Alpha's Flame: Her Three Little Cupids

“Ow… it hurts.” Elena Rivers stirred, her whole body aching like she’d been hit by a truck. Every muscle throbbed, her limbs felt heavy, and when she tried to move, a sharp pain shot through her. She blinked awake, groggy and disoriented, finding herself wrapped in nothing but a scratchy blanket. Her brain fogged over, overwhelmed by the discomfort and the strangeness of it all. What the hell happened? Before she could even form a coherent thought, a loud knock on the door jolted her back to reality. Then came that voice—Sophia Rivers’s voice, dripping with fake concern. “Dad, this is it. I told you I saw everything!” The door burst open. Her father, Richard Rivers, charged into the room, his face twisted in anger. Trailing behind him, like a shadow, was Sophia, her stepsister. Richard’s eyes swept the scene, and for a brief moment, he looked shocked. But that shock quickly turned into something much worse—rage. His jaw clenched, his fists balled at his sides. “Elena, what the hell have you done?” “Dad, wait—let me explain!” Elena’s voice cracked, panic rising in her throat. “Explain?” His voice cut through the air, sharp and cold. “I saw it with my own eyes. What’s left to explain?” Elena’s heart pounded, her mind racing for the right words. Just then, Sophia stepped forward, placing a hand on their father’s arm as if to calm him. “Dad, don’t be too upset,” Sophia cooed, her voice sweet but laced with poison. Then she turned to Elena, her expression shifting to one of mock disappointment. “Elena, the Rivers family has given you everything. How could you repay our father’s kindness by… doing something so shameful?” The accusation hit Elena like a slap in the face. Her throat tightened, and a wave of nausea rolled over her. She fought to keep her voice steady as she glared at Sophia. “Sophia, stop lying! You set me up, and you know it!” She looked desperately at her father, pleading with him. “Dad, it was her! She’s the one who—” But before she could finish, Richard’s hand came down hard across her face. The sting was immediate, the sound of the slap echoing through the room. Elena’s head snapped to the side, her cheek burning from the blow. Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “I’ve had enough of your excuses,” Richard said, his voice cold with finality. “You’ve brought shame to this family, and now you want to blame your sister? You’re no daughter of mine.” With that, he turned and stormed out, leaving Elena standing there, stunned and heartbroken. She took a shaky step forward, wanting to chase after him, and to make him understand, but Sophia blocked her path, her lips curling into a cruel smile. “Well, well, Elena. How the mighty have fallen.” Elena’s body trembled with anger, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why are you doing this to me?” Sophia leaned in, her voice low and taunting. “Because, dear sister, I’ve waited a long time for this. Now, Dad sees you for what you really are. Do you honestly think you’ll still have a claim to Venus Jewelry after this?” Elena felt the ground slipping out from under her. The room seemed to spin as the weight of Sophia’s words sank in. Sophia’s eyes sparkled with victory. “You’ve always been the perfect daughter, the princess of the Rivers family. But now? Now you’re nothing. Not even fit to stand next to me—the illegitimate one.” She pulled out her phone, waving it in Elena’s face like a trophy. “Oh, and don’t think this ends here. I have everything I need to make sure you never recover from this. Enjoy your fall from grace, Elena.” Outside, rain began to pour, a torrential downpour that mirrored the storm brewing inside Elena. She stumbled out of the hotel, the cold rain soaking through her clothes, her hair plastered to her face. She looked like a shadow of herself—drenched, defeated, and utterly alone. But even in her dishevelled state, her beauty was undeniable. Elena stood in the middle of the street, her fists clenched at her sides. She turned back to look at the hotel, the place where her life had crumbled. No more tears. No more pleading. One day, she vowed, she would come back. And when she did, she would take back everything that had been stolen from her.