Filed to story: Shattered Vows (Venessa Windsor) Book PDF Free
Back then, he hadn’t treated Venessa well, even going so far as to visit the Lorimer family to declare that he had no ties with Venessa from that point on.
Yet, it was merely lip service.
Unexpectedly, his father actually put his words into action!
Alaric’s expression was serious, his mouth opened as if to speak, but then he hesitated.
Clearly, this matter was indeed true.
“Gabe, don’t blame your father,” Harriet implored, her eyes welling up with tears. “He had no choice but to do what he did, all for the sake of our family.”
Gabe felt a huge lump in his throat as he replied, “Mom, you knew about this all along, didn’t you? Did you think it was acceptable to hurt Vena without any hesitation if it was for the sake of the family? Vena is my sister, and even if we’re not related by blood, we’ve lived together for eighteen years. Eighteen years, Mom! Even if it was spent raising a dog, there would be feelings involved! She has already suffered enough from being wrongfully imprisoned, so why did you have to treat her like this?”
No wonder Venessa seemed to despise him so much after she was released from prison.
It was a seed planted four years ago!
In silence, Alaric’s gaze subtly deepened as he said, “Severing our parent-child relationship was merely a show for the Lorimer family. Now that Venessa has returned, she can transfer her household registration back at any time. However, I have one condition, Venessa, and that is you must go to the Lorimer family and apologize today. As long as the Lorimer family doesn’t pursue Gabe’s matter, you can return to being the Pierce family’s eldest daughter, indulging in wealth and glory.”
“No need. My ties with the Pierce family have already ended,” Venessa stated, rejecting him outright.
Harriet frowned, saying, “Vena, what nonsense are you spouting? Your ties with the Pierce family have ended? Are you really considering going back to your biological family? Your birth father is a gambling addict, a good-for-nothing. Going back will only weigh you down.”
Alaric expressed in a displeased tone, “A wise man submits to circumstances. I advise you to think clearly. Not everyone can take on the role of the eldest daughter of the Pierce family! If it weren’t for the fact that I raised you for eighteen years, how could this immense fortune have fallen into your lap?”
Venessa rejected it outright, “Whoever wants this so-called fortune can have it; I certainly don’t want it.”
Gabe gazed at Venessa, his handsome face filled with profound affection and sadness.
“I don’t need Vena to apologize to the Lorimer family. All I need is for Vena to change her household registry back. I will handle the matter with the Lorimer family myself!”
“You’re going to handle it yourself? And how exactly will you do that? By going head to head with the Lorimer family?” Alaric said, clearly irritated. “You better stay put at home these next few days. Dare to set foot in Lorimer Estate, and see if I don’t deal with you!”
Although Alaric’s words were harsh, Venessa’s hearing was unimpaired. Anyone could tell that he was fiercely protective of his son.
“Gabe can’t go, and Venessa can’t either. I’ll go!” Madison choked out, her voice laced with tears. “Dad, Venessa has already endured four years of imprisonment, suffering more than one can imagine. We can’t let her suffer anymore. I’ll be the one to go to the Lorimer family this time!”
She covered her mouth, tears clinging to her dark, curved eyelashes as her body shuddered with each sob she let out.
From her deeply sorrowful demeanor, it was as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice imaginable.
“No, Madison can’t go. Given the arrogant demeanor of the Lorimer family, who knows how they might mistreat her!” Harriet stated protectively.
“Your mother is right,” Alaric agreed. “You’d only suffer if you went.”
Venessa’s long eyelashes quivered, her heart filled with a bitter chill.
They were concerned that Madison would be mistreated by the Lorimer family, yet not worried that she could be bullied by them?
Was it just because she wasn’t their biological child?
What a potent and ironic contrast!
“I owe it to Venessa. It’s about time I take her place in enduring hardship!” Madison insisted.
“No, Venessa can’t go, and Madison even less so! Enough, all of you, stop talking! This is a mess I created, so I’ll clean it up myself!” Gabe insisted on going himself.
Overwhelmed with desperation, Madison found herself on her knees, her tears mixing with the runny snot as she cried.
“Gabe, don’t go! You’re the only son of the Pierce family, while I’m just a lowly nobody. The fact that I could return and reunite with all of you is already a blessing. Let me go instead…”
Venessa stood off to the side, watching them enact their deep sibling bond with a cool gaze, unable to suppress the amusement bubbling within her.
Go on, then. It would be best if you all just went to meet your doom.
Gabe lifted his gaze, just in time to catch her cold and distant expression.
Compared to Madison, who was on her knees crying and pleading with him not to go to the Lorimer family, it was such a stark difference.
Despite both being his sisters, why was it that Madison could be so devoted to their familial bond? She was unafraid of anything, even insisting on going to the Lorimer family on his behalf.
She was so understanding that it evoked his tender affection.
And yet, Venessa was able to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to everything.
He had only stirred up such a huge mess because he was trying to avenge her!
The more heartbroken Madison was, the more Gabe found himself disliking Venessa.
He couldn’t help but reprimand her, “Venessa, can’t you talk some sense into Madison? She’s been crying her eyes out, hoping we’d agree to let her go to the Lorimer family. But here you are, standing silently. Where’s your conscience?”
“Conscience?” Venessa couldn’t help but retort, “Did I hear that right? You’re talking to me about conscience? If I lacked one, then what was the point of these four years I spent in jail? If I didn’t have a conscience, then wouldn’t all the hardships I’ve endured over the past four years be in vain? Mr. Pierce, I’ve been through death’s door countless times and returned. Your moral blackmail won’t work on me! Deal with your own mess, and don’t use my name to make up for whatever guilt you feel toward me!”
Gabe was stunned speechless.
A moment later, he almost snarled through gritted teeth, “I regret it now. I regret seeking revenge for you. I regret feeling pain for the hardships you endured in prison! If I ever feel compassion for you again, I’ll consider myself a fool!”
“Revenge?” Venessa scoffed. “Mr. Pierce, this isn’t how one seeks vengeance. Reprisal for a wrong should be directed at the perpetrator. If you can’t even identify who you’re supposed to seek vengeance against, then how are you going to get revenge for me?”
Once she finished speaking, her gaze shifted toward Madison pointedly. “Don’t you know who’s responsible for my imprisonment?”
Gabe was at a loss for words.
Venessa’s words may be blunt, but the reasoning behind them wasn’t.
If he were to truly trace back the root cause of everything, then the prison bully was indeed not the one to blame.
“All right, it’s all in the past now. Let’s not dwell on who was right or wrong.”
Alaric stepped in to mediate the situation, his expression stern.
Venessa’s lips trembled slightly, but she didn’t bother to retort.
The attitude of everyone in the Pierce family toward her four years of imprisonment was nonchalant and dismissive.
Every time she uttered a word, they would guilt-trip her.
Simply because she had been a fake heiress for eighteen years, enjoying the luxuries of a wealthy household for the same amount of time, trading four years for eighteen seemed like a bargain.
