Proud.
Bile surged into her mouth, leaving a bitter taste coating her tongue and the back of her throat.
Proud.
Of all the words her mother could have chosen, that one felt almost deliberately cruel.
She stared at her mother and realized, with a coldness that spread through her chest, that this was only the second time Vivienne had ever congratulated her.
The first had been when Cassandra became engaged to John.
That realization added another brick to the tower Cassandra had been building inside herself for years. Another layer of anger. Another reason to stop hoping that somewhere beneath Vivienne’s pride, beneath her need to maintain appearances and the family’s social standing, there was a mother who would choose Cassandra simply because she was her daughter.
Now Cassandra was being congratulated again because she was going to become a duchess.
Because she had secured a marriage that elevated her position.
Because, to people like Vivienne, her worth could only be measured based on the man she was marrying.
Done. Cassandra was finished with this damned conversation. She was finished with this family. She loathed every one of them.
"Get out."
The only thing stopping her from striking her mother across the face was the knowledge that the destruction of the Ashford family was already inevitable.
Vivienne blinked, clearly stunned by the venom in Cassandra’s voice.
"Cassandra—"
"I said get out." Cassandra sneered. "I do not want to see you here. I do not want you in my life. I do not want you in this palace, and I never want you to come here again."
Vivienne looked like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
"How dare you treat me this way?"
When it became obvious that Cassandra wasn’t swayed, Vivienne pivoted, using a different approach.
"You need your mother." She stepped closer, stopping only when she was within arm’s reach, and gave Cassandra a pleading look. "This is an important time in your life. You are preparing for a marriage, and you need your mother by your side."
"I have had enough of you." Cassandra’s voice rose, her chest heaving with each breath. "You have brought me nothing but pain and suffering, and I will not endure it any longer. I want you to leave this place. I never want to see you again."
Vivienne’s face flushed with indignation.
"You cannot simply dismiss me. And if you believe you can speak to me this way without consequences, you are mistaken. You will regret this."
Cassandra did not so much as blink. "The next time you come here, you will not be received. I will make certain you are turned away at the door."
Vivienne stared at her daughter like she had become some strange, unrecognizable creature.
"You have no right to threaten me."
"I am not threatening you." Cassandra’s voice dropped, becoming dangerously calm. "I am warning you."
Something ugly flashed across Vivienne’s face. She turned sharply toward the chair she had vacated, snatched up her glove, and glared at Cassandra.
So much for the concerned mother.
It was remarkable how quickly Vivienne’s carefully constructed facade of concern had crumbled the moment she was denied what she wanted.
"What an ungrateful child you are." She hissed the words through clenched teeth. "You have always been troublesome. Always. And now you have grown into this wild, uncontrollable woman whom I scarcely recognize."
Her breathing became heavier, her anger carrying her beyond the point of restraint.
"I should have—" She paused but the damage was already done. "I should have smothered you in your cradle when I had the chance."
Cassandra went completely still. Something inside her snapped cleanly in half.
She turned toward the closed door behind her and yanked it open.
"Guards!" she screamed. The louder she called, the sooner they would come.
Vivienne recoiled as though Cassandra had struck her.
"Cassandra, please. Be reasonable. This has not reached that point yet." Her voice had lost some of its earlier arrogance, but Cassandra was beyond reason now.
She did not care what Vivienne thought. She only wanted her gone.
"Guards!" Cassandra shouted again, her voice echoing through the corridor. "Guards! Guards!"
Footsteps sounded in the distance.
"Take this woman out of here!"
Vivienne was horrified. For all her daughter’s anger and resentment, she never imagined Cassandra would take matters so far as to have guards escort her out
𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Cassandra remained in the doorway, her face pale with fury.
Then hurried footsteps approached from the corridor.
Prince Adrian appeared seconds later.
He crossed the distance quickly, his worried gaze immediately searching Cassandra’s face for any sign of what transpired.
"Cassandra?" He reached her and gently took hold of her arms. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
Cassandra shook her head. "No. I want her removed."
Adrian followed her gaze into the room.
Vivienne stood rigidly, clutching her gloves in one hand, her face flushed with anger and humiliation.
Cassandra looked directly at Adrian and said, "I want this woman removed from the palace. I never want to see her face here again."
Adrian’s face hardened instantly.
"Lady Ashford."
Vivienne quickly assessed the situation and realized she was at a severe disadvantage.
But her pride wouldn’t let her back down so easily.
"Your Highness, this is a private family matter. Please don’t interfere."
"Perhaps it was." Adrian’s voice remained calm. "But Cassandra has asked you to leave. She no longer wants to speak to you. Please respect that."
"She is my only daughter. I will not be denied the right to speak to my child." Vivienne looked at Cassandra, then back at Adrian. "You cannot possibly intend to take her side in this."
Adrian’s gaze did not waver. "I am not taking sides. I am respecting her wishes."
Vivienne opened her mouth, but Adrian continued before she could speak.
"You will leave the palace willingly, Lady Ashford, or I will have the guards escort you out."
The embarrassment deepened the colour on Vivienne’s face.
She looked at Cassandra one last time, her eyes filled with wounded pride and fury before sweeping past them.
Her footsteps receded down the corridor until the sound disappeared entirely.