Rejected Their Broken Luna Chapter 159: Chap-159*I Am Unbothered*

Cynthia Dion:

"Easy!" Atticus laid his hand on my father's chest, signaling him to step back.

"Alpha Atticus!" My father was taken aback by the sight of Alpha carrying my bags and joining me on my journey back home. He respectfully bowed to Atticus and then shot me a disapproving glare.

'One more person added to the list,' Thea growled inside, causing me to clench my teeth secretly. She was now including our dad on her list of people to seek revenge against.

'No!' I grunted at her, rejecting the notion.

'Why? Did you forget how he forced us to marry that awful man?' She argued, but I chose to ignore her for the time being.

'Don't shut me out. He's the reason all of this started, really. A father should protect his daughter, not barter her away,' she added with a disdainful snort.

"What is she doing here? I can't have her stay here. After everything she's done, people around here will scorn me for harboring her," my father inquired once more. Just because the Alpha was present didn't mean my father's feelings toward me had softened.

"I'll silence those who dare to speak ill of her," Atticus' response made my father step back and swallow hard. Not once did my father look at me or inquire about how I was feeling.

"You're not even going to ask how I'm doing?" Thea interjected, prompting an internal groan from me.

"What? You got what you deserved," my dad frowned, his eyes conveying a threat that I shouldn't talk back.

"I did what you taught me," she retorted, and I quickly silenced her. She was asking for trouble, and we needed to heal before we started stirring up more conflict.

"Let's go inside," Atticus gestured for me to enter as neighbors began to emerge from their homes, curious about the she-wolf who had betrayed the Royal Beta and her husband's mate.

"I've asked the guard to bring groceries, so you don't need to worry about anything," Atticus informed my father as he followed me inside and set the bags down.

"Are you staying here too?" my dad asked Atticus after a moment of contemplation. The expression on his face made it clear that he didn't particularly want Atticus here, as it would make it harder for him to torment me.

"Why? Is there an issue with me staying here?" Atticus took a seat and inclined his head toward my father, who appeared shocked and taken aback by the Alpha sitting on his old couch.

"No! I mean, this place might not be suitable for someone like you," my dad corrected himself, trying to mask his animosity and frustration from me, no doubt because the Alpha seemed to disapprove.

"Don't dwell on that. Just make sure Cynthia doesn't experience any stress while she's here," Atticus dismissed him with a simple gesture of his hand and then turned his attention to me, recognizing that something was amiss with my behavior.

"Is Flora at school right now?" I inquired with my father, though he hadn't discussed her with me. Communication between us had always been difficult, particularly since my father had never liked or cared for me from the very beginning. Being convicted of anything only deepened his animosity towards me.

"I'll go get you some sweets from the nearby shop; you'll enjoy them," my dad disregarded me again. Seeing me again after all this time, especially when he thought he had rid himself of me, wasn't easy for him.

"She asked you a question. Why are you ignoring her?" Atticus intervened, prompting my father to appear even more bewildered by the Alpha taking my side.

"How can I speak to someone who's made life so difficult for her father and her little sister?" My dad finally mentioned Flora, causing my heart to skip a beat.

"Flora! What happened to her? Did someone say something to her?" I started to panic, and Atticus cast a concerned glance my way. He understood that I would be deeply troubled now.

"Why didn't you think she would suffer for your actions? People look at her as if she's a monster too. The neighbors always remind us of how you ran away, only to come back, get married, and cheat on your savior as well. They tell me that Flora will turn out just like her sister," my dad said all of this in a single breath, shook his head, and then walked out of the house to get something for Atticus to eat. It hurt to hear that my sister had to bear the same burdens I had faced in the past. I had tried so hard to protect her, but inadvertently, I became the source of her misery.

"All this hate and hostility from the people around us, it's all because of you. They used to dislike me, but they were never so vocal about it until you kidnapped me and wrecked everything," I sat down and gazed at Atticus, making sure he heard me loud and clear.

"Perhaps they were aware of your involvement with the Royal Beta even while he was married?" Atticus leaned in, speaking softly, as if he didn't want to incite my anger but still wanted me to understand.

"There was no involvement. It was just my father inviting him to spend time with him," I retorted, growing irritated with him for repeating the same misconception.

"A Royal Beta, much younger than your father, spending time with your father, and doing what exactly?" Atticus arched an eyebrow and maintained unwavering eye contact, urging me to explain.

"Why don't you just ask him? He was my father's friend, not mine. I was still a minor when my father befriended him," I muttered, growing frustrated.

"Then why don't you enlighten me about what Mr. Holt and the others used to do here?" Atticus shrugged, clearly skeptical of my response.

"They used to--" I paused, realizing there was no clear answer to his question. In truth, Mr. Holt had rarely spoken with my father during his visits. So why had my father invited him over in the first place?