .
Your boyfriend can support you .
Phineas chimed in with a darkening face , Direct deposit to your sisters account .
Keep dreaming , Joycelyns attention was fixed on her mothers telling silence , Mom ? You support this extortion ? Sweetheart … were just worried youre being taken advantage of Iris sputtered .
Arctic wind couldnt match the frost crystallizing in Joycelyns bones .
Shed never fallen for a strangers con , yet here was her own mother , luring her into a trap with manufactured concern .
Since you agree with them , its clear who you consider family new the Mercers , not me .
Youve chosen to stand by while they exploit me for money .
Her grip tightened on her purse , her disappointed eyes reddening before hardening with ice .
As of now , I have no father and no mother .
Her mother belonged to others now someone elses wife , someone elses mother .
You cant abandon me now that youre grown , Iris sobbed .
Joycelyn stared at her mothers tear streaked face , refusing to let her heart soften this time .
Fine .
You say I cant abandon 12:54 Mon , Feb 10 O Chapter 13 you .
If youre so miserable here , divorce him .
Ill take care of you Our marriage is perfect .
How dare you try to poison her against ne ! Phineas snapped .
Shes vicious , Mom .
Shes trying to destroy our family ! Octavia protested , her panic showing .
She was worried that no one would bankroll her lifestyle if both cash cows escaped .
Since reason fails , Im calling the police .
Joycelyn reached for her phone .
Cedric snatched it away .
Nice iPhone .
My phone is broken .
I needed an upgrade Give it back ! Joycelyn lunged forward .
Cedric brazenly pocketed her phone with a smirk .
As she lunged for it , he caught her waist , using his superior strength to his advantage .
Hed been eyeing Joycelyn for ages , and now he finally had an excuse to get his hands on her .
Joycelyn recoiled in disgust , shoving him hard enough to sprawl him across the floor , her eyes promising violence .
Fuck ! He scrambled up as his mother Lyra marched to attack , emboldened by their numbers .
Pain exploded across Joycelyns scalp as Lyra grabbed her hair .
Meanwhile , Cedric rose , pawing at her waist .
Trembling with fury , she drove her knee into his groin .
Ouch ! Grab her car keys ! That junkers worth something ! Cedric shouted for help .
The Mercers moved to pin Joycelyn down while Iris just wrung her hands , watching helplessly from the sidelines .
Please stop ! Were family , The room erupted into chaos .
Outside , hearing Joycelyns struggles , Ellison kicked the flimsy door with such force it nearly came off its hinges .
Standing in the doorway , his eyes took in the scene before him .
At the sight of Joycelyns disheveled state , her hair being roughly yanked , his customary cold composure erupted into raw fury Let go of her ! Ellison strode forward with lethal grace , seizing Cedrics hand .
His eyes fixed on the bruises blooming across Joycelyns exposed waist , and his grip tightened mercilessly before he twisted with brutal force .
Who gave you permission to touch whats mine ? he demanded , his voice icy cold .
Bones cracked beneath his grip as Cedrics screams filled the air Ellison kept one arm sheltering Joycelyn while the other maintained its merciless hold .
Lucian and Lyra charged at him .
Without even sparing them a glance , Ellison lashed out with one long leg , striking their knees with devastating force .
They crumpled to the ground , the impact sending them straight to their knees before him .
The pain kept them there .
unable to rise .
Just like that , their strength in numbers meant nothing Why did you come ? Tears spilled down Joycelyns checks .
Were you planning to let them devour you alive ? Fury simmered beneath his words as Ellison surveyed her injuries .
She pressed closer , needing his strength even more than during last nights storm .
12:54 Mon , Feb 10 0 Chapter B So youre the poor sap who bought her that cheap car ! Octaviaeered from behind her mothers skirts , eyeing him nervously .
47 % 列 Despite his impeccable suit and commanding presence , she sneered inside , Nice suit but can only afford a compact car- must be some ordinary salesman ! Thats him , Mom and Dad , she crowed from her safe distance .
Thats the one Ө