A ROYAL SCANDAL

KARLIAH POV

"I think someone was eavesdropping on our conversation, Mother. It looks like Karliah isn't as sweet as you thought," Elite said, taunting me.

"I didn't hear anything you were saying. I only screamed because Era took me by surprise when she tapped me on the shoulder."

Elite narrowed her eyes at me.

She looked at Era.

"Is Karliah telling the truth? I would like to hear it from you."

"And don't even think of lying to me."

"Karliah didn't hear anything because she was far too scared of my prank."

Was she covering up on my behalf?

"Let go of the issue, Elite. Let the poor girl be; after all, we don't want to scare her away."

Elite scoffed furiously and stormed off.

This made me feel uneasy.

"Just give her some time; I'm sure she'll definitely come around," Lucinda muttered coolly.

Once she left, Era pulled me aside, and she looked worried.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

I moved away from her.

"I can't believe that you and your whole family have been pretending to be nice to my brother and me just so that you could get what rightfully belongs to us."

Era looked shocked.

"I was never involved in this scandal; this is Mother and Elite's doing. They are the only ones who can come up with such plans."

"Do you honestly think that I was involved in this?"

"I'm calling the police so that my brother and I can leave this place."

I took out my phone, and I was about to dial the nurse's number, but someone snatched the phone away from me.

I looked up, and it was none other than Elite.

"So you did hear our conversation, you little brat."

Elite was about to hit me, but I held her hand mid-air, stopping her. Our eyes locked intensely, and she looked surprised.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Brat," Elite hissed angrily.

Aunt Lucinda walked into the room.

"Karliah, let go of my daughter's hand right now."

And I let go of Elite's hand.

I was about to grab my phone from her, but she thought fast and gave it to her mother.

"Thank you, dear."

"I want my cell phone back."

Aunt Lucinda smiled at me, but her smile didn't meet her eyes.

"I don't think that you'll need this back, Karliah, especially since you want to report us to the police."

"You keep forgetting that we are family."

"Look at your brother there."

I stared at Dylan, who was playing with his new toys. He looked really happy.

"Do you want him to end up on the streets? Because no one is going to take the both of you in."

"Think about it, dear, because you're a very smart girl, and if I were you, I would do the right thing."

"Fine, I won't inform them of anything. Can I please have my cell phone back? Because it doesn't belong to you."

Aunt Lucinda looked at my cell phone keenly.

"This cell phone really looks expensive; it must have cost your parents a fortune."

"Just give it back; my mom bought it for me on my birthday."

Elite grabbed it and tossed it to the ground, instantly making the screen shatter.

No.

My eyes widened in shock.

When I looked up, she had a smug smirk on her face.

"Oh no, it slipped; please forgive me, Karliah."

In a fit of rage, I yanked Elite's hair, making her scream out in agony and pain.

"Let go of me, you crazy girl!"

"Mom, do something!"

Aunt Lucinda got between us, separating me from Elite.

I had some of her hair in my hands.

Consider it payback.

Elite was breathing heavily.

"You are going to pay for this, Karliah. Mark my words, I will personally make your life here a living hell."

I picked up my broken cell phone, which was now ruined. A single tear rolled down my cheek, and I hastily wiped it away.

I hugged the phone to my chest.

"Karliah..." Era whispered softly.

"Just leave me alone."

I stormed off and ran outside in anger.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest wildly. Everything was all a lie, and Dylan and I were only here because Aunt Lucinda wanted all our properties, but I wasn't going to let her get away with it.

Aunt Lucinda never had any love for me because she would always mistreat me and call me bad names.

She treated me more like a servant.

"You better get this house cleaned very well because I have a few guests coming over."

I nodded quietly.

I began to scrub the floors. I could feel Lucinda's gaze on me while I was cleaning.

"This room should be spotless; do you understand, girl?"

"Yes, your highness," I muttered softly.

I could feel my eyes burning with tears, and a painful sob escaped my lips.

She slammed the door hard enough for me to hear. They had gone to fetch the new photographers who were supposed to take photos of Elite.

Elite was now twenty-six years old, while I was now twenty-two years old, and luckily I managed to graduate college with a degree. An hour later, I was done cleaning the house, and after that, I went to take my bath.

Elite was a very well-known model in New York. She was very beautiful and talented.

Meanwhile, Era was in her final year at the university, but her mother wanted to marry her off as soon as possible. In exchange for her daughter's hand in marriage, she would be given a large amount of money.

When I asked Lucinda if I could move away from home, she simply slapped me across the face and said, "Girls like you are not supposed to be educated, and besides, you're just a waste of my money," she said coldly.

I hated my life that day, and I just wanted to hide in the corner and cry my eyes out. I felt like I didn't have a purpose in life anymore. I couldn't even access my own father's hard-earned money.

I was poor, and this was how my life was going to be. I was Cinderella in a modern world.