Chapter 76: Reconciliation or Revenge?

The sound of my stepmother's voice sent a shiver down my spine. It had been years since I'd seen her face or heard the fake sweetness in her tone. But standing before me now, I couldn't help but feel something I hadn't expected: a sense of curiosity.

"Emilia," she said again, her voice trembling with an edge of desperation. She glanced at Lydia briefly before focusing her gaze entirely on me. "I… I need to talk to you. Please."

My half-sister, sitting across from me, stiffened at the sight of our stepmother, but said nothing. The tension was palpable—thick enough to slice through the still air of the café. Lydia's fingers clenched around her teacup, her lips pressing into a thin line. She didn't speak either, but the look she gave our stepmother said everything.

"Don't be foolish, Lydia," I said softly, my voice almost a whisper. "She's here for me, not for you."