Chapter 5

Alice's smile disappeared. "What did you just say? Who told you those papers are questionable?"

I looked at the horse again. "I'm not just saying it. The registration number doesn't match the bloodline record, the branding mark is slightly wrong, and there's a gap in the ownership record that shouldn't be there."

Someone frowned. "You think the professional appraisal is wrong?"

"I think it deserves another check before anyone pays that kind of money."

I laid out the inconsistencies calmly, one by one. The more I explained, the quieter the room got.

I didn't mention the most important fact. The real horse from that bloodline had already been secured years ago, by my own family. The Sorrentinos kept their private collection far from public auctions.

Instead of taking me seriously, the room burst into laughter.

"Did she really just call that horse fake?"

"A girl from the slums thinks she knows more than professional appraisers? Read a few books and suddenly she's an expert."

The laughter grew louder. Alice covered her mouth and giggled, then turned to Alaric. "You really should teach Freya a little about horses when you get the chance. It's fine here, but what if she embarrasses herself in front of your family one day?"

I looked at Alaric. His expression had already darkened.

Instead of defending me, he took my hand and lowered his voice. "Freya, that's enough. If you're not sure about something, don't say it so confidently. You don't have to prove anything to anyone."

My heart sank.

He knew enough about horses to understand exactly what I'd pointed out. Years around racing, breeding, auctions, there was no way he'd missed any of it.

He simply didn't believe I could know it.

To him, I was still the poor girl from the slums who had no place in his world. And yet he'd spent years chasing me, promising me a future, telling me I was the only woman he wanted.

I pulled my hand away and said nothing.

In the end, Alice won the horse for over a billion.

I didn't care anymore.

I left the lounge and went to the restroom. I'd barely finished washing my hands when Alice walked in behind me and blocked the door, arms folded, smiling.

"How did it feel, trying to act like an expert out there? Embarrassing, wasn't it?"

I looked at her in the mirror.

She kept going, enjoying herself. "Don't think reading a few books makes you an expert. Real knowledge comes from growing up around these things. You're from the slums, Freya. If you don't understand something, keep quiet instead of making Ali look bad."

I didn't bother arguing. I stepped around her.

Alice grabbed my arm and pulled me back, leaning close to my ear, her voice dropping into a smug whisper. "You want to know something? I'm not just Alaric's childhood sweetheart. I've been with him countless times. I gave him three children."

My eyes hardened.

"Yes. The children in your house right now. They're his."

Her grip tightened. "The Mancusso family doesn't think you're good enough for him. They wanted an heir, so they pushed Alaric toward me, and he agreed. Do you understand what that means?"

I stared at her.

Alice smiled wider. "It means you're exactly what Alaric thinks you are. Someone he can keep hidden and spoil when he wants. A pretty little bird trapped in a cage." Her eyes gleamed. "He may love you, but he'll never marry you. He'll never give you his name or let you become the mother of his legitimate heirs. When it comes to marriage, he'll choose someone from his own world."

Every word hit a wound that was already bleeding.

I said nothing. I pulled my arm free and turned to leave.

Then I heard a sharp slap behind me.

I stopped and turned around slowly.

Alice was covering her cheek, tears already gathering, a bright red handprint on her skin.

I hadn't even touched her.

Before I could make sense of it, footsteps hurried in from the hallway. Alaric rushed into the restroom, his expression changing the instant he saw Alice. "What happened?"

Alice looked at him with trembling eyes. "Ali. Freya hit me." She pointed at me, tears spilling. "Maybe she's still angry you saved Arkin that day instead of her. She probably blames me for it, that's why she hit me. I didn't even provoke her."

Alaric stared at me, disbelief written across his face. "Freya, tell me the truth. Did you really hit her?"

I looked at the suspicion in his eyes and something in my chest cracked. Once, it didn't matter who accused me or what had happened, Alaric would stand beside me first and ask questions later. He used to tell everyone, "I'm here to protect Freya, not to play judge."

Now he couldn't even trust me.

"What if I told you I never touched her?" I asked quietly. "What if Alice staged this herself?"

His face hardened. "Freya, I already told you what happened with Arkin! You're still angry I chose my son when he was in danger, and now you're taking it out on Alice. She just gave birth four months ago. She's still recovering, you know that. How could you hit her? Whatever happened between you two, you need to apologize."

I stared at him, unable to believe what I was hearing. So this was it. Six years of loving him, six years of believing I was the one person he'd never doubt, and now I was standing in front of him like a stranger begging to be believed.

Was this really the man I once thought I'd grow old with?

I shook my head. "I didn't hit her, Alaric. I won't apologize for something I didn't do."

I turned to leave, but he caught my wrist, his grip hard enough to hurt. "Freya, apologize. You're not walking away until you do."

Behind him, Alice lowered her eyes, hiding the satisfaction on her face.

Something in me finally went quiet. I let out a soft laugh, though there was nothing happy in it. "Fine." I looked straight at Alice. "I'm sorry, Miss Alice. I shouldn't have hit you. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

Each word tasted bitter as I pulled my wrist free and walked out before either of them could see the tears burning in my eyes.

I'd spent six years pretending to be a helpless girl from the slums, but I was never helpless. I was Freya Sorrentino, daughter of a man who could make entire families disappear with one order. I'd only hidden that power because I wanted to know if Alaric could love me without my name, my wealth, without knowing who I really was.

Now I had my answer.

I nearly collided with a well dressed middle aged man outside the restroom. The moment he saw my face he froze, eyes widening, then lowered his head. "Heiress."

Before he could say more, Alaric stepped out behind me and frowned. "Heiress? What are you talking about? Freya, you know him?"

The man stiffened at the sight of Alaric. Before he could explain, someone called his name from across the auction floor. He glanced at me once more, gave a respectful nod, and hurried off.

Alice slipped her arm through Alaric's, all innocence. "What heiress? Maybe he recognized me, he's connected to my father's business."

Alaric looked at her, then at my pale face, and believed her. He reached for my hand. "Freya, you apologized, let's forget this. Come back with us. I was harsh because you really crossed the line."

I pulled my hand away. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Freya!" he called, following me outside.