Elara’s POV
"Insolent. I am your mother," Helena shouted.
I burst out laughing, leaning back in my chair and crossing my legs. The sight of her flushed face was actually amusing. "Your mory’s pretty selective. I’m that useless, powerless daughter you tossed aside, rember? Save the fake family act. If you need sothing, just spit it out."
Want sothing? She wants everything.
Helena couldn’t bring herself to admit she’d tracked all the way here.
The entire Sterling family had spent the day staring up at Novareach Floating Island floating in the sky.
I could see she’d only co to patch things up—but clearly never imagined those wildly popular strawberries were mine.
She’d thrown away her most gifted child. The guilt was eating her alive.
Helena settled into the chair across from , with pale, shaking Giselle hovering behind her. To Giselle, I must look like so kind of monster now.
"Elara, I made a mistake. Can you find it in your heart to forgive ?" Helena asked.
I scoffed internally.
"So you’re here to grovel. Too bad—I’m not buying it." I stood up, slinging my bag over my shoulder.
One of Helena’s beast husbands stepped into my path. "Ms. Elara Sterling, don’t be unreasonable."
I didn’t back down—I drove my foot straight into his chest, launching him backward.
His agonized cry echoed through the air. Everyone froze in shock. That sweet girl who’d been eating cake just demolished soone?
——
Silas had tailed them quietly, hands tucked in his pockets, watching with a satisfied smile. He felt no surprise—only fierce pride in his wife.
"Good thing I rushed over, or I would’ve missed her performance."
——
Elara’s POV
I sneered at the groaning man. "Moron! Why’d you get in my way?"
Giselle stamred, "Don’t drag into this."
I laughed coldly. "I thought you’d finally found so spine. Still all talk, no action. Just a pack of losers."
Helena’s voice hardened. "Elara, I’ve apologized. I’ll ignore your disrespect tonight—but you’re coming ho with ."
The Sterling family guards moved closer. The beastman I’d kicked struggled back to his feet. "Ms. Elara Sterling, please don’t be difficult..."
Another kick put him down for good.
Helena’s heart lurched.
Giles Dixon, an A-class lion beastman—finished in a couple of strikes? Elara had transford completely. A woman like this belonged with the Sterling family.
She raised her voice. "Elara, my patience isn’t endless. I am your mother. Everything you possess cos from this family. Look at yourself!"
Helena glared at , aware of the growing crowd. She launched into theatrical guilt-tripping, but the woman facing her wasn’t that helpless girl anymore.
I was a survivor from the apocalypse, battle-tested against zombies. I had basic courtesy—but not much.
I smiled coldly. "Want to know why I used to grovel to those Blackwood brats? I had zero spiritual power. I knew you’d boot eventually. So I sucked up to them, hoping for sowhere to land. Obviously, that failed spectacularly. I learned my lesson: you want sothing, you take it yourself. Right now, I won’t bow, and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it."
The first part was for the original Elara. The rest was purely .
"Tell your goons to step aside. It’s my wedding night. I’m not in the mood to kill anyone," I smiled sweetly, clasping my hands behind my back, the picture of innocence.
Helena’s face flushed crimson. She’d tried the gentle approach, but I wouldn’t bend.
Quentin knew exactly whose side to pick. He crept up behind and whispered, "Want backup? I’ve got weapons in the shop."
I grinned. "Thanks, but I’m good. Might smash up a lot of your inventory, though."
"Don’t care. Go wild." Quentin wasn’t stupid. These people were just like those thugs from before—here to push around.
——
Outside, Silas turned to Trevor behind him. "Waive his rent."
Trevor nodded. "Need reinforcents?"
Silas replied, "No. Get lost. I’m still a pharmacist of the Valerion Empire. I don’t associate with gutter rats like you."
Trevor rolled his eyes. He’d never encountered soone who insulted himself. "Understood."
——
Elara’s POV
Inside, Helena was determined to drag back. "Elara, I’ve said I’m sorry! What else do you want? Do I need to get on my knees?"
I raised an eyebrow and glanced at the floor. "Go right ahead, then."
Discard what’s worthless, fight to keep what’s valuable. She thinks she can have everything. Who does she think she is?
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