Chapter 16: Sia Got Slapped

After she'd sent her master the address, she leaned back against the rear seat on the way to the Thubron family. She did not even have to think to guess what that "family of three" wanted. Especially Eva. She had practically started treating Sia like an ATM, convinced that marrying into the Yoxal family meant endless designer labels and money to burn. The humiliation from last night flashed through her mind. Sia Thubron had never suffered anything like it. That disgrace should have been Eva's to bear, so why did fate have to be this unfair? Thubron Villa. Sia got out of the car. Thankfully, the hospital had given her some cash today, or she would not even have had fare to get here. She shut the door, walked up, and pushed into the villa. "Sia, you're back." Sage Thubron smiled the moment he saw her. Then his gaze flicked to her empty hands, and his expression cooled. Eva Thubron and Ingrid Darbishire sat together on the sofa, backs straight, posture proud. When Sia walked in, her outfit looked plain at first glance, but Eva recognized it immediately. That simple T-shirt was a current-season Gucci piece. The jeans looked ordinary, but the cut screamed expensive. And the bag on her shoulder. A double-C limited edition from this season. The price was obscene, yet Sia was carrying one. Eva's eyes widened until they practically bulged. "Sia Thubron, did you forget what I told you?" Eva's gaze stayed glued to the bag. "Last time you went to the Yoxal family, you took one of my necklace sets. And you still haven't brought it back!" "I didn't come from the Yoxal family," Sia replied evenly. "I'll remember next time." Then her voice sharpened. "What happened to my grandma?" The only reason she had come back to the Thubron family was because they claimed something had happened to her grandmother and she needed to return immediately. "She's fine," Eva said, still staring at the bag without blinking. That dismissive answer made Sia's brows draw tight. "Then I won't disturb you." She turned to leave. Eva sprang up from the sofa and grabbed Sia's bag. "Sia Thubron, you really forgot what I told you." Eva yanked the strap as if it belonged to her. "We let you marry into the Yoxal family so you could enjoy the good life. How do you repay us? Consider this your first visit back as a married woman. Where's my gift?" Her beautiful face was lifted in arrogant triumph, the attitude so obnoxious it made Sia's stomach turn. Sia's face stayed cool, her clear eyes flashing with a thin edge of anger. "Since Eva can't bear to part with anything, how about I tell the Yoxal family the truth? That I'm a stand-in, and you're the real candidate for their Young Madam. Then all the glory and wealth would be yours, and I wouldn't have to play middleman." Her tone was light, but the mockery in it cut. Last night's humiliation was still vivid. They had shoved her into a fire pit, then acted like she'd won the lottery. It was disgusting. That icy smile at the corner of Sia's mouth ignited Eva's fury. Eva raised her hand and slapped Sia hard across the face. Smack! "You ungrateful thing." Eva's face twisted, vicious and sharp. "I wanted to slap you last time. Threaten me? I'll take your grandma's life!" The blow had been heavy. Sia's head snapped to the side. In an instant, her pale cheek swelled, a clear handprint blooming red. Sia turned her face back, expression frozen, eyes locked on Eva like ice. But the moment she heard the threat, the fire in her chest compressed into a tight, choking knot. She swallowed it down, hard. She wanted to tear that snake-faced woman apart with her own hands. But she could not. Not because she was afraid, but because her grandmother was in their grasp. She could not risk it. Her hand at her side clenched until her knuckles whitened. Her jaw locked, humiliation scraping raw at her throat. Seeing her furious yet helpless, Eva looked pleased. She lifted her brows and stared down at Sia like an insect. "Come back tomorrow. Pack up every piece of clothing and every bag the Yoxal family prepared for you and bring them to me. I want a set too. And the living allowance the Yoxal family gives you, hand it all over." Eva had already decided the Yoxal family must have given Sia nothing but the best. Those things should have been hers in the first place. Taking a share was only natural. Sia let out a cold laugh. "The things the Yoxal family prepared for me probably won't meet Eva's standards. As for an allowance, they haven't given me a cent. If you don't believe me, go ask them yourself." Eva still did not release the bag. Hearing Sia talk back, her face darkened further, her eyes turning poisonous. "Sia Thubron, you really are a shameless little tramp." Eva's voice dripped with malice. "You acted like you didn't want to marry into a rich family, but you're enjoying it plenty. The Yoxal family is filthy rich. That one bag alone is worth a hundred thousand dollars, and you're telling me you have no money? Try to fool me and see what happens!" Jealousy nearly choked her. Sia's entire outfit was worth a fortune. No money? Only an idiot would believe that. Sage Thubron and his wife did not intervene. They simply let Eva torment Sia. "A hundred thousand?" Sia repeated, genuinely stunned. The Yoxal family had prepared a whole walk-in closet for her, racks and shelves arranged like a luxury boutique. She had only picked something simple. Even this bag, she had grabbed at random, thinking it was a plain style. And it cost that much? Sia felt dazed. "Leave the bag." Eva's grip tightened. "Go back to the Yoxal family. Turn on a video call. I'm picking clothes from your closet." Each word landed like an order, as if she were a queen issuing decrees. "I'm sorry," Sia said, her gaze clear and cold. "I can't do that. If Eva thinks I stole your fortune, I'll tell the Yoxal family the truth right away. You can be their Young Madam yourself. Those clothes and bags will all be yours. No one will fight you for them." She looked obedient on the surface, yet every sentence defied Eva outright. Eva's hand rose again. "You little bumpkin, you dare talk back to me!" If the Young Master of the Yoxal family had been normal, Eva would have married him herself. How could it ever have been Sia's turn? Sia refused not only because she still had a basic line she would not cross, but because she could not stomach Eva's bullying entitlement. "I'll ask you one more time," Eva said, voice icy enough to freeze blood. "Are you going or not?" "I'm sorry. I can't." If she agreed, she would be a thief. And once she crossed that line, she would never be able to break free. If the Yoxal family discovered she had sticky fingers, Sia did not even dare imagine what would happen. That man. Cold to the point of feeling inhuman. She could not afford to provoke him. "Bitch!" Eva's anger spiked as she stared at Sia. She lifted her hand, ready to slap her again. Sia clenched her teeth. She did not fight back, bracing herself to take it. In the Thubron family's eyes, she had always been soft clay to knead and crush. If hitting her let them vent, she would endure it, as long as they did not turn their rage on her grandmother. Just then, a car stopped outside. A tall, straight-backed figure strode in, violence rolling off him like a storm.