Chapter 33 Same Old Script!

Chapter 33 Same Old Script!
Alina’s POV

Dorothy slid into the chair across from me like she owned the damn dining table. 

I kept on eating, pretending like I didn't see her there. Maybe she would just go away if I don't engage her.

But it's Dorothy. What was I expecting? A miracle?

That victorious grin on her face made my skin crawl. She didn’t even wait for the maids to leave before she started.

“Oh, Alina,” she sighed dramatically, tilting her head with fake sympathy. “Uncle Freddy sent me to apologize for what I said earlier. He thinks I was being too harsh on you.” She leaned forward, lowering her voice like we were sharing secrets. “But we both know the truth, don’t we, cousin?”

When she saw that I didn't respond, she pushed harder. She picked up a glass of water, swirling it slowly while her eyes sparkled with pure malice.

“I mean… isn’t Blake Harrington enough for you? Tall, rich, handsome, practically your future husband. The perfect match for the perfect heiress. So why are you still sniffing around that scholarship boy, Kai? Why do you always have to take everything away from me? Why does everything have to revolve around you?"

Because I'm Alina. Duh!

Her voice rose a little, sharp and venomous. “First it’s the attention, the spotlight, the entire Sterling empire. Now it’s Kai? I saw the way he looked at you during lunch at the cafeteria. I see the way he laughs with you like you are the only girl in the world. Do you enjoy ruining things for me? Do you get off on it? I’ve waited my whole life in your shadow, smiling pretty while you got everything handed to you. And still, you reach for the one boy who actually caught my eye. Greedy little princess.”

Okay. I've heard enough.

I set my fork down slowly, the clink loud in the quiet dining room. My hands were steady even though anger was boiling inside me. I looked her straight in the eyes, voice calm but ice-cold.

“Wow, Dorothy. Listen to yourself. You sound so pathetic right now.” 

I leaned forward, matching her energy. “You’ve spent years kissing my father’s ass, calling him ‘Uncle Freddy’ like some desperate lapdog, and you still can’t get what you want. Kai didn’t even look at you twice. He laughed with me because I’m not a walking knife with lipstick. And Blake? Take him. Please. I never asked for that plastic Ken doll. But you? You’re so used to getting leftovers that the second someone chooses me over you, your whole world collapses. Newsflash, cousin…the world doesn’t revolve around your jealousy. You’re not in my shadow. You’re just…forgettable.”

Dorothy’s face flushed red. Her perfect fake smile cracked completely. “You think you’re so special? You’re nothing without the Sterling name. Just a spoiled, locked-up doll who finally got a taste of the real world and now thinks she’s tough. Kai will get bored of you the second he realizes you’re still Daddy’s little puppet. You’ll crawl back to Blake with your tail between your legs, and I’ll be right there laughing when it happens.”

I turned slowly to face her fully…to see the disgraceful look on her face. My voice dropped, cold and cutting. 

“At least I don’t have to drug people or leak fake texts to get attention. At least when I want something, I don’t cry to uncle Freddy or sabotage everyone around me like a sad, bitter second-place trophy. You want Kai? Go beg him. Cry to him. Send him your nudes for all I care. But we both know he’ll never want someone whose entire personality is ‘Alina’s pathetic cousin.’ Stay mad, Dorothy. It looks good on you.”

Dorothy shot up from her chair, eyes blazing with pure hatred. Her hand shook as she gripped the glass of water. “You bitch—”

“You know what, Dorothy?” I said sharply, cutting her off. “I’m done playing nice. If you want Kai so badly, why not just go and chase him. Beg him. If you want to be the new Alina Sterling? Go and beg my father. And Blake? You can have him too. Since that's what you're really good at. Begging,” I whispered softly and I could have sworn I saw angry smokes coming out of her ear.

“I never asked for any of this, Dorothy,” I continued. “I never asked to be the ‘perfect heiress.’ I just want to breathe without you or my father suffocating me every five seconds. So stop acting like I stole your life when you’ve spent years trying to steal mine!”

Dorothy’s fake smile faltered for a second, then twisted into something uglier. She laughed…high and sharp. “Wow. Look at you trying to be badass. How cute. Little miss ‘oh I have it all but never asked for it.’”

She moved suddenly, still holding the glass. Her hand shook with anger, and the glass slipped, smashing against the edge of the table. 

She took a shard of glass and sliced across her forearm, drawing a thin line of blood. She didn’t even flinch. Instead, a slow, satisfied grin spread across her face as she clutched her arm and let the blood drip dramatically onto the white tablecloth.

“Watch and learn, cousin,” she whispered with pure triumph in her eyes. “Watch how your Daddy always takes my side. Every single time. A little piece of advice cuzzo, enjoy it while it lasts because soon enough, everything you have will all be mine!”

Footsteps rushed toward us from the hallway. Dad and Regina burst into the dining room right on cue.

“Alina!” Dad screamed, eyes wide with horror as he took in the blood and the broken glass. “What have you done?!”

He rushed to Dorothy, grabbing her arm gently. “Maids! Get the first aid kit now! Hurry!” His voice shook with fury as he glared at me. “I can’t believe you have such a twisted mind. How could you do this to your own cousin? She came here to apologize and you attacked her?”

Regina stood frozen for a second, looking between us with confusion. Dorothy, of course, milked it perfectly…tears welling up in her eyes while she whimpered softly, playing the poor victim.

“I didn’t mean to upset her, uncle Freddy. I only came to make amends for misunderstanding her earlier like you told me to. She just…she just attacked me while accusing me of trying to steal her life,” she cried out.

Same old script! 

I didn’t panic. I didn’t even move or act like there was a drama unfolding right beside me. I just picked up my fork again and took another calm bite of my pancake, chewing slowly while the chaos exploded around me.

Dad kept shouting, maids scrambling, Dorothy sobbing fake tears all while I kept eating. The whole scene was ridiculous.

Finally, I’d had enough. I pushed my chair back, stood up, and dropped my fork loudly onto the plate with a sharp clatter that made everyone pause and look in my direction.

“You all just ruined my food,” I said coldly with a hiss and started walking away. 

That was when I felt it.