Page 48 of Royal Deception

I storm out of my room, my phone gripped tightly in my hand as I march straight for the kitchen. Kate is at the counter, scrolling through her tablet with a glass of wine in her other hand, completely unbothered.

“Where’s my money?” I demand, my voice sharp and unwavering.

She barely glances up. “What money?”

“You know what money,” I snap. “You took it. Again.”

Kate exhales in exaggerated exasperation, finally setting her tablet down to give me her full attention. “Oh, Clary, don’t be so dramatic. It’s just money. And after everything I’ve done for you, I think it’s fair that you contribute to this household.”

“Contribute?” I let out a hollow laugh. “You mean cover your spending sprees? Pay for your bills while you treat me like a burden?”

Kate’s lips curl into a smirk, her expression infuriatingly smug. “Watch your tone, young lady. You should be grateful. I kept you clothed, fed, and under my roof when I didn’t have to. And now you want to waste money chasing some silly little dream?”

My hands tighten into fists at my sides. “It’s not a silly dream. I’m going to fashion school. I already applied. I’m going to make it happen—with or without your help.”

Kate chuckles, swirling the wine in her glass as if this whole thing is amusing to her. “Sweetheart, I’ve been in the business world long enough to know when someone has what it takes to succeed.” Her eyes flick over me with calculated coldness. “And you don’t.”

The words cut, but not in the way she expects. Because I don’t believe her. Not this time.

I lift my chin, refusing to back down. “You’re wrong.” My voice doesn’t shake. “And you know what? I don’t care what you think. I’m done letting you control me.”

I expect her to get mad. To lash out, to call me ungrateful. But she doesn’t.

Instead, she takes another slow sip of wine, the corners of her mouth twitching as if she’s enjoying this.

That should make me feel triumphant. It doesn’t.

Something about it—about her—sticks with me long after I walk away.

I don’t give Kate the satisfaction of another word. I spin on my heel and storm back to my room, slamming the door behind me. My hands are shaking, my heart pounding, but I refuse to let her get under my skin. Not tonight. Not ever again.

I drop onto my bed and reach for the bottle of prenatal vitamins on my nightstand. Twisting off the cap, I shake one into my palm and swallow it dry. The exhaustion weighing on me these last few days is worse than usual, pressing heavily on my limbs, pulling at my thoughts.

I barely have the energy to set the bottle down before I sink into my pillow, my body giving in to sleep almost instantly.

Just as I’m drifting off, I hear it—a faint creak, the kind a door makes when it's opened just a little too slowly.

My brows knit together, but sleep tugs harder, wrapping around me like a heavy fog.

Probably just the house settling.

I roll over, my breaths evening out as sleep finally pulls me under.

21

RORY

Itap out a reply to Callie’s email as I step out of the hotel, tucking my phone into my pocket. The hotel’s nice, but after the security breach at the original venue, Callie had insisted on checking a few of Brannagan’s properties as backups. This one seemed like a strong contender, if only for the added security measures we’ve got in place. I’m here to make sure that’s the case, though, just in case any changes need to be made before the event.

I take one last glance around the property before heading for the exit. This place would work, but I want to double-check the rest of the details with my team.

But as I step out onto the sidewalk, I spot Clary a few storefronts down, her arms loaded with more shopping bags than she can carry, struggling to keep up with her stepmother, Kate, who’s barking orders at her.

I’ve met Kate before, and she’s as insufferable as I remember—condescending, dismissive. The way she’s talking to Clary right now is only adding fuel to the fire burning in my gut.

“You’re so damn slow,” Kate snaps, looking at Clary like she’s an inconvenience. “If you didn’t waste all your time being lazy, maybe you wouldn’t be so useless.”

Clary doesn’t reply, but I can see the way her body stiffens, like she’s used to it but still taking the hits.