Chapter 155: The Good Daughter
Chapter 155 of "Mated To The Crippled Alpha" starts here: When I heard Monica beg, I almost laughed.Just hours ago, she had pushed Lincy onto... Discover what happens next!
When I heard Monica beg, I almost laughed.Just hours ago, she had pushed Lincy onto the stage, urging her to steal attention and stir chaos at the gathering. The goal had been clear humiliate me, disgust Grant , and poison my standing in Snowville.
Not long before that, she had tried to circle my mate. And before that, she had worked behind the scenes with Yenik, slicing away at my life piece by piece.
So now I was supposed to forget the past twenty years?
Forget the way my mother was sidelined.
Forget how Riley was crushed, ignored, and finally broken?
This mother and daughter survived by taking what wasnât theirs. Lies. Manipulation. Quiet cruelty dressed up as grace. Why would they ever believe Iâd lift a finger to save them?
I tilted my head and put on a confused look.
"Aunt Monica," I asked gently, "what exactly are you saying? Are you sure Lincy... actually killed someone?"
I could see it then the way her breathing stuttered. Fear has a smell. Sharp. Bitter.
Acting came easily to me. There was a strange satisfaction in it.
I pressed on, my voice soft and sincere.
"Sure, my sister can be arrogant. A little selfish. Maybe even manipulative at times. But sheâs kind deep down... right? She wouldnât really do something like murder, would she?"
Monicaâs lips twitched. Under normal circumstances, she would have snapped back already. But desperation has a way of swallowing pride.
"Itâs your fatherâs fault!" she blurted. "He spoiled her too much. She was jealous of Camilla, so she took a... dangerous route. She only meant to scare her. But the person in the car wasnât Camilla. It was Ethan."
I gasped, covering my mouth.
"What?" I said, eyes wide. "I always thought my sister was just reckless. I never imagined she could arrange something like that so calmly. Dad... what if she comes after me next?"
Grant âs shoulders stiffened. Whatever patience he had left shattered quietly.
He patted my back. "She wouldnât dare."
Monica panicked when she saw the direction of his gaze and rushed to defend her daughter.
"She didnât mean it," she said quickly. "She was pushed too far! Yenik meant everything to her. Now he wants to bind himself to someone else anyone would break!"
I didnât raise my voice. I didnât need to.
"Aunt Monica," I said calmly, "you shouldnât use double standards."
She froze.
"Yenik was mine first," I continued. "Lincy took him. Youâre saying she couldnât endure humiliation... but I was expected to? I didnât lash out. I didnât hire someone to ruin lives. Or are you saying your daughterâs feelings matter more than mine ever did?"
The room fell silent.
Grant âs face darkened. Guilt crept in slowly, like a shadow he couldnât outrun.
From beginning to end, Riley had been the one sacrificed.
Not Lincy.
"Riley, thatâs not what I meant," Monica said weakly. "What you and Yenik had wasnât as deep as what they shared."
I nodded thoughtfully.
"Oh, I see," I said. "So in your world, bonds formed through stealing and scheming are deeper than honest ones."
Her face drained of color.
"No wonder my father ignored my mother all those years," I went on, my tone still gentle, "to stay hidden with you. But if your love was truly so powerful, Aunt Monica... why were you never acknowledged? Not strong enough? Or just never worthy enough?"
That was when Grant finally looked at her.
And the silence that followed was louder than any argument.
Grant cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable.
"Weâre talking about Lincy here. Not me."
"Fine," I said calmly. "Then letâs talk about my sister."
I turned to Monica, my voice steady.
"Your daughter destroyed herself over a man. Before blaming anyone else, shouldnât you look at the way you raised her?"
Monica stiffened.
"Lincy does whatever she wants," I continued. "Anyone who crosses her, she targets. If my mother and I offended her, wouldnât we be next?"
"Riley, weâre family!" Monica shot back. "Lincy would never hurt you. Youâre exaggerating."
I laughed softly. There was no warmth in it.
"Family?" I asked. "Since childhood, how many things has Lincy taken from me? Toys. Clothes. Relationships. And even after I finally formed a bond of my own, she still flirts with my mate without shame. What exactly does she want? Everything?"
Monicaâs face tightened.
"You built your life by taking what wasnât yours," I said quietly. "And you taught your daughter to do the same. Ethan is dead because of her. Shouldnât she face what sheâs done?"
I turned to Grant .
"Dad, you know sheâs never been the obedient girl you pretend she is. Back in school, she ran someone down and broke their leg. If you hadnât buried it with money and influence, the Ashbourne name wouldâve been dragged through the mud long ago."
Grant âs jaw clenched.
"And now," I added, "youâve just arrived in Snowville, trying to establish control, and she pulls something like this. She doesnât care about your position. She doesnât care about the family. She only cares about herself."
The air went cold.
"So," Grant said slowly, "what are you suggesting?"
I didnât hesitate.
"If you make a mistake, you pay for it. Thatâs the rule everywhere. If sheâs innocent, the truth will clear her. But if sheâs guilty, the Sanders family lost a life. Lincy loses her freedom. Ethan will never come back."
I paused, a flicker of memory passing through me.
"He made his mistakes," I said softly, "but he didnât deserve to die like that."
Lincy had always relied on the Ashbourne name to shield her.
If no one stopped her now, she would only go further next time.
"Protecting her isnât mercy," I finished. "Itâs ruin."
Monica snapped.
"Enough! Youâre just using this to take revenge! Honey, donât listen to her. Lincy is our daughter!"
"Honey?" I echoed mildly. "How intimate. Have you two sealed anything official yet, or are you still pretending? A rotten tree always bears rotten fruit."
Grant âs face darkened like a storm about to break.
"Enough," he said. "This is your territory. If you can save Lincy, name your terms."
Then he looked at me, trying to soften his voice.
"Riley, I know you hate her. But sheâs still my blood. If something happened to you, I wouldnât stand by either. Iâll make sure she suffers for this but sheâs young. If she goes inside, her life is over."
Before I could respond, Lewis spoke.
He was calm, seated beside me, fingers resting around a teacup. He blew lightly across the surface before saying evenly,
"The authorities have linked the case to her. They havenât passed judgment yet. That means thereâs still room."
Monicaâs eyes lit up.
She rushed forward and grabbed Lewisâs arm.
"Lewis, please. Youâre a good man. Help her. Iâm begging you."
My skin crawled.
Did she really think acting soft would work on everyone?
Lewisâs gaze dropped to her hand on his sleeve.
"Have I ever mentioned," he said calmly, "that I dislike being touched?"
He lifted his eyes.
Monica froze as if something invisible had wrapped around her spine.
"Calling you âAuntâ is courtesy," Lewis said quietly. "Did you really think you were important? Dreaming of becoming my elder? Take a look at yourself first then ask if youâre even worthy."
The room went silent.
And for the first time, Monica looked afraid.