Chapter 8

CRYSTAL BURGESS POV:

I sat on the edge of my cold, bare bed, slowly folding a half-worn rabbit fur vest. Garrick had hunted it for me years ago, a trophy from one of his rare trips into the wilderness, a testament to his quiet devotion. I used to love it, the soft fur a comforting embrace, a reminder of his strength.

Jorden' s voice, sharp and impatient, cut through the silence. "Are you going to answer me, Crystal, or are you just going to sit there like a statue?" He looked at me with open disgust, his lips curled. "What exactly do you do, besides riding on your father' s coattails? What purpose do you serve?"

He took another step closer, his voice low and menacing. "If you, by some twisted manipulation, manage to get Andrea sent away, I swear, Crystal, I will-"

"Kill me?" I interrupted, my voice flat, devoid of emotion. "Is that what you' re threatening, Jorden?"

He stopped, momentarily stunned, his mouth hanging slightly open. The air in the room thickened, silent and heavy.

Connor stepped forward, closing the distance between us. His voice was soft, coaxing, the same tone he used to calm me when I was a child. "Crystal, just tell us what you told your father. We need to understand." His eyes, however, were shrewd, assessing.

I slowly raised my eyes, meeting his gaze. My heart felt like heavy stone in my chest. Would they even listen? Would they believe anything I said? The answer, cold and clear, resonated through me. No.

A small, bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"Yes," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, but cutting sharp through the silence. "I want Andrea gone. I told my father everything." My fingers tightened around the rabbit fur. "I hate her. I hate her for taking all of you from me. I told him I' d make her life a living hell. I' d cry, I' d scream, I' d make a scene every single day until he got rid of her."

Jorden' s face contorted in rage, a vein throbbing in his temple. "You wouldn' t dare!"

"Oh, I dare," I replied, my voice gaining strength, a dangerous edge to it. "My father has always doted on me. All I have to do is cry, and he' ll give me whatever I want. Always."

Garrick, who had remained silent, now fixed me with a piercing stare. "Your father isn' t a fool, Crystal. He wouldn' t make such a monumental decision based on a few tears."

I gave him a hollow, joyless smile. "You' ll see. You' ll all see." I yanked the rabbit fur from the bundle, tossing it onto the floor at my feet. It landed with a soft, lifeless thud. "Tomorrow morning, you' ll know."

The three men exchanged tight, angry glances. Their faces were grim, their disappointment a palpable weight in the room. They turned and left, their footsteps heavy and distant.