Chapter 6
I stepped back, avoiding her touch.
I said coldly, "You think it's okay to mess with my parents' inheritance?
"Fiona, your family's humor is unique.
"Too bad I don't find these jokes funny."
Vivian realized and grabbed Caelan's arm, tears in her eyes.
"Rowan, please don't be angry," she begged. "It's my fault.
"I shouldn't have said that. Forget it, I don't want it. Just please—don't let this ruin things between you two.
"You and Caelan have been together for years. Don't let this mess come between you."
Tears streamed down her face, the picture of innocence and hurt. As if she were the real victim in all this.
Their family ran like clockwork—one tough, one kind, and Fiona keeping peace.
They moved as if rehearsed a thousand times.
If this happened earlier, I might have fallen for their act.
But now, I saw right through them.
Every word and look was about my apartment.
Watching them felt like a cheap monkey show.
"Don't bother," I said, my voice icy cold.
"Caelan," I looked at him again.
"Meet me at the courthouse at nine tomorrow.
"Let's get this over with. No need to drag it out.
"If you don't show up, you'll get a court summons."
With that, I didn't spare any of them another glance.
Then I turned and headed for the door.
Behind me, Caelan cried out in despair. "Rowan!"
He rushed over, trying to pull me back from behind.
"Rowan, don't go! Please! I love you!" he called, voice breaking.
Just as his hand was about to reach me—the apartment door slammed open from outside, kicked in by someone.
A tall figure stood in the doorway, cold air following her and a traveler's look.
It was my aunt, Mavis.
She took one look at the scene before her, and her eyes went cold. "Keep your filthy hands off Rowan."
Mavis stepped in like a blade cutting through the tension, slicing the chaos clean in two.
She stood in the doorway, wearing a black trench coat, her hair pulled back, her gaze sharp.
Her aura chilled the whole living room.
Fiona, Caelan, and Vivian froze, staring blankly at the unexpected guest.
Caelan's hand froze, face in disbelief.
The moment I saw her, tears burned my eyes. "Mavis?"
Since morning, I'd kept myself together with cold logic.
But the moment I saw her, all the hurt and fear I'd been holding back finally came crashing down.
I rushed to her, voice trembling. "Mavis, what are you doing here?"
She gently patted my back, as she did when I was a kid.
Her hand was warm and steady, just as always.
"What, you think I'd let this family chew you up?" her voice was soft but firm.
Her gaze swept over the three of them, finally locking onto Caelan.
She demanded, "What did I tell you on the phone?
"I told you to bring Rowan back. Was that hard?
"Wow, Caelan, dragging her home for your mom and sister to grill her?"
Caelan flinched and stepped back from Mavis's stare.
"No... no, Mavis, you've got it all wrong..." he stammered.
"Got it all wrong?" she scoffed, dripping with sarcasm.
She laughed coldly and entered the living room.
Each step Mavis took made Caelan retreat like a mouse before a cat.
Fiona was furious watching her son cower.
She steeled herself, puffing out her chest, trying to assert her authority as the older woman.
She snapped, "Who do you think you are, barging in and causing a scene?
"Is there no law around here?"
Mavis stopped and sized Fiona up.
Her eyes showed contempt, like watching a pathetic sideshow.
"So you're Fiona?" Mavis asked, her voice cool.
"Yeah, that's me! What about it?" Fiona replied defiantly.
"I'm Rowan's aunt," she said, her voice even. "Mavis Sinclair."