Chapter 83: She Must be Acting!

Chapter 83: She Must be Acting! Author’s POV Alistair and Asher left after having breakfast with their sister. The morning felt really delightful for them as they really liked spending time with Seraphina. And not only that, it was the first time in years the two brothers had sat together side by side, sharing the same table and talking, not arguing and fighting with each other. They used to be close once. But Asher gave preference to the family. He wouldn’t go against them, no matter what; he was just a blind family man, not going against his parents’ words at all. While Alistair, on the other hand, was a rebellious person. He would do anything to gain his freedom, and free himself from the clutches of his controlling mother, who would do anything to make them do as she wishen And then one day... Alistair finally walked away from the Lancaster family, leaving everything behind that they owned. As they stepped out into the bright parking lot, Asher glanced at him and spoke up. "Umm... why not let’s go home first?" he asked, his tone casual but careful. "It’s been so long since you’ve been back." Alistair slowed his steps, the keys in his hand stilled for a moment. Home. He never had a home since he left the Lancaster mansion, and to be honest, that was also not a home, just a place to live for him. But he still didn’t say no. A part of him wanted to see Melissa, just to let her know... even if they didn’t share blood, he hadn’t forgotten her. He still cared for her if she really behaved well. So instead of arguing, he gave a small nod. "Alright. Let’s go." But Asher wasn’t inviting Alistair because it’s been so long or something; he had his own reasons. He wasn’t dragging Alistair back to the Lancaster mansion because he wanted to reunite them; it’s just that Asher didn’t want to face their mother alone. She looked gentle, but her words were so poisonous that they would make you die a hundred times just by hearing her words. Asher wasn’t in the mood to hear any of it after such a calm and quiet morning that he spent with his sister. He didn’t want to ruin it with his mother’s tantrums and anger. And Alistair... well, he was the best shield he had at the moment. So, in the end, they ended up at the Lancaster mansion. The moment they walked in, they both could feel that something was not right. They had just entered the house when their eyes landed right outside Melissa’s room, where Mrs. Lancaster was standing with her. She was hugging Melissa, holding her tight and patting her back. Alistair raised a brow while Asher sighed as he had expected this scene already. They didn’t need words to understand what was going on, sharing a quick glance, then walking upstairs. And sure enough, just like always, Melissa was filling their mother’s ears with her stupid words, she was snitching about them to her, and twisting their words, playing the helpless card like she always did. "When did I ignore you?" Alistair’s cold voice cut off the mother and daughter duo, making them both jolt in place. "Alis! When did you come back!?" Mrs. Lancaster turned toward him in surprise as she took a step closer. "You didn’t even tell me!" Alistair let out a quiet laugh that didn’t reach his eyes. "Why should I inform you?" he asked in a cold and detached tone. He smirked as he went on. "You know I’m not like your obedient son, like Asher, who turns right just because you said so." "Alis!" Mrs. Lancaster snapped as her voice rose. "How could you talk to your mother like that?" But instead of waiting for his reply, she quickly turned to Asher because she knew she could never win against Alistair. He was too blunt and too rude, which would easily raise her blood pressure. "And you!" she hissed, pointing a trembling finger at Asher. "You have the nerve to come back after everything you’ve done?" Her voice shook with rage now. "You fired the entire staff without even informing me, and you replaced them with some good-for-nothing people who don’t even listen to me!" Asher stepped forward, slowly. His face was calm, but he was annoyed that what he had expected was happening. "They don’t listen to you," he pronounced, "because I told them not to." Mrs. Lancaster’s eyes widened. "Excuse me?" She had not expected this kind of reply from Asher. "I didn’t fire them without reason," he further added. "I got rid of the ones who bullied Sera on your behalf and who fed your ego and did nothing else." Her lips parted in shock, but no words came out. "And the ones I hired?" he continued, "They’re decent people. They do not bully Sera, and most importantly, she is not forced to live in that hellhole of a room, which you guys allotted her. "Asher!" she gasped. "How dare you—" "Wait." Alistair’s voice cut through the intense argument. He stepped forward as he narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean Sera was bullied by the servant?" he asked sharply. "And what room was she allotted to live in?" His gaze shifted between them. "What’s in the world is going on?" Melissa froze. Her palm turned sweaty in an instant. This wasn’t good. This was exactly what she feared the most. First, Asher got to know everything about Seraphina’s condition, and he changed, leaning toward her with all his heart. "You were not here, Alis, so you didn’t know... these two women here... they kept her in the storage room and let the maid, servants harass as they please!" Asher growled and added. "Even the servants... they did dirty things to her, but what baffled me the most was... Her own mother never cared for her as much as she is crying for the staff!" Alistair’s mind spun at all these things.