CHAPTER 200: PUNISHMENT AND BLAME

Christian left early in the morning. The sun hadn’t had a chance to show its first rays, and he was gone.

He’s probably very angry about last night.

My mouth curved into a deep frown as I thought about what had happened. I never expected Morgan to actually go through with such a stupid plan.

Did she really think that drugging Christian would solve anything?

Even my father was stupid in coming up with this plan. How could he not think about how Christian would feel after he discovered being drugged? The last thing you want to do to someone who you need help from is drug them and put them into a situation where they do something against their will.

My stomach twisted at the thought of Christian sleeping with Morgan. It was why I decided to check on them last night.

Something felt very off, and thankfully, I listened to my gut feeling. When I saw that Christian couldn’t even reply to me, I nearly flew into a rage.

Even though he hurt me, drugging someone was very wrong.

But now I’m paying for my actions.

-

"Second Miss. Master wants to see you in his study," a maid announced from the hallway.

Her words caused me to briefly pause my actions.

"Very well. I’ll head over there right now," I replied, setting the hair brush back down on my vanity. I knew that whatever the reason he wanted to see me, it wasn’t good.

I’ve already learned to dread going to see him in his study. Nothing good ever happened in there. Still, I knew that going would be better than ignoring his summons, so I quickly finished getting dressed and made my way over.

As I approached his study, I noticed that the doors were already open. I peered inside and saw Morgan standing by a bookshelf, while my father was sitting in his usual spot, behind his desk.

His eyes landed on mine.

He’s not happy.

"Come in," he said coldly.

Morgan turned around when he said the words. Her eyes were full of hatred and anger as she looked at me.

"YOU! You ruined everything! You BITCH!" she roared as soon as I took a step into the room. She was so angry that her face was red and her hands were trembling.

I ignored her and glanced at my father, surprised that he didn’t lecture her on her bad language.

Whatever happened to those Family Tenets that he used to preach to us about?

"Do you know why I called you here?" he hissed.

Of course I know.

"No, Father," I said as innocently as possible.

Morgan nearly lost it. "How could you not?! You literally ruined the entire plan! I was so close, too!"

"What was so important that you needed to see Christian so late into the night?" asked my father, cutting Morgan off. I could tell that he was angry by the way he was tapping his fingers on his desk.

"I...I had a report that I needed to finish that day. One of the ladies in the office told me that it had to get done that day as CEO Vittoria was waiting on the information..."

My father’s piercing eyes studied my face closely.

"Moron," he whispered under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear.

"So you decided to bother Christian while he was enjoying his evening to hand him your useless report?" he asked. His voice almost cracked from anger, and his hands were locked into fists.

Enjoying his night, huh? That’s certainly one way to put it.

I took another deep breath and looked at him. "Did I do something wrong, Father? Should I not have delivered the report?"

Morgan could take it any longer and walked over, slapping me across the face. Every ounce of her hatred was put into that slap, causing my cheek to sting in a sharp pain.

"You bitch! I’ve tolerated your stupidity for so long, but how could you not understand what was happening?!" she heaved. "Christian was so close to being mine! I was so close to having his child! Do you understand?!"

Tears rolled down my cheek from the pain of the sudden slap. I held my hand over my cheek, feeling the heat of the inflamed tissue.

I shook my head.

"But he looked so pale and sick. He needed a doctor," I said, feigning ignorance. I was curious if they would admit that they drugged him.

Morgan hesitated on how to reply, so my father spoke up for her.

"You misunderstood. You don’t know about these things, but once you and Karl get married, you will learn," he said, holding back his anger. "When a man and a woman love each other, activities happen that leave both people breathless."

I nearly rolled my eyes.

Christian fucked me dozens of times, and he’s never once looked pale and sickly.

"What you did was ruin the mood for him and Morgan. Apologize to your sister," he ordered. "And when you go to work today, beg for his forgiveness. If this reflects badly on us, I won’t let you off."

What?! You guys drugged him, but I’m the one who has to beg for forgiveness?

My own anger was beginning to flare up. I couldn’t believe the audacity of his making me mend things for their actions.

I stood frozen in place. There was no way I was going to agree to something like that.

Seeing my hesitance, his eyes darkened, and he slammed his fist on the desk, making a loud banging sound.

"DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"

He roared so loudly that both Morgan and I froze in place. A crippling fear overtook me. It felt that if I said anything other than ’yes’, he would hesitate to kill me on the spot.

Tears continued to roll down my face, but my eyes burned with anger.

Why?! Why am I always the one left to take the blame? Surely he knows that I saved what little reputation our family has left with Christian.

I finally opened my mouth.

"Yes, Father."

My words were barely audible, but by the change in his expression, I knew that he heard me.